An Australian woman has built what she believes is one of the world's largest private collections of Princess Diana's personal belongings, bringing together more than 800 dresses, accessories and other treasured items over the past 12 years. Renae Plant, who lives in Los Angeles, has dedicated much of her life to preserving the memory and legacy of the late Princess of Wales.

Plant's journey began unexpectedly in 2013 when a friend told her that six of Diana's dresses were going up for auction at Julien's Auctions. At the time, Plant and her husband, Livinio Stuyck, were considering investing in a local pizza restaurant. Instead, she became fascinated by the opportunity to own something connected to the princess, whom she had admired since childhood.

Princess Diana's black evening gown designed by Jacques Azagury
The black gown was commissioned shortly before Diana's death but was never worn by her. Image: Collected

Her connection with Diana dates back to 1983, when she was 12 years old and attended a royal visit during a school trip in Queensland, Australia. After meeting the princess, Plant discovered that Diana had dropped a small clay platypus. A police officer helped her recover the item, which she later came to regard as a meaningful moment in her life.

In 2018, Plant established The Princess & The Platypus Foundation, a registered non-profit organisation supporting charitable causes connected to Diana's philanthropic values. She says her mission is to protect the princess's life and legacy while bringing together personal items that might otherwise be scattered among collectors around the world.

Building the Princess Diana collection has required significant financial commitment. Plant and her husband have remortgaged their home several times to purchase important pieces at auction. Among her acquisitions are a famous Atelier Versace gown bought for $200,000 and Diana's colourful Belville Sassoon dress, often called the caring dress, which she purchased for $520,000. The couple also spent approximately $1.9 million on 35 items during a 2025 auction.

Plant is now preparing to present her first major exhibition, titled The Princess Diana: Love, Life and Legacy: A Life of Giving, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California. The exhibition will feature personal letters, childhood dresses, voice-recording equipment, favourite records and numerous gowns worn by Diana throughout her life.

One of the highlights will be a black evening gown designed by Jacques Azagury. Diana commissioned the dress shortly before her death in August 1997 but never had the opportunity to wear it. According to Plant, the garment still has fitting pins attached, making it a particularly emotional piece in the collection.

Despite the financial challenges, Plant continues to preserve Diana's belongings through an online museum and professional storage facilities. She hopes the exhibition will allow visitors to understand the princess beyond her royal image and appreciate her humanitarian work, personal style and lasting influence.