A highly anticipated auction of Princess Diana's possessions, including her renowned "Care Dress," captivated buyers recently, fetching prices far beyond expectations. An extensive collection of her personal wardrobe and accessories was showcased, illustrating Diana's timeless influence on fashion and philanthropy.

A floral dress once worn by Princess Diana during hospital visits sold for $520,000 on Thursday. The auction, held in California, featured over 100 personal items of the late Princess of Wales.

The iconic dress, designed by Bellville Sassoon, was auctioned by Julien's Auctions as part of a charity event focused on Diana's clothing and accessories. Renée Plant, the founder and curator of the Princess Diana Museum, secured the dress for a total of $520,000, far exceeding its estimated value of $300,000.

The auction, titled "Princess Diana's Style and Royal Legacy," took place at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles. Over 300 pieces were up for bidding, including outfits making their market debut.

Among the auction items were a variety of Diana's wardrobe pieces, such as hats, handbags, shoes, along with handwritten letters and sketches. Julien's described the collection as "the largest grouping" of Diana's fashion ever to be presented at auction.

While re-wearing royal garments is relatively common today, Diana defied the norms by donning her Bellville Sassoon dress on multiple occasions. Her influence endures, inspiring Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle in their sustainable style choices.

Between 1988 and 1992, Diana frequently wore a blue crepe de chine dress during hospital visits, earning it the nickname "Care Dress." The puffed sleeves and ruffled bodice epitomize the bold fashion trends of that era.

(Princess Diana Museum Instagram)

Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien's Auctions, remarked to People magazine about the dress, "It was colorful, simple, lovely and eye-catching. When she visited children and people in hospitals, they were drawn to its colors and felt like they could embrace her."

The Care Dress was worn by Diana during visits to several countries, including Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, Spain, and of course, the United Kingdom.

Renee Plant with her husband Levinio Stoic Sanchez after acquiring Diana's Care Dress (Princess Diana Museum Instagram)

Princess Diana's fashion choices have consistently commanded high prices at auctions, even during her lifetime. In 1997, she auctioned almost 80 dresses via Christie's, raising over $3.2 million for cancer and AIDS research. The current record for one of her outfits was set at Julien's Auctions in 2023 when a black and blue Jacques Azagury gown she wore publicly at least twice in the mid-1980s sold for $1.14 million, according to CNN.