عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

‘Largest Princess Diana Auction’ Features Frocks, Hats and Bags  

Miniatures of Princess Diana's Royal wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel are seen on display next to sketches and sewing machine in the "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection", the largest collection of the Princess of Wales' fashion ever to appear at auction in history, at a public exhibition in The Museum of Style Icons, in Newbridge, Ireland, June 9, 2025. (Reuters) 
Miniatures of Princess Diana's Royal wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel are seen on display next to sketches and sewing machine in the "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection", the largest collection of the Princess of Wales' fashion ever to appear at auction in history, at a public exhibition in The Museum of Style Icons, in Newbridge, Ireland, June 9, 2025. (Reuters) 
TT
TT

‘Largest Princess Diana Auction’ Features Frocks, Hats and Bags  

Miniatures of Princess Diana's Royal wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel are seen on display next to sketches and sewing machine in the "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection", the largest collection of the Princess of Wales' fashion ever to appear at auction in history, at a public exhibition in The Museum of Style Icons, in Newbridge, Ireland, June 9, 2025. (Reuters) 
Miniatures of Princess Diana's Royal wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel are seen on display next to sketches and sewing machine in the "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection", the largest collection of the Princess of Wales' fashion ever to appear at auction in history, at a public exhibition in The Museum of Style Icons, in Newbridge, Ireland, June 9, 2025. (Reuters) 

From colorful frocks and hats to handbags and shoes, items belonging to the late Princess Diana go under the hammer this month in what Julien's Auctions says is the largest collection of her fashion to go to auction.

The live and online "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection" sale will take place on June 26 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, offering an array of fashion items Diana wore, according to Reuters.

“This is the largest Princess Diana auction because we have over 100 items from her amazing life and career keeping in mind Diana herself sold over 70 of her dresses back in 1997 to raise money for her charity,” Martin Nolan, executive director and co-founder of Julien’s Auctions, told Reuters on Monday. He was speaking at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge in Ireland during a pre-sale exhibition.

Among the highlights is a 1988 silk floral dress by Bellville Sassoon, dubbed the "caring dress" because Diana wore it several times on hospital visits, with a price estimate of $200,000-$300,000.

A cream silk embroidered evening gown Catherine Walker designed for Diana's 1986 Gulf tour has a similar price tag, while a Bruce Oldfield two-piece yellow floral ensemble she wore for Royal Ascot in 1987 is estimated at $100,000-$200,000.

Other sale items include a Dior handbag gifted to her by former French first lady Bernadette Chirac in 1995, a sketch of Diana's 1981 wedding dress with tulle fabric cut-offs from when she married then Prince Charles in 1981 and a peach hat she wore for her honeymoon send-off.

The auction also includes pieces belonging to other British royals including the late Queen Elizabeth II and the queen mother.

Nolan said Julien’s Auctions had previously sold a dress belonging to Diana for $1.14 million.

"People do consider these items as an asset class now, because if people own these items today, chances are in years to come they will sell them for more than what they pay for (at) auction," he said.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Red Sea Museum Hosts Contemporary Art Exhibition to Showcase Marine Biodiversity

The collection features diverse media, including rare black coral crafts and textiles that evoke underwater textures - SPA
The collection features diverse media, including rare black coral crafts and textiles that evoke underwater textures - SPA
TT
TT

Red Sea Museum Hosts Contemporary Art Exhibition to Showcase Marine Biodiversity

The collection features diverse media, including rare black coral crafts and textiles that evoke underwater textures - SPA
The collection features diverse media, including rare black coral crafts and textiles that evoke underwater textures - SPA

The Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah is hosting a contemporary artistic exhibition that explores the Red Sea’s marine richness by connecting its geological origins, dating back to the Eocene epoch, with natural history and artistic expression.

Through a series of sculptures and installations, the exhibition showcases the region's vast biodiversity, from microorganisms to large mammals, SPA reported.

The works emphasize the Red Sea’s resilient coral reefs, thriving in warm, high-salinity waters, while delivering powerful environmental messages on the urgency of reef protection and ecological sustainability.

The collection features diverse media, including rare black coral crafts and textiles that evoke underwater textures.

These pieces complement the museum’s permanent collection of over 1,000 artifacts, reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to preserving its cultural and environmental heritage through modern, immersive displays.

Culture

Saudi Pavilion Highlights Cultural Exchange at Sarajevo Book Fair

The fair is held under the theme "Book Path" and features 200 exhibitors. SPA
The fair is held under the theme "Book Path" and features 200 exhibitors. SPA
TT
TT

Saudi Pavilion Highlights Cultural Exchange at Sarajevo Book Fair

The fair is held under the theme "Book Path" and features 200 exhibitors. SPA
The fair is held under the theme "Book Path" and features 200 exhibitors. SPA

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by the King Fahd Cultural Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is participating in Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at the 37th Sarajevo International Book Fair held from April 22 to 27 at the Skenderija Center.

The fair is held under the theme "Book Path" and features 200 exhibitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world presenting their publications across an exhibition area of more than 10,000 square meters.

The pavilion, inaugurated in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Anas Al-Wusaidi, showcases the center’s cultural programs, publications, and activities.

It includes a documentary highlighting the Kingdom’s civilizational progress and the achievements of Saudi Vision 2030, as well as films introducing Saudi cities and tourist landmarks.

The pavilion also features educational and training programs, a Saudi culture corner, a workshop on Saudi coffee preparation, an Arabic calligraphy corner, and a children’s area.

The ministry’s participation in the fair reflects Saudi Arabia’s leading role in serving Islam and Muslims inside and outside the Kingdom, its message of moderation and tolerance, and its commitment to strengthening cultural exchange.

Culture

Ithra Showcases Ithra Design Week at Milan Design Week 2026

Ithra Showcases Ithra Design Week at Milan Design Week 2026
TT
TT

Ithra Showcases Ithra Design Week at Milan Design Week 2026

Ithra Showcases Ithra Design Week at Milan Design Week 2026

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), an initiative of Aramco, is participating in Milan Design Week, one of the world’s most prominent annual design events, taking place during April 20-26, 2026. This participation reflects the center’s aspirations to strengthen the role of design within the cultural landscape. As part of its presence, Ithra is presenting key features of Ithra Design Week (IDW)—announced last year as a dedicated platform supporting the design sector and designers, aimed at fostering collaboration, nurturing creativity, and advancing design content from the Arab world on the global stage.

As part of its participation, Ithra is presenting the exhibition “Default is Not Universal” at the Isola Design Festival, within the framework of Milan Design Week 2026. The exhibition represents the first tangible realization of Ithra Design Week as a regional platform for designers, showcasing their creativity and cultural narratives to international audiences while opening channels for global dialogue on the future of design, SPA reported.

Manager of Programs at Ithra Nourh Al-Zamil said: “Ithra’s participation in Milan Design Week; one of the most important global events in the field of design, reflects the Center’s mission to empower creative talent, strengthen cultural exchange, and support the growth of the creative economy at both regional and international levels. It also highlights Ithra Design Week 2026, that announced last year as a platform dedicated to supporting and advancing the future of Arab design.”

Al-Zamil added that Ithra’s international participation in leading design and creativity forums serves as an important platform for attracting designers from across the Middle East. She noted that the “Default is Not Universal” exhibition, presented in collaboration with Isola Design; a partnership spanning four years; aims to empower creativity and connect designers from around the world. She emphasized that the exhibition reflects Ithra’s continued efforts to build a year-round integrated ecosystem enabling designers to collaborate, grow, and thrive.

The “Default is Not Universal” exhibition features works by eight designers from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and includes seven interactive stations. Through the use of artificial intelligence, the exhibition collects visitor interaction data and transforms it into a dynamic map illustrating how cognitive patterns are shaped by diverse cultural influences. In an innovative step, this data will later be used to commission a designer to produce an entirely new piece reflecting the exhibition’s insights and outcomes.

The exhibition represents a collaborative experience between Ithra and Isola Design and is the outcome of a four-year partnership. Following its debut, the exhibition will be expanded and travel to Saudi Arabia, where it will serve as the anchor international exhibition of the main Ithra Design Week event scheduled to take place later this year.

The exhibition’s seven interactive stations include “The Collective Sofa,” a white seating installation by Studio Oblique (UAE) that transforms through visitor interaction into a shared archive reflecting their contributions; “Moments of Absence,” a sculptural installation featuring miniature ceramic chairs by Fajr Al-Basri (Bahrain) that invites visitors to select and sketch the chair they most identify with; and “Body Blocks,” an interactive game by Davina Atteya (Lebanon) inspired by Mesopotamian figurative forms, enabling users to assemble hybrid characters through modular components.

Additional stations include “Attar Al-Balad,” a sensory installation composed of sculptural blocks formed from traditional Saudi herbs and spices that re-evokes memory through scent; “Reflections,” a collection of mirrors by designers from Egypt, the UAE, and Morocco exploring visitors’ perceptions of color, form, and identity; “Majma,” an interactive musical instrument by digital artist Samit Rohila enabling visitors to collaboratively compose spontaneous collective soundscapes; and finally “Daughters of Berythus,” an installation embedding traces of craft traditions and everyday life that invites visitors to explore material memory through touch.