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In the cosmopolitan heart of London, an auction orchestrated by Bonhams has successfully transacted an array of costumes, props and set pieces from the acclaimed Netflix series The Crown, fetching thousands of pounds. This event, held on Wednesday, February 7, attracted aficionados of the series, which offers a dramatized portrayal of the British Royal Family, despite its occasional departures from historical accuracy. The series stands as one of the American streaming platform’s monumental successes.
The Crown costumes and props auction comprised 450 lots, ranging from simple dress sketches to elaborate, life-sized set designs, all of which had been utilized in the production of this multi-award-winning series. Among the most notable items, the replica of the coronation throne commanded a price of 30,000 euros, while the ornately decorated, fully operational golden carriage was secured for 66,000 euros. Furthermore, Princess Diana’s green Jaguar escalated to a final bid of 82,000 euros.
In contrast, the facsimile of 10 Downing Street’s façade garnered less enthusiasm, achieving a sale just above 11,700 euros, despite Bonhams’ initial estimation of between 20,000 and 30,000 pounds. In the realm of costume, the ermine and red satin coronation attire of Queen Elizabeth II, donned by actress Claire Foy, garnered nearly 20,000 pounds. Similarly, the investiture ensemble of the Prince of Wales, adorned with a heavy purple coat by actor Josh O’Connor, was acquired for 16,400 euros. Recreations of Princess Diana’s wardrobe and jewelry also witnessed considerable demand. Her engagement ring, featuring a faux sapphire, was purchased for 9,030 euros, and the so-called “revenge dress,” worn in the aftermath of Charles’s public admission of his affair with Camilla during an interview, fetched 15,000 euros.
Additional props and set pieces were made available for online purchase until Thursday, February 8. The proceeds from the physical auction are earmarked for the benefit of students at the National Film and Television School, in a collaborative effort with The Crown‘s British production company, Left Bank Pictures.
The sixth and final season of the series, which aired between November and December 2023, maintained its position within the top 10 of Netflix’s most-watched English-language programs worldwide for eight consecutive weeks.
With AFP
