Princess Diana dresses sell for $1.6 million

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Princess Diana's 10 dresses sold at auction:

A collection of iconic dresses worn by Princess Diana has sold for more that $1.5 million.

The 10 dresses were designed by British designers including Bruce Oldfield and Zandra Rhodes.

The famous Victor Edelstein gown the late princess wore to a White House gala dinner in 1985 went for $440,400.

Dubbed the "Travolta dress" after Diana was photographed dancing with the (then!) young Hollywood star John Travolta at the White House ball, the midnight blue velvet gown was bought by a mystery British man as a surprise gift for his wife.

Travolta later described the evening as being like "a fairy tale" - and we bet the buyer's wife will be similarly caught up in the gown's magic when she unwraps her gift!

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Catherine Walker, one of Diana's favourite designers, created six of the dresses, including the black beaded dress the princess wore for her Vanity Fair photo shoot in 1997 with Mario Testino. The gown sold for over $198,000.

Kerry Taylor, who sold the collection, put the auction's success down to Diana's ongoing popularity.

"She was very much a 'people's princess' and the ups and downs of her life, her loves, people followed them avidly. I think there will always be a special place in people's hearts for Diana," she told media.

Diana initially sold the dresses at a Christie's charity auction in 1997, just one month before she died, apparently at the suggestion of her son Prince William.

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Why do you think Princess Diana remains so popular in people's memories? Let us know at the Yahoo! NZ Lifestyle Facebook page.