More than 450 props, gowns and sets from all six seasons of Netflix’s The Crown are to be sold in a live and online auction next month with proceeds funding a host of scholarship places for future filmmakers.
Among some of the items, part of an exhibition now open to the public in London, is a replica of the so-called Princess Diana “revenge dress”.
The infamous black silk gown made headlines in 1994 when Diana wore it the same evening Prince Charles admitted adultery in a television interview – and again when fans of the series saw Elizabeth Debicki recreate the look.
The dress could sell for as much as £12,000, according to Meg Randell, head of fashion at Bonhams.
“As soon as you see the dress, you think ‘oh my goodness it’s Diana’, but also it’s Elizabeth Debicki as Diana,” she said.
“I think the dress itself, just what it represents, is huge. It stops being just a dress. It’s a real moment.
“You know it’s as good as you can get if you’re a fashion collector, a royal fan or a Diana fan – it’s so eye-catching, so I think this one is going to be really popular. We’ve already had lots of people talking about it.”
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Another item that’s caught the eye of Bonhams’ director of iconic collections, Charlie Thomas, is the like-for-like gold state coach.
The real one has been used in every coronation since 1831 and in the series it’s used in scenes of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Mr Thomas said: “The fact they built a carriage that’s completely unique is incredible. I’ve looked really hard to try and find another reproduction of a gold state carriage and I cannot find one, it’s in fully working order, as you saw in The Crown. So you know if you had six horses, you could strap them up to it and off you go.”
It’s estimated the coach may sell for £50,000.
Replicas of the late Queen’s regal garments including her coronation ordaining dress, the Imperial Mantle (cloak) and red coronation robe are expected to fetch £30,000.
Among the lots are portraits and location sets too such as the recreation of Number 10 Downing Street’s front door which is thought to sell for between £20,000 and £30,000.
Princess Diana’s engagement ring, worn by actress Emma Corrin, could go for as much as £3,000.
Mr Thomas said: “We’re already getting interest from all over the world.
“The Crown has been running for almost 10 years, six seasons, and it’s been watched all over the world by millions and millions of people who’ve all fallen in love with that cinematic experience that they’ve offered people at home.
“The sales are about celebrating the costumes, the sets, the decorations, all things that when you watch The Crown and maybe you don’t really pay that much attention to because you’re focusing on the actors, this is all about the people that make the sets that make the costumes and they are absolutely phenomenal.”
Sales from the live auction will go towards funding a new scholarship programme at the National Film and Television School.
The school’s director, Jon Wardle, said it gives a chance for them to uncover new talent.
He said: “Over 20 years, depending on how much money is raised, it will support around 100 students to come to the school so it will mean that they won’t have to pay fees to come and it will make it much more accessible for many, many people across the UK.
“A big thing for us is we will have people with real ability, not just those with the ability to pay. And there are lots of people who have dreams of building their life in film and TV and a scholarship programme can transform the lives of people there.”
The exhibition is open to the public until 5 February with the live auction taking place two days later.
