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Welcome to Dolls in the Image of Diana, Princess of Wales. This content was first published in 1998 and has been randomly updated and expanded. NEW!
Franklin Mint Princess Diana Dress-up Bear
Around 2002, when it was on the point of abandoning its popular People’s Princess Wardrobe line, the Franklin Mint decided to produce this “dress-up” teddy bear line. The bear has a similar wardrobe to the People’s Princess wardrobe doll and the Little Lady Diana doll, featuring gowns, hats, suits with accessories and jewelry. The 11½” high bear is honey coloured with blue eyes to match Diana’s coloring. And her head has a little brush sweep of longer hair meant to give the impression of Diana's flicked back, feathered hairstyle.
Elvis Diana Ensemble
The bear comes wearing a bear proportioned version of the pearl studded Elvis gown. She holds a white rose & wears a copy of Diana’s pearl & diamond studded Queen Mary Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara. Since she’s a bear, she doesn’t need or have shoes.
Red Cocktail Dress Ensemble
The red Christian La Croix cocktail dress from the vinyl doll’s wardrobe collection makes it into the Diana Bear’s closet. Her only accessories are a matching red clutch purse and a single bow for her ear (not shown).
Travolta Gown Ensemble
The Travolta Gown comes with a bear sized version of Diana’s signature sapphire cluster choker and long gloves, just as she dressed for the White House State dinner dance in 1985.
Navy Suit Ensemble
The niftiest of the Diana Bear’s wardrobe is the Navy and White “Inspecting the Guards” suit, which is accessorised with a bear sized hat and multi-strand pearl necklace. It is pure bear chic.
Bear Accessory Case
Another part of the collection was a cute accessory trunk meant to store extra outfits and jewelry. Its style is reminiscent of one of Diana’s favourite handbags. Her name is inscribed on the front, and the clasp is concealed under a single white “Princess of Wales” rose. Inside, there is a side pocket for keeping her paperwork, and is wide and spacious enough for storage of her hat, a hanging area for the outfits and 3 shelves for storing her goodies. There doesn’t seem to be space for storing the bear, so it's not a carry case or trunk in the style of the vinyl wardrobe doll.
The handle is flexible and made of plastic-coated cardboard. Don't be tempted to overfill the trunk then carry by the handle as it will split without much encouragement. Except for that feature, the trunk is mostly well-made, but 20 years on, I've found that some of the vinyl covering is coming away from the thin board of the flap and the velcro strip that fastens it closed under the flap/flower is coming loose. I don't think it will take much to repair (possibly a swipe of rubber cement or something similar that won't crystallise or corrode the vinyl covering,) but it's one of the annoying facts about plastic-based materials...they break down as they age.
I wasn't much of a fan of the concept until I bought one, and the bear turned out to be so charming that I fell in love enough that I bought an extra bear trunk for the Little Lady Diana toddler doll's goodies, since she was issued trunkless and the bear trunk is perfect for the toddler's small horde of party dresses. The FM Bear is better than the other Diana tribute bears from other companies in that she captures Diana's fashion sense, beauty and elegance perfectly while being a very unique bear, not like scads of other bears that only differ in the colour of her fur and the style of embroidered emblem on her chest. (Are you listening, you rip-off merchants fromTy, beanie bears?)
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