Diana’s John Travolta dance dress fetches £240k

By NATALIE WALKER
Published on 20/03/2013 01:04

A DRESS worn by Princess Diana when she danced with John Travolta fetched £240,000 at auction last night, bought by an anonymous bidder who said he wanted to surprise his wife.

The off-the-shoulder midnight blue velvet gown captivated the public when she was pictured wearing it at a state dinner in the White House 1985.

It was the star attraction in a sale of ten of Diana’s dresses at vintage fashion auctioneers Kerry Taylor Auctions in London. Auctioneer Kerry Taylor said: “It was bought by a British gentleman who said he wanted to buy it as a surprise to cheer up his wife.”

The garments were originally sold by Diana herself following her divorce to raise money for charity.

American Maureen Rorech Dunkel initially bought the dresses as a long-term investment, but after Diana’s death in 1997 she decided to exhibit them to raise money for good causes. The collection made a total of £862,800 yesterday.