Princess Diana Exhibit Las Vegas – Worth Visiting?

I’ve admired Princess Diana ever since staying up all night to watch her royal wedding as a teenager. So when I heard about the Princess Diana Exhibit in Las Vegas, I had to check it out.

Let me take you back for a second…When Princess Diana got married in the “wedding of the century” I was about 14, and my friends and I stayed up all night to watch, toasting with 7-Up in champagne glasses! It was a wedding we’d never forget. What a true-life fairy tale! Ever since then, I’ve followed her and the Royal Family with interest.

After high school graduation, a couple of friends and I used our diligently saved baby-sitting money to visit England. One day of that 1984 trip, we loitered outside Kensington Palace, flirting with the guards who were not much older than us. After a few hours (!), they confided to us that the Princess of Wales was about to arrive home, and we could stand there right by the driveway if we promised not to do anything stupid.

Trying to “live in the moment” as opposed to looking through the camera, the one picture we snapped is at the above right! Now I wish I’d looked through the lens! 😄 But Diana did smile at us as we awkwardly waved, and we were excited to see that she was driving the car herself!

Recently I was delighted to see that Las Vegas now has a new tribute exhibition dedicated to Princess Diana and the Royal Family! I checked it out, so let me fill you in on what it’s like!

The Exhibition was put together by the Pink Ribbons Crusade, a nonprofit raising funds to fight breast cancer, along with entertainment companies the SBX Group and SEE Global Entertainment. A portion of each ticket sale goes to the Pink Ribbons Crusade.

Where is the exhibit and how do I get in?

The Exhibit is on the 3rd floor of the Shops at Crystals Mall, which is right next to the Aria Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Click here for directions.

The Exhibition is open daily. You can buy general admission tickets for around $30 or a VIP ticket for $7 more. VIP gets you an audio guide, entry at any time, priority line access (skip the line), and a free gift. I got the VIP ticket so I didn’t have to be held to a firm arrival time. Knowing quite a bit about Diana and the Royals, the audio guide wasn’t super interesting or useful for me, but maybe it would be to a Windsors newbie.

What’s Inside the Princess Diana Exhibit?

The Exhibit basically goes in chronological order of Diana’s life through several themed rooms. There are many photos, personal belongings, and a collection of personal correspondence from Diana, Charles, and some others.

Diana’s school notebooks and her handwritten hairdresser appointment list were also on display. It felt a bit like stepping through the pages of a very intimate scrapbook.

I especially loved seeing Diana’s school notebooks and some of the personal letters between her and Charles. They weren’t just random memorabilia — they gave a glimpse into the real woman behind the headlines.

Other memorabilia includes a piece of Charles and Diana’s wedding cake(ew?!), the seating chart from their wedding reception, and a quilt featuring Diana’s image, which you can’t see up close but can see from far away.

The exhibit also includes sections on various members of the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip, Prince William, and Prince Harry. There’s a section on the British Royalty and the White House (see Richard Nixon and Prince Philip yucking it up)! There’s even a display of one of Princess Grace of Monaco’s fur coats and gowns thrown in for fun.

Real vs. Replica: What You’re Actually Seeing

The part of the exhibit I was most interested in seeing was the gowns of fashion icon Diana. The website for the exhibit touts having the largest on-display collection of Diana’s gowns. The FAQ section noted that her wedding gown is an “exact replica” of the original Elizabeth Emanuel wedding dress.

Unfortunately, it’s not noted that many of the clothing items on display are recreations made of paper! It must be said these paper recreations by Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave are impressive to see, but not exactly what I was picturing or hoping for. Just manage expectations if you’re hoping for more originals.

Then there were 81 doll-sized replicas (in cloth!) of Diana’s gowns. This was kind of fun to see, but again, not really what I was expecting. If I’d seen this when I was 8 years old, and still had my Barbies, I’d have been thrilled! 😄

The adorable and famous Black Sheep Sweater was on display. It is a replica and is also sold in the gift shop!

Diana’s Gowns – The Real Showstoppers

Thankfully, there are authentic pieces — including about seven of Diana’s original evening gowns. These are where the exhibit truly shines. One of my favorites? The Gianni Versace little black dress. Seeing the real thing, up close, gives you a better appreciation for her style and presence.

The lighting and display cases are well done, making this section feel a bit like a museum’s crown jewel collection.

Was It Worth It?

In summary, I was happy to have spent my money for an hour at this exhibit as opposed to disposing of that money in a slot machine! It was fun to see the real gowns and some of Diana’s own collection of correspondence to people. I also thought the wedding reception seating chart was fascinating to see, as I’d never come across that before.

Final Thoughts

I’m glad I visited — even with the paper gown surprise. It was a nostalgic, touching experience, especially seeing Diana’s real correspondence and evening dresses up close. If you’re a longtime fan like me, or just love discovering offbeat Vegas stops, this exhibit is absolutely worth an hour of your time.

Already been? Let me know what you thought — am I being too critical, or did you feel the same?

Planning your own Vegas adventure? You might enjoy:

• Cool Las Vegas Sights for 2024: My favorite off-the-beaten-path stops (like this one!)
• Is Caesars Palace Still Cool?: A no-fluff take on whether this iconic hotel still holds up
• Encore Hotel Las Vegas Review: What it’s really like, and whether it’s worth the price
• Is the Museum of Illusion in Las Vegas Worth Visiting?: Watch my YouTube walkthrough and honest review!

Wherever you go, I hope you find a little magic (and maybe even a black sheep sweater of your own).

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