One of Princess Diana’s most recognizable gowns is returning to the public’s spotlight. Her famous black Christina Stambolian dress, widely known as the “revenge dress,” will be auctioned by Sotheby’s on December 9, 2026. The sale will mark the first time the iconic dress has been available for purchase in nearly thirty years.
Diana wore the legendary piece to a Serpentine Gallery event in London on June 29, 1994, just hours after Prince Charles publicly disclosed his affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles (now known as Queen Camilla) in a televised interview. She had originally planned to wear a Valentino design, but chose a different gown after details of the previous look were leaked. The decision resulted in worldwide attention, with photos of Princess Diana becoming one of the defining fashion moments of her life.
“It is a deeply regrettable thing to happen, but it does happen, and unfortunately, in this case, it has happened,” the then Prince Charles said of his infidelity at the time.
The dress was previously sold at a 1997 charity auction, where it fetched $65,000. Back then, Princess Diana sold 79 dresses to contribute to cancer and AIDS charities. Sotheby’s now estimates its value at between $150,000 and $300,000. Before the auction, the piece will be displayed in London from September 18 to September 24 during London Fashion Week. It will then travel to Hong Kong in October and Geneva in November before arriving in New York for a public exhibition in early December. Its comeback offers royal fans another chance to see one of Diana’s most iconic fashion pieces.
