Princess Diana's Royal Dresses To Be Displayed in Novi

“Royal Dresses of Diana, The People’s Princess” exhibit will be on display at the at in Novi May 3-6. Viewing the exhibit is included in the show admission.

“Showgoers will see a replica of Princess Diana’s wedding gown as they enter the show and the gown she wore dancing with John Travolta at a White House state dinner in the exhibit,” said Beth Anderson, executive show manager of Southern Shows. “The display has photographs and video covering a retrospective of her life as princess, mother, fashion icon and humanitarian.”

The exhibit tells Princess Diana’s life story through a presentation of her personal possessions and a sampling of the royal dresses Diana chose to auction for charity. Informational panels explain her journey from childhood to Royal Princess to fashion luminary to global humanitarian. The exhibit is arranged in seven sections:

1. Entrance: A 15 minute introductory documentary tells Diana’s story.
2. Diana’s Childhood: Diana’s ancestral background, early childhood experiences and lineage that factored into her future relationship with Britain’s Royal Family.
3. Engagement and Wedding: A video story of the engagement announcement and Royal wedding, which was viewed by more than 750 million people worldwide.
4. A Princess of Style & Charity: Video, graphics, sketches, notes and commentary from Diana’s favorite fashion designers tell the story of Diana's legendary transformation from ingénue to style icon.
5. The Servant Princess: The story of Diana’s tireless approach to her duties as a “princess with purpose" as she ascended to global humanitarian, highlighted by the perspectives of those who benefitted from her compassion and generous use of her royal platform.
6. Goodbye England’s Rose—The Painful Passing of The Princess: Video of her brother’s eulogy as well as the Royal Family’s reaction to her death and ultimate honoring of her life. Guests can leave words of endearment and tokens if they wish.
7. Finale Royal Dresses: Five dresses from Diana's wardrobe will be on display, including three by one of Diana's favorite designers, Catherine Walker:

• Midnight blue velvet off-the-shoulder gown by Victor Edelstein in which Diana danced at the White House with John Travolta at a State Dinner hosted by President and Mrs. Reagan in 1985.
• Black Clerici silk crepe halter-neck dinner dress with bugle bead trim by Catherine Walker worn at the Palace of Versailles in 1984 and featured in the Vanity Fair issue that promoted the 1997 Christie's Charity Sale.
• Burgundy tailcoat with heavy pearl and gold thread embroidery by Catherine Walker worn in 1984 to the London premier of Steel Magnolias.
• Asymmetric cream and pink sequin gown by Catherine Walker worn during an official State Visit to Brazil in 1991 and also to a movie premiere where she was photographed with actress Liza Minnelli.
• Green sequin "Dynasty" dress worn by the Princess around 1990.

Show guests will also be able to meet Maureen Dunkel who purchased the gowns before Princess Di’s untimely death and author of “My Decade with Diana: The Perpetual Power of the People’s Princess” that chronicles owning the dresses and using them for charitable purposes to further Diana's mission of helping those in need.

Show hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10; youth 6-12 are $5 and children 5 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Advance tickets are $9 online. Discount tickets are available at for $7. Group tickets for 10 or more are offered in advance online for $8. Happy Hours are everyday after 5 p.m. with $5 admission, free gifts, discounts and special demonstrations. On site parking is available for $5. For more information and exhibitor coupons, visit www.InternationalWomenShow.com or call 800-849-0248.