Princess Diana Exhibit

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia has mounted a new exhibition on Princess Diana that opens October 2nd.
From October 2 through December 31, 2009, the
National Constitution Center will host the international traveling exhibition, Diana: A Celebration, providing an opportunity for visitors to learn more about the life and work of
the Princess of Wales.

From the press release:

"Making its East Coast debut, and returning to the United States for the first time since 2007, the award-winning exhibition explores Diana's childhood, her engagement to HRH
Prince Charles, their royal wedding, their children, and Diana's life and work as a global humanitarian and model citizen. Diana: A Celebration is on loan from the Althorp Estate,
the Spencer Family’s 500-year-old ancestral home in England."

“This exhibition is a remarkable tribute to Princess Diana’s life and work,” said National Constitution Center President and CEO Linda E. Johnson. “Because she was admired by millions across the globe, we expect Diana: A Celebration to have broad appeal, which will allow the Center to expand its audience and, in turn, introduce more visitors to the remarkable stories of ‘We the People’ celebrated here every day.”

Covering 10,000 square feet, Diana: A Celebration features over 150 artifacts organized
into nine galleries: Childhood, Spencer Women, Engagement, Royal Wedding, Tiara
Gallery, Style & Fashion, Her Work, Tribute, and Condolences.

Highlights include:

· Diana’s royal wedding gown, diamond tiara, veil, 25-ft. train, shoes, parasol, and
bridesmaid’s dress
· 28 dresses, suits, and gowns designed by Versace, Valentino, Chanel, and Azagury, among others, worn by Diana during her public life
· Musical score and handwritten lyrics of the Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition
dedicated to Diana and adapted from “Candle in the Wind”
· Original heritage, 17th and 18th century family paintings from the Althorp Estate
· The original, hand-edited text of Charles Spencer’s moving tribute to his sister, delivered at Diana’s funeral in Westminster Abbey
· Home movies of Diana’s childhood, historical artifacts, personal letters, photos, and heirlooms

Tickets go on sale today and are pretty-pricey, $23 dollars. You can save money by joining the National Constitution Center for $35 and the ticket is free. I'm hoping to attend on October 13 so that I can also attend Tina Brown's lecture that evening.

Comments

Native NYer said…
I haven't thought of Diana in years. The exhibit sounds great with its 9 galleries. That's a lot of stuff. I'll have to see how I can fit it into my schedule. I wonder what she would think of her sons today. (She would be proud, of course.) I wish Michael was here to see it with us. He would have had lots of commentary; better than any tour guide. He would have been in heaven.
September 8, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Janella said…
It looks like the exhibition will only be at the National Constitution Center. I would love to see it, but I live in Denver.
September 8, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Elizabeth Kerri Mahon said…
It's a shame that it's not touring the country. I have a feeling that since it's a permanent exhibition at Althorp, it's only available during the months that the house is closed to the public which is why it may not be touring.
September 9, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Many Lives of Beryl Markham

Image
“A life has to move or it stagnates. Even this life, I think. Every tomorrow ought not to resemble every yesterday.” – Beryl Markham   Two of my favorite writers, Lauren Willig and Deanna Raybourn , have writers have novels set in Kenya during the 1920’s. I have previously written about some of the denizens of the Happy Valley Set (Alice de Janze, Idina Sackville) before but I was all of a sudden inspired to read more about Beryl Markham. Way back in the 1980’s, after OUT OF AFRICA was released, there was a miniseries on CBS called SHADOW ON THE SUN starring Stephanie Powers as Markham. I vaguely remember a scene were Powers as Markham says “I’ve flown the Atlantic” in a really terrible English accent. Born in England but raised in Kenya, Beryl Markham was a notorious beauty. She trained race horses and had scandalous affairs, but she is most remembered for being a pioneering aviatrix. She became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean and the first person to make it
Read more

Scandalous Women in Fiction: Irene Forsyte

Image
I recently watched 2002 Granada Television production of John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga again to immerse myself in the world of the Victorians. I was struck again by the character of Irene Heron Forsyte, the mysterious, and aloof beauty that is at the heart of the first series. During the course of the first six episodes she manages to enchant not one but three of the Forsyte men as well as stealing the heart of Philip Bosinney, the fiance of her good friend June Forsyte. She leaves her husband Soames, which causes a scandal, that reverberates throughout the second series. Soames is never really able to get over losing Irene. Irene is certainly a Scandalous Woman but it is less about what she does than how the men in her life perceive her that makes her so Scandalous. When we first meet Irene in both the television series she is living in Bournemouth with her stepmother. Her father who was a Professor (we are not told of what) has died, leaving Irene with only 50 pounds a year
Read more

Royal Princess, Royal Scandal - the sad life of Princess Margaret

Image
It'll be six years next month that HRH Princess Margaret passed away at the age of 71. Apparently her ex-husband, Lord Snowdon has decided to share intimate details of his marriage to the late Princess in a new biography. According to Hello Magazine: "News of the book, which is set to hit UK stores in the summer, may come as a surprise to many royal watchers. "There has always been an understanding that no biography would be published during his lifetime," says royal author Tim Heald - who wrote a biography of the Queen's late sister. "He has never spoken a word in public about Margaret," he continues, "He has remained very loyal to her and to her memory." "However, the royal snapper, who married the beautiful, blue-eyed royal at Westminster Abbey in 1960, has given his "full agreement" to the new biography by well-known journalist Anne de Courcy. "I am now happy for people to know about my life and I want to put the record
Read more