At Sotheby’s gallery on New Bond Street, London, Princess Diana’s iconic black evening gown, better known as the “Revenge Dress”, was accessible to the public free of charge for the past week.
The admission-free showcase offered visitors an up-close look at one of the most famous garments in modern fashion history.
The dress was displayed in the centre of the room, positioned on a low, reflective circular black pedestal. Designed by Greek dressmaker Christina Stambolian, the off-the-shoulder black silk cocktail gown features dense, sculpted horizontal ruching along the fitted bodice, paired with a fitted mini skirt and a sheer side train that drapes to the floor.
Projected directly onto the stone floor at the front of the display, gilded lettering spelt out: “Princess Diana: THE REVENGE DRESS.”
On the adjacent wall, a large photograph captured Diana wearing the ensemble on June 29, 1994, as she arrived at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens, the same evening that then-Prince Charles admitted to infidelity in a broadcast interview.
Text panels lining the exhibition detailing the gown’s provenance explained that while Diana commissioned the piece in 1991, it remained unworn in her closet for nearly three years until she chose it for the event.
Below the text, framed auction catalogues showed the original sketches alongside photography of the night.
While attending the gallery, royal enthusiast John Loughrey, who was visiting the exhibit to view the piece, spoke exclusively to GB News.
At Sotheby’s gallery on New Bond Street, London, Princess Diana’s iconic black evening gown, better known as the ‘Revenge Dress’, was accessible to the public free of charge for the past week
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PA
“She’s one of the very few born with two hearts,” Mr Loughrey said, reflecting on the late Princess.
“Diana didn’t believe in treasures. Her treasures were the downtrodden, people who suffer from AIDS and poverty, and she went out of her way for them.
“She’s one of the angels of this earth. And we all know how much we love her… Of course, we miss her very much.”
Mr Loughrey expressed appreciation for the chance to see the gown displayed in London: “I’m very honoured to see the Revenge Dress Diana wore at Sotheby’s.
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Below the text, framed auction catalogues showed the original sketches alongside photography of the night
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GB NEWS
“It’s the first time I’ve ever seen it in real life. And I’m honoured to see Diana’s dresses, because it’s all her legacy and life.”
Looking ahead to upcoming royal events, Mr Loughrey noted: “I’ll be at Sandringham this year in 2026. I will tell William I’ve seen the dress at Sotheby’s.
“I will not call it the ‘Revenge Dress’, but I will say I saw the dress, and I was impressed because it is her life and legacy.”
He concluded: “Money and treasures don’t come before lives. And that’s what Diana was – she thought about people’s lives, not herself. She was more than a treasure. She’s one of the Lord’s angels.”
Text panels lining the exhibition detailing the gown’s provenance explained that while Diana commissioned the piece in 1991, it remained unworn in her closet for nearly three years until she chose it for the event
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GB NEWS
Following its London showing, the gown is embarking on an international tour with exhibition stops scheduled at Sotheby’s galleries in Hong Kong, Geneva, and New York.
On December 9, 2026, the garment will head to auction in New York during Sotheby’s Luxury Week, with pre-sale estimates ranging between £110,000 and £220,000.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit NHS Lothian Charity on behalf of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.