Diana’s Gown Fetches $200,000

BOSTON —  An anonymous Florida bidder paid $200,000 at a glittering charity auction in Boston on Monday for a black evening gown once worn by Princess Diana.

The black velvet dress designed by Bruce Oldfield was donated by Boston boutique owner Barbara Jordan, who paid $36,800 for the V-neck gown at a Christie’s auction in June.

Jordan said she believed the Florida bidder was the same woman who recently bought several other dresses owned by the late princess, but she declined to identify her.

Alicia Gordon, the auctioneer who took the call from the bidder at a Florida restaurant, said the woman would reveal her identity soon and perhaps auction the dress again to raise more money for charity.

“You will find out, and you will not be surprised who it is,” she said. “The person just said, ‘Stay tuned, it’s not over.’ She said she was very inspired by [late U.S. Rep.] Barbara Jordan and Princess Diana.”

Proceeds from the sale of the dress and several other ritzy items up for auction will go to Community Servings, a charity that distributes meals to AIDS patients and their families. Diana wore the dress, a size 4, to a gala performance of the play “Les Miserables” in London in 1985.