Princess Diana Collection: Simi Valley Museum Prepares for Major Debut

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley will host a major new exhibition beginning Nov. 7.

The display, titled Diana: Love Life Legacy with the subtitle A Life of Giving, features more than 750 items related to Princess Diana. This marks the first stop for the traveling show, and no subsequent venues have been announced. Melissa Giller, the library's chief marketing and cultural programming officer, stated that the museum had long sought to present a show on the late princess. Giller described Diana as having lived a short but remarkable life where she donated her time and resources as a true humanitarian.

Curator Renae Plant, a Southern California resident, selected most pieces from her personal collection. Plant also maintains a virtual Princess Diana Museum online. Giller noted that only 10 of the 750 items have ever been shown publicly, making this presentation a world premiere. The collection includes gowns, jewelry, letters, and childhood treasures. Diana Spencer, born on July 1, 1961, died at age 36 in a Paris car crash on Aug. 31, 1997. She became one of the most photographed women in the world following her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles, now King Charles III, their 1996 divorce, and her advocacy for AIDS patients and landmine victims.

The exhibition contains specific links to the Reagan presidency. When Diana married Charles on July 29, 1981, both President and Mrs. Reagan were invited. President Reagan was recovering from an assassination attempt, so only Nancy Reagan attended. The two women maintained a friendship and exchanged letters for decades, according to Giller. Among the displayed items is a spare version of the famous silk taffeta and antique lace wedding gown. The original had a 25-foot train and was made as a backup in case of last-minute issues. Visitors will also see a duplicate of the black sheep sweater Diana wore in 1981 upon becoming engaged. After Diana snagged a cuff, Buckingham Palace requested a repair and received a new garment with one design change: a black sheep facing the opposite direction.

The show also includes the last dress Diana was fitted for before her death, with pins still in place. Another prominent piece is the midnight blue gown known as the Travolta dress, worn to a 1985 White House state dinner. Giller recounted that Nancy Reagan, through social secretary Gahl Burt, encouraged actor John Travolta to cut in while Diana danced with the president. Travolta tapped President Reagan on the shoulder, and the Marine Band began a medley from Saturday Night Fever. Giller said the resulting photo is among the most requested in the library's archives. The gown will be displayed next to the one Nancy Reagan wore that evening.

The library hosts two special exhibitions annually, and Giller said this will be one of the largest. The show will occupy 10,000 square feet across two levels, the same space used by the recently closed America: 250 Years in the Making exhibition. The run continues through May 31, and Giller expects the first two weeks to sell out. Entry is included with museum admission, which costs $16 for general visitors. Seniors 62 and older pay $13, while youths ages 11 to 17 pay $9. The library is located at 40 Presidential Way in Simi Valley. A separate, unrelated exhibition titled Princess Diana & The Royals is currently on view at The Shops at Crystals in Las Vegas.