Royal memorabilia market - 2013 auction review

Sales of royal memorabilia proved popular this year in the wake of the birth of Prince George in July, with the value of Prince William's signature rising by 33.3%. Memorabilia pertaining to Princess Diana remains enormously popular, with the dress she wore to the White House in 1985 auctioning for $362,500 in March - a new record for a Diana dress.

Top royal memorabilia sale of 2013

The White House dress is the most valuable Diana dress ever sold at auction

The dress worn by Princess Diana as she danced with John Travolta at the White House in 1985 made $362,500 in March - making it the most valuable Diana dress ever sold at auction. It was reportedly sold to "a British gentleman as a surprise to cheer up his wife".

2013's important royal memorabilia sales

Princess Diana not to be published photo

The unpublished photograph shows a young Diana on a skiing trip with friends

Another Diana dress, which she wore to the 1986 premiere of James Bond film The Living Daylights, achieved $167,122 in December.
A series of letters written in the 19th century between members of the Russian royal family made $88,000.
A cloth dipped in the blood of Louis XVI auctioned for $24,400 in Paris in April.
An archive of letters written by Queen Victoria sold in August for $23,500.
An unpublished photograph of a young princess Diana made $18,306 in January.
A lock of hair from the head of Archduke Franz Ferdinand achieved an impressive $18,000 in April - an increase of 2,949% on its estimate.

It was a breakout year for…

Prince William, whose signature rose in value by 33.3% between 2012 and 2013.

It was a year to forget for…

Those who bought commemorative, mass-produced royal baby items on the off chance that they would become collectibles. As always, the rarity of an item has a strong hand in determining its value.

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