Princess Diana's black "Revenge Dress" will be auctioned on December 9, with an estimated maximum price of 220,000 pounds

Diana wore the black dress to a dinner in 1994, hours after Charles admitted to an affair in a documentary. (AP)

The late British Princess Diana's famous black "Revenge Dress" will be auctioned on December 9. Sotheby's auction house estimates that the transaction price can reach up to 220,000 pounds (approximately NT$9.4 million).

The BBC reported that in 1994, Diana separated from her then-husband Prince Charles. Charles admitted to having an affair in a documentary. Hours after the show aired, Diana appeared at a dinner party wearing this black dress, which immediately became the focus of the media. The dramatic appearance was regarded as a silent response to her husband's affair. Therefore, the dress became known as the "revenge dress" and became a pop culture classic.

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According to reports, Diana was originally going to wear a lower-key Valentino dress, but before going out, she changed her mind and changed into Greek designer Christina. Off-the-shoulder black silk evening gown designed by Christina Stambolian, paired with a royal necklace, black clutch and high heels. Her stylist at the time, Anna Harvey, once said that Diana wanted to look glamorous.

Morgane Halimi, head of Sotheby's global handbags and fashion department, said Diana understood that fashion is a language in itself. As the outside world scrambles to tell her life story, she regains control of her voice through her choice of clothing, making this dress one of her most powerful statements.

The gown was last sold at public auction in 1997. Diana sold 79 outfits including it to raise money for cancer and AIDS charities. The black dress sold for £39,098; she died in a car accident a few months later.

Diana's clothing has hit high prices in recent years. A "black woolen sweater" she once wore, with a pattern of a black sheep appearing among rows of white sheep, was sold at Sotheby's in New York in 2023 for 920,000 pounds.