Princess Diana memorabilia has turned into a multi-million dollar industry since her tragic death in 1997.
Collectors pay jaw-dropping prices to own a piece of the fairy tale.
And one champagne bottle from Princess Diana's wedding just exposed how rich collectors really are.
A Danish auction house expects six-figure bidding war over unopened champagne
An unopened bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne from Princess Diana and King Charles III's 1981 wedding is heading to auction next week.
The Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen expects the vintage 1961 champagne to fetch between $78,000 and $95,000 when bidding opens on December 11.
That's right — nearly one hundred grand for a bottle of bubbly that's been sitting around for 44 years.
Wedding champagne becomes holy grail for collectors
Dom Pérignon produced approximately 600 magnums of the 1961 vintage specifically for the July 29, 1981 royal wedding that drew 750 million television viewers worldwide.¹
Each bottle featured unique royal wedding insignia designed exclusively for the ceremony.²
This particular magnum is one of only 12 known bottles from that production still in existence.³
"It is extremely rare for such a type of bottle to appear on the market," Bruun Rasmussen stated. "This is a custom-made Champagne created for a world-famous event, making it exceptionally rare."⁴
Thomas Rosendahl, the head of the wine department at Bruun Rasmussen, called this listing "one of a kind."⁵
"I would say that this is the first time I've come across a bottle with such a beautiful history and provenance," Rosendahl told Fox News Digital.⁶
The auction house expects "great international interest, both from experienced wine collectors and, to a significant extent, from collectors of royal memorabilia."⁷
The champagne still packs 64-year-old kick
Wine experts rate the 1961 Dom Pérignon vintage as one of the finest champagnes ever produced.
The 1961 growing season in Champagne featured ideal weather conditions that created exceptional grapes.⁸
Tom Stevenson, a respected wine critic, declared the 1961 Dom Pérignon "the best Dom Pérignon I have ever tasted," praising its "fabulous length and depth" with "wonderfully mellow aromas of coffee, toast, macaroons, and peaches."⁹
And yes — after 64 years, the wine remains drinkable.
"I am fully confident that the bottle is still drinkable," Rosendahl explained. "We examine all bottles very thoroughly, and among other things, we shine a light through bottles like this one to ensure that the color still appears fresh and bright and not brown or cloudy."¹⁰
Standard bottles of 1961 Dom Pérignon without the royal wedding pedigree typically sell for around $700 to $900.¹¹
But slap Princess Diana's name on something and watch the bidding go insane.
That's what happens when you mix vintage champagne with the most famous wedding in modern history and a princess who died tragically young.
The Danish auction proves collectors will pay premium prices for authentic Diana memorabilia with impeccable provenance.
Princess Diana's clothing routinely shatters auction records — a Bellville Sassoon floral dress she wore to hospitals sold for $520,000 in June 2025.¹²
A custom peach hat Diana wore leaving her honeymoon with Charles fetched nearly $26,000 at that same auction.¹³
Even childhood photographs from Diana's family estate bring over $1,000 at auction.¹⁴
The champagne bottle represents more than just expensive booze — it's a museum-quality artifact from a marriage that captivated the world before ending in spectacular public failure.
Charles and Diana divorced in 1996 after years of well-documented marital problems that played out in tabloids worldwide.¹⁵
Diana died in a Paris car crash just one year after the divorce was finalized.¹⁶
The tragic ending only increased public fascination with anything connected to Diana's brief time as Princess of Wales.
Smart collectors recognized years ago that Diana memorabilia would appreciate significantly over time.
Wedding keepsakes from 1981 that were mass-produced — like commemorative plates and mugs — remain nearly worthless.¹⁷
But rare, one-of-a-kind items with direct royal connection command astronomical prices from serious collectors with deep pockets.
This Dom Pérignon bottle checks every box — limited production, royal wedding provenance, perfect condition, and a compelling story.
The winning bidder next week will own a piece of history that 750 million people watched unfold on live television.
Just don't expect them to pop the cork and pour glasses for their friends.
This champagne's destined for a climate-controlled vault, not anyone's New Year's Eve party.
¹ Wikipedia, "Dom Pérignon," accessed December 4, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Andrea Margolis, "Rare keepsake from Princess Diana, King Charles wedding expected to fetch big bucks on world stage," Fox News, December 3, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
⁸ Tastingbook, "Dom Pérignon 1961 Moët & Chandon," accessed December 4, 2025.
⁹ Wine Legend, "Dom Pérignon 1961," Decanter, August 25, 2017.
¹⁰ Margolis, Fox News.
¹¹ Glass of Bubbly, "Ultimate Guide to Champagne Dom Pérignon Vintages / Price Values," accessed December 4, 2025.
¹² "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection," Julien's Auctions, June 26, 2025.
¹³ Meredith Deliso, "Princess Diana's 'caring' dress sells for over $500K at auction," ABC News, June 27, 2025.
¹⁴ "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection," Julien's Auctions.
