Princess Diana's blue velvet gown has finally been auctioned for £264,000. Her midnight-blue gown became popular after she danced with John Travolta at the White House. The off-the-shoulder velvet gown by Victor Edelstein which made heads turn at a state banquet given by US President Ronald Reagan in 1985 has been sold to a British institution. Dress Princess Diana Wore When She Danced With John Travolta Up For Sale.

In the beginning, the gown did not reach the reserve price £200,000 at the Passion for Fashion sale at Kerry Taylor Auctions in London on Monday. However, it was sold to a 'British Institution' for the post-auction price of £264,000. It was expected that the iconic gown would fetch between £250,000 and £350,000 at the Passion for Fashion sale at Kerry Taylor Auctions in London. Before the sale began, auctioneer Kerry Taylor said that buyers from Britain and the United States were interested in buying the gown. From Margaret Thatcher’s Grey Asprey Handbag to Princess Diana's Lady Dior, Iconic Handbags to Go on View in London.

After the sale, the auctioneer said that the seller was delighted as 'he hoped it would stay in the UK'. The gown was the star attraction when Diana auctioned off her outfits for charity in 1997. The dress was last sold at auction in 2013 for £240,000 and bought by an anonymous bidder who said he wanted to surprise his wife. Diana and Travolta had danced to Grease and Saturday Night Fever. He had described it was a fairy-tale experience and that he was nervous when they took to the floor. Diana was seen in the same gown on different occasions including a state visit to Austria in 1986 and a night at the Royal Opera House in 1991. A long-sleeved Katherine Cusack evening gown, also midnight-blue velvet, from 1986 was also sold at the auction.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 11, 2019 11:12 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).