The Grevin Museum in Paris, one of Europe's oldest wax museums, has unveiled a striking new addition to its collection: a life-size figure of Princess Diana wearing the famous "revenge dress" that became an iconic moment in royal history.
The Story Behind the Dress
The museum's decision to create the Diana figure came after its director visited London and found the representation at Madame Tussauds underwhelming, prompting him to commission a more convincing version for the Paris museum. The resulting sculpture depicts Diana in an exact replica of the black, off-the-shoulder cocktail dress she wore to a Serpentine Gallery event in London in 1994.
That particular evening carried significant historical weight, as it was the same night that then-Prince Charles, now King Charles III, publicly acknowledged his infidelity with Camilla Parker Bowles during a television interview. The form-fitting black dress, completed with high heels, a pearl choker, and a small handbag clasped in both hands, was later dubbed the "revenge dress" by tabloids - symbolism the Grevin Museum deliberately embraced.
Diana's Enduring Paris Connection
The tribute holds special meaning for Paris, where Diana - still affectionately called "Lady Di" by the French - died in a car crash in a tunnel by the Seine in 1997. Her tragic death helped immortalize her in the Parisian imagination, where she remains present through flowers and handwritten notes left at informal memorials throughout the city.
French novelist Christine Orban, author of "Mademoiselle Spencer" written from Diana's perspective, noted the significance of the timing and the dress choice. "The dress is very significant of her liberation because in the royal family, black is only worn for funerals, and then such a sexy dress for a Princess of Wales, well, that's not common either," Orban explained. "So she decides to wear her high heels and Louboutins. And to go to the Serpentine Gallery to make an impression, to get photographed."
Royal Placement and Public Reaction
Observers noted with some irony that the museum positioned Diana far from wax likenesses of her ex-husband Charles and mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth. The unveiling also coincided with the 30th anniversary of Diana's explosive BBC "Panorama" interview, which significantly impacted the monarchy's standing.
Paris residents and visitors responded strongly to the new installation. "It brought back that night in the tunnel, even though I was a kid then," said Julien Martin, 38. "Paris never completely let go of Diana, so it made sense that a big wax museum finally did this."
Younger generations also expressed connection to the late princess. "I wasn't even alive but for my generation, she seems like the first modern princess - glamorous, but also vulnerable," noted 24-year-old student Lina Ben Amar. "If tourists come to see celebrities in wax, she is one of the first they will look for."
The Grevin Museum, founded in the 19th century, regularly refreshes its collection of political leaders, artists, and pop culture figures to maintain visitor interest. The museum attracts approximately 700,000 annual visitors and continues to add prominent figures to its ornate halls. Diana now stands beside another royal who met her fate in Paris - Marie Antoinette, creating a poignant connection between two iconic historical figures separated by centuries but united by their Paris connections.
