Princess Diana and Princess Grace had a lot in common: They followed unlikely paths to the palace, dealt with unfaithful husbands, and died in tragic car crashes. Now, coincidentally, they’re both the subjects of local exhibits. Here’s how these royal events stack up.
“Grace of Monaco: Princess in Dior” at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
“Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition” at Tysons Corner Center
The Royal
Princess Grace of Monaco—or, as she was known before marrying Prince Rainier III in 1956, actress Grace Kelly.
Diana, Princess of Wales—or, as she was known before marrying Prince Charles in 1981, Lady Diana Spencer.
The Exhibit
On display will be Dior gowns, hats, and accessories, all of which were once owned by the princess. The items are on loan from the Palace of Monaco.
It’s being touted as a “walk-through documentary,” which basically means that life-size (and larger) images are combined with audio to tell Diana’s story.
The Venue
Hillwood Estate, formerly the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post. While there’s a big gulf between “princess” and “cereal heiress,” Post was a major DC figure.
The Caveat
Don’t look for a deep dive into Kelly’s life: This exhibit is focused on her relationship with Christian Dior artistic director Marc Bohan, who helped craft her public image.
Photograph of Grace Kelly courtesy of Paramount Pictures/Britannica.com.
Photograph of Princess Diana by © John Mathew Smith 2010/commons.wikimedia.org.
This article appears in the July 2022 issue of Washingtonian.
