Yours for €14,000 ...Diana’s iconic revenge dress
Or at least the one that starred in The Crown, which is being auctioned this month along with 500 of the show’s props — from a State Coach to the Queen Mum’s cocktail stirrer!
ASIDE from the late Queen Elizabeth herself, her ladies-in-waiting and Michael Fagan, the notorious intruder who climbed up a drainpipe and broke into Buckingham Palace in 1982, very few can claim to have set foot in her bedroom.
Even fewer will have examined the photographs on her bedside table, leafed through the correspondence on her desk or — surely a treasonable offence — dared to sit on the royal bed.
It is, I can report, squishier than you might imagine, and closer to the ground than the average bed, to account for Elizabeth II’s petite 5 ft 3 in stature.
The bedspread, which matches the armchairs, is chintzy pink, every surface is adorned with porcelain trinkets – and there are no fewer than seven well-used dog beds around the room.
Fear not, I haven’t shimmied up any drainpipes to get here: the royal quarters are part of a set, from the Netflix series The Crown, on display at London auction house Bonhams ahead of a landmark sell-off of souvenirs, costumes and props from the show.
The drama’s sixth and final series — taking the action up to 2005 — was released in December. The Mail has gained exclusive access to more than 500 pieces of memorabilia being sold off by production company Left Bank Pictures in a two-part auction (live and online) culminating on February 7.
The lots, arranged in a free public exhibition, range from small (a cocktail stirrer used by the character of the Queen Mother) to large (a green Jaguar driven by the Princess Diana character) to very, very large indeed (a fullsize replica of the gold State Coach).
It’s thrilling and surreal to find myself perching regally on the 700-year-old Coronation chair, practising my wave from the royal coach and rifling through Diana’s dressing table. I’m even allowed to try on one of Queen Elizabeth’s outfits — an elegant blue coat and hat worn by actress Imelda Staunton — and slide Kate Middleton’s sapphire engagement sparkler on to my finger.
‘It’s the closest anyone can come to owning the real thing,’ says Charlie Thomas of Bonhams.
THOUGH these may be replicas — only the most eagle-eyed observers will be able to tell them apart. Every tiny detail — from the lace on Princess Margaret’s wedding dress to the pattern on Prince William’s skis — is an exact match of the original, and there is even genuine rust (purchased by the bagful by the set designers) painted on the underside of the carriage.
The auctioneers are expecting to raise millions from the sale.
So if you’ve got some spare pennies in the bank and want to snap up a piece of (replica) royal history, what’s up for grabs?
THE QUEEN: CORGIS AND A CARRIAGE BUT NO CROWN
COMPRISING a flowing linen gown, gold lamé tunic and crimson velvet cape, the robes of state — worn by Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth during her Coronation in series one — are one of the most expensive lots in the auction, estimated to sell for €25,000 to €35,000.
Meg Randell, Bonhams’ head of fashion, hopes that buyers will bid on some of Her Majesty’s outfits not simply for posterity but to wear them — in which case a sparkling teal ballgown, from the second season, might be a better choice (€3,500-€5,500).
‘Some of these items really deserve a second life,’ says Meg. ‘They’re special and completely unique. For example, there’s a headscarf that has a beautiful abstract painting of the Gardens of Versailles on it, and that was a hand-drawn pattern [part of the Queen’s stalking outfit, estimated between €800 and €1,100] — but blink and you’d miss it on screen.’
Sadly, there are no crowns in the auction, and surprisingly few royal jewels. ‘These were all rented for filming,’ says Meg.
There are, however, rails upon rails of outfits, shoes and accessories worn by the three actresses playing Queen Elizabeth — Foy, Olivia Colman and Staunton — including a safari suit from the Kenya episode (€1,000-€1,800), a cream umbrella (€250-€350) and a full-length gold banquet gown complete with blue Order of the Garter sash (€3,500-€5,500).
Buyers can purchase the ‘audience room bell’, rung by the Queen to usher in waiting prime ministers (€250-€350), her mahogany writing desk, complete with photographs, trinkets and lamp (€3,500-€5,000), and a Filofax used by her dresser, Angela Kelly, played by Lizzie Hopley (€550-€850).
Not forgetting her bed, a Louis XVI French kingwood design with a reserve of €5,500 to €8,500. And
Queen Elizabeth’s love of corgis is represented with seven wicker dog beds (sold as one lot, €1,200 to €1,700), and there’s a pair of charming porcelain dog figures (€250-€350).
Then, of course, there’s the State Coach, the grandest item on sale, an impressive 3.1 metres tall and 5.6 metres long, which required a feat of engineering just to get it into the auction house.
Made from wood, fibreglass, clay and 3D printing, the gold-painted carriage — constructed in 2019 — is lined with red velvet and is estimated at €35,000 to €55,000.
It works, too: in theory, you could harness six horses to the front and ride away (though it is restricted to walking pace, and unlikely to comply with traffic regulations for road use).
DIANA: A RACING CAR AND RACIER FASHIONS
AS THE most fashion-forward of the royals, it’s no surprise that most of the high-ticket items belong to Princess Diana, played in turn by Emma Corrin and Elizabeth Debicki.
Most coveted of all is her ‘revenge’ dress, listed for €9,500 to €14,000, which Diana famously wore to an event at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994, on the same day that Charles’s affair with Camilla became public.
The replica, made from pleated black silk and chiffon, is so tiny in its proportions, mirroring Diana’s minute frame, that Meg says they ‘struggled to find a mannequin small enough to display it. I really hope this will be bought by someone, maybe a celebrity, who wants to wear it,’ she adds. ‘It would be wonderful if it could be worn as another “act of revenge”. I could see it appearing on a red carpet, or somewhere like the Met Gala.’
There are several other striking outfits: her powder-blue engagement suit (€1,700- €2,350); a grey ‘Harvard’ sweatshirt and cycling shorts (€600-€800); and even the protective garb she wore while walking through a minefield in Angola (€2,500- €3,500).
Swimsuits feature highly (including a leopard-print one, €950€1,400), while sporty types might want to snap up the white leather roller skates and outfit she wears in season four (€950-€1,400).
Most intriguing of all, and strangely intimate to behold, is her dressing table, an Edwardianstyle mahogany and mother-ofpearl dresser (€2,500-€3,500), which comes with an array of eerily accurate paraphernalia: her favourite lily of the valley perfume, Yves Saint Laurent foundation and a gold Cartier watch.
Seasoned travellers will have their eye on her ten-piece powderblue luggage set, monogrammed with ‘HRH Princess of Wales’ — sure to raise an eyebrow at Heathrow (€2,500-€3,500).
There’s also a baby grand piano from her Kensington apartments (€950-€1,400), while the 1987 Jaguar XJ-SC Cabriolet from season five is ready to drive away today, having recently passed its NCT (€17,500-€25,000).
KING CHARLES: TRINKETS AND A VERY POSH PEN
VIEWERS will remember watching a young Charles whizzing round the Palace in a ride-on green racing car — yours for €95 to €150, if you want a memento of the monarch as a child.
Bidders can also buy the pocket watch carried by Josh O’Connor in season three (€500-€700), the signet ring worn by Dominic West
in season five (€800- €1,000), or one of Charles’s trusty walking canes, hewn from Scottish horn and hazel, for €250 to €350.
Bigger items include his gilt-edged mahogany writing desk, seen in his study at Highgrove throughout season five, which comes with a brass-inlaid armchair, a Mulberry crocodile-effect blotter, paperweights and letter openers (€950-€1,400).
Also on offer is a Montblanc fountain pen used by Charles in the show (€350€550); this is his favourite make, while Queen Elizabeth preferred Parker.
Charles is not known for his fondness for fashion — but there are a handful of outfits up for auction: his engagement suit (€1,100-€1,700), ermine-hooded investiture robes (€6,000-€8,000) and a polo outfit with riding boots (€1,500-€6,000).
KATE AND WILLS: SKIS AND THAT SEE-THROUGH DRESS
KATE (played by newcomer Meg Bellamy) and William (Ed McVey) don’t appear until season six of The Crown — and there’s a crucial part of their royal romance up for grabs: the see-through dress from the charity fashion show at St Andrews University in March 2002.
William reportedly paid £200 (around €230) for a front-row seat at the event, at which Kate strutted down the runway wearing nothing but black underwear and a custom-made mesh dress.
It was later auctioned for €91,000; this replica is estimated between €2,500 and €3,500.
There are only two other Katerelated lots in the auction: a ‘casual country look’, comprising Penelope Chilvers boots and a tweed skirt (€700€900); and the ring first worn by Diana and later given to her by William on their engagement in 2010.
While the real sparkler, an 18-carat white gold band set with a 12-carat oval sapphire and 14 diamonds cost €55,000, this is estimated between €2,500 and €3,500 — though none of the stones are real.
Prince William’s Eton uniform, complete with grey trousers from M&S, is also on sale (€600-€900), as is a set of vintage skis, used by Charles and a young William and Harry in season six (€300-€400).
MARGARET: KAFTANS AND A SMOKING BOX
‘PRINCESS Margaret’s outfits are so evocative of who she was as a character,’ says Meg. ‘They’re colourful, eyecatching and usually rather loud.’
Among the top-priced items are a floor-length, fuchsia-pink taffeta ballgown (€1,500-€2,500) and a flowing gold kaftan worn by Helena Bonham Carter in series three (€700-€900).
There are several more kaftans and nightdresses, as well as a floor-length white-and-pink printed dress (€2,000-€2,500).
Fans can also adorn their house with Margaret paraphernalia: a huge 19thcentury giltwood mirror (€1,500€2,000), a selection of props (including a smoking box, mother-of-pearl lighter and cut-glass hip flask, €300-€400), and a set of silver-mounted hairbrushes (€300-€400).
PRINCE PHILIP’S BARBECUES AND THATCHER’S SUIT
HALF-FULL bottles of Tanqueray gin and Hennessy cognac form part of the lowest-priced item in the auction (€70€90): a bar set, complete with silver tray and cocktail ‘swizzle stick’, used by the Queen Mother, played by Victoria Hamilton.
A fold-up steel barbecue, based on an original 1950s design by Prince Philip — who wanted it to fit in the back of his car — is on offer for €500 to €700, or you can buy a vintage croquet set (€250-€350).
Fashion highlights include the ivory ensemble worn by Camilla, Queen Consort (played by Olivia Williams) on her wedding day in 2005, estimated between €1,500 and €2,000, and several custom-made satin gowns worn by Erin Doherty as Princess Anne in series three.
And it’s not all royals: bidders can also buy the blue skirt suit and black Launer handbag combo belonging to Margaret Thatcher, played by Gillian Anderson, for €2,000 to €2,500.
KIT OUT YOUR HOME WITH A THRONE AND PALACE GATES
WROUGHT-IRON replicas of the Buckingham Palace gates could be yours for €7,000 to €9,000 — if you can spare five metres to install them.
You could even sit on your very own faux throne: the St Edward’s Chair, used in the Coronation, has been faithfully recreated in fibreglass (expected to fetch €12,000-€22,000).
Or you could add royal opulence to the dining room with a set of four cutglass chandeliers (€6,000-€8,000).
Or why not invest in a 12-metre-long miniature enactment of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral procession, from season six, comprising hundreds of toy soldiers, horses and other figurines — expected to sell for €9,000 to €13,000.
Tempted? As Meg Randell puts it, ‘You’d need a very large house just to get it through the front door.’