Lot 42 – Green Silk Gown

She also wore it to an event (above right) with a emerald collar necklace and clips which I suspect were borrowed.. The most well-known wearing was Diana in full emerald splendour with the Art Deco Choker, Art Deco emerald bracelet, emerald drop earrings topped with the Spencer tiara and Diana's trusty sapphire engagement ring. She carried a matching satin evening clutch with matching dyed to match evening pumps.

The gown was worn in the photo at left to a banquet at the Dorchester Hotel in London and a birthday at Buckingham Palace in 1992, and to her last state banquet in 1993.

My guess is the emerald collar was the occasion of the birthday party as there are photos around of Diana stood next to Princess Margaret in this. She wore an also unknown pair of emerald and diamond halo cluster earrings, quite impressive. In what seems an odd piece of coincidence, the birthday boy of that evening, Sir George Solti, died the night before Diana's funeral. He was 84.

This gown is one of my top 10 favourites. Judging by the number of replicas, it certainly is popular with replica makers.

One of its most significant claims to fame is that it's the last gown of which I can find any proof of being the last public wearing of the Queen's Family Order.