Princess Diana's designer dress expected to fetch over $170,000 at auction

Princess Diana was well-known for her designer-filled wardrobe and was always leading the Royal style stakes.

Now, one of her bespoke ivory silk dresses will go up for auction in London and is expected to fetch over $174,000 (£100,000) when it goes under the hammer at Kerry Taylor Auctions on December 10.

The one-off gown was designed and made by David Emanuel, who was also behind the Princess of Wales's iconic wedding dress.

It was worn only once - in 1986, while attending a banquet with the Emir of Bahrain, during her Royal Tour of the Middle East with Prince Charles.

Diana teamed the modest gown, made with local customs in mind, with the Spencer Tiara and pearl drop earrings.

The dress was then bought by a shop assistant at Chameleon second-hand dress shop, in Hereford back in 1994.

It was brought in with other items by the house keeper from Mynde Park estate, where Diana's childhood friend Caroline Twiston-Davies lived and where the Royal frequently visited.

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The mystery woman snapped up the bejewelled dress for a bargain $350 (£200) and was set to wear it to a local hunt ball.

However, the unnamed bargain hunter changed her mind and never wore it, keeping it in the back of her closet, until she saw a documentary on Diana and realised it's significance.

"In the end (luckily) she decided it was a bit too grand!" the auction house claims, adding: "It was only in recent years whilst watching a documentary on the Princess that she recognised the gown and re-discovered it, carefully folded away in a box in the bottom of her wardrobe.

"It is in perfect condition and is a unique one off piece," they added.

Bidding on the day is expected to be fierce for the rare collector's item.