‘Taking Back Her Power’: Prince Harry Eyes Princess Diana’s Famous Revenge Dress, Believes It ‘Belongs to’ Meghan Markle
Prince Harry reportedly wants to keep Princess Diana’s famous revenge dress in the family. According to RadarOnline, “He doesn’t want it disappearing into a collector’s closet.” The insider added that the Duke wants it to “stay connected to Diana.” He also reportedly believes that it should “belong to” his wife, Meghan Markle.
Diana wore the famous black dress on June 29, 1994, at a gala at London’s Serpentine Gallery. Designer Christina Stambolian created the fitted silk gown. It had an off-the-shoulder neckline, an uneven hemline, and a flowing chiffon train.
Diana paired it with black heels, red nail polish, and a pearl choker with a sapphire and diamonds. According to British Vogue, Stambolian later said Diana had bought the black dress around three years earlier. But she thought it was “too daring” to wear in public. She reportedly planned to wear a Valentino gown that evening instead.
That same evening, then-Prince Charles spoke about his marriage to Diana in a TV interview with journalist Jonathan Dimbleby. He admitted he hadn’t been faithful once their marriage had “irretrievably broken down.” The interview aired on ITV that night, while Diana attended the gala in the dress.
It later became known as the “revenge dress,” as many saw it as her response to the public attention surrounding her marriage. Charles didn’t name Camilla Parker Bowles during the exchange. However, according to Sky News, his secretary confirmed the affair the following morning in a press briefing.
Charles and Diana had separated in December 1992, but their divorce wasn’t finalized until August 1996. Charles eventually married Camilla in April 2005. According to the outlet, Harry sees the dress as a symbol of his mother “taking back her power.”
The insider continued, “Diana wore it to clap back at Charles, Camilla and an institution that had made her miserable. In Harry’s mind, Meghan understands that story better than almost anyone.”
The source also claimed, “Meghan wearing or simply owning Diana’s revenge dress would be incredibly powerful. It would say: Diana survived them, Meghan survived them – and neither woman allowed the palace to define her.”
Diana sold the dress at a charity auction in New York in June 1997, just two months before her death. She died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, at the age of 36. Diana put 79 dresses up for sale to raise money for cancer and AIDS charities.
Scottish couple Briege and Graeme Mackenzie bought the Christina Stambolian gown for around $64,000. They’ve kept it in their collection ever since. Now, Diana’s famous dress is heading back to auction for the first time since 1997. Sotheby’s will put it on sale in New York on December 9, 2026.
The estimated price is $150,000 to $300,000. Before the auction, the gown will travel from London to Hong Kong and Geneva. It will then head to New York for the sale. The original 1997 auction catalogue will be included in the sale, too. It’s signed by both Diana and Stambolian.
