Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge Dress’ Goes Up for Auction

By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 11, 2026

Princess Diana’s iconic black “revenge dress” is set to return to the auction block nearly three decades after it was last sold.

The famous black silk gown, designed by Greek designer Christina Stambolian, will be offered by Sotheby’s in New York on December 9, 2026, during the auction house’s Luxury Week. It is estimated to fetch between $150,000 and $300,000.

Diana wore the off-the-shoulder dress to a fundraising dinner at London’s Serpentine Gallery on June 29, 1994. The appearance attracted worldwide attention because it came on the same evening that her then-husband, Prince Charles, publicly acknowledged his infidelity during a televised interview.

The outfit, paired with a pearl choker, black accessories and bold makeup, became one of Diana’s most memorable fashion moments. Although the term “revenge dress” was applied later, the look has since come to represent confidence, independence and Diana’s ability to shape her own public image.

Diana had originally purchased the dress several years earlier but reportedly considered it too daring for a public appearance. Its eventual debut became a defining moment in her transformation from the more conservative image associated with her early years in the royal family.

The dress was previously sold by Diana herself in a 1997 charity auction, where proceeds supported cancer and AIDS-related causes. It was subsequently acquired by Scottish couple Briege and Graeme Mackenzie, who retained it for nearly 30 years and used it in fundraising efforts.

Before the December auction, the historic garment is scheduled to be displayed in London, Hong Kong and Geneva, giving members of the public an opportunity to see it before it reaches the New York auction block.

More than three decades after Diana first stepped out in the dress, its return to auction demonstrates the continuing cultural and fashion legacy of one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century.