Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge Dress’ Heads to Auction for $300,000
Culture
September 11, 2026

Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge Dress’ Heads to Auction for $300,000

170 words · ~1 min read
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B1 Pre-Intermediate
0:001:08

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Princess Diana’s famous "revenge dress" will be sold at auction again, more than 30 years after she first wore it. The black silk dress, designed by Christina Stambolian, will be sold by the auction company Sotheby’s. It is expected to sell for up to $300,000 (£220,000). Diana wore this dress to a special dinner at London’s Serpentine Gallery in 1994, on the same day a TV programme showed her husband, Prince Charles, admitting that he had been unfaithful.

Diana chose this dress because she wanted to make a strong impression. Before the event, she had planned to wear a different outfit, but changed her mind and chose the bold, off-the-shoulder dress by Stambolian. This dress became famous in the media as the "revenge dress" because of the attention it received.

The most important result is that this dress became one of the most recognisable and talked-about outfits Princess Diana ever wore. It remains a powerful symbol of how one dress choice can make worldwide news and become part of history.

Vocabulary

6 words
Accent
auctionN/ˈɔːk.ʃən/

public sale where items go highest bidder

designedV/dɪˈzaɪnd/

created the plan for a specific item

impressionN/ɪmˈprɛʃən/

the effect someone has on other people

outfitN/ˈaʊt.fɪt/

a set of clothes worn together daily

boldADJ/boʊld/

having a very bright and noticeable appearance

recognisableADJ/ˈrekəɡnaɪzəbl/

easy to identify because of special features

Ready to learn these 6 words?

About 8 minutes · 5 activities

Reading Quizzes

9 questions
Question 1 of 9
1 / 9

Who designed Princess Diana's 'revenge dress'?

Choose an answer to continue

Great for IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, IB, A-Level and everyday English speaking practice.

Speaking Tasks

5 questions

Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge Dress’ Heads to Auction for $300,000

September 11, 2026~1 min read
Not sure? Take the level test →
B1 Pre-Intermediate
0:001:08

Follow spoken words in real time.

Princess Diana’s famous "revenge dress" will be sold at auction again, more than 30 years after she first wore it. The black silk dress, designed by Christina Stambolian, will be sold by the auction company Sotheby’s. It is expected to sell for up to $300,000 (£220,000). Diana wore this dress to a special dinner at London’s Serpentine Gallery in 1994, on the same day a TV programme showed her husband, Prince Charles, admitting that he had been unfaithful.

Diana chose this dress because she wanted to make a strong impression. Before the event, she had planned to wear a different outfit, but changed her mind and chose the bold, off-the-shoulder dress by Stambolian. This dress became famous in the media as the "revenge dress" because of the attention it received.

The most important result is that this dress became one of the most recognisable and talked-about outfits Princess Diana ever wore. It remains a powerful symbol of how one dress choice can make worldwide news and become part of history.

Vocabulary

6 words
Accent
auctionN/ˈɔːk.ʃən/

public sale where items go highest bidder

designedV/dɪˈzaɪnd/

created the plan for a specific item

impressionN/ɪmˈprɛʃən/

the effect someone has on other people

outfitN/ˈaʊt.fɪt/

a set of clothes worn together daily

boldADJ/boʊld/

having a very bright and noticeable appearance

recognisableADJ/ˈrekəɡnaɪzəbl/

easy to identify because of special features

Ready to learn these 6 words?

About 8 minutes · 5 activities

Reading Quizzes

9 questions
Question 1 of 9
1 / 9

Who designed Princess Diana's 'revenge dress'?

Choose an answer to continue

Great for IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, IB, A-Level and everyday English speaking practice.

Speaking Tasks

5 questions