Princess Diana's final iconic dresses find a new home in Los Angeles

Five replicas of Princess Diana's iconic evening gowns, crafted by designer Jacques Azagury, have been acquired by a private collector in Los Angeles. The undisclosed transaction comes as Azagury, with nearly 40 years in the fashion industry, and 12-year collaboration with Princess Diana announced his retirement.

The collection includes duplicates of the dresses worn by Princess Diana during her later years, notably the black halterneck dress she wore to a charity gala on the night of her controversial Panorama interview in 1995.

Azagury, reflecting on Diana's passion for fashion, emphasized her meticulous attention to detail, from choosing the right shoes to jewelry, showcasing her excitement for each public appearance.

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Among the highlighted pieces is the pale blue above-the-knee dress adorned with tiny crystal bugle beads, worn by Princess Diana to a performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall in June 1997. Azagury reveals Diana's fondness for the short-shift dress, prompting him to create a longer, "even more glamorous" version in black as a birthday gift. This black dress, accompanied by a personal note from Diana, became a poignant part of the auction lot.

"She was the only person I was really excited to meet, time after time. Every moment was so exciting to me and we had so much fun, I never got any of the troubled Diana — whenever we were together, it was just joyous," Azagury told PEOPLE.

The designer shared some sentimental items, including sketches and handwritten notes from Diana, with the public. However, he reserved a framed picture sent by Diana herself, featuring three of the famous dresses, as a personal keepsake.

These dresses, infused with historical significance, are set to journey to Los Angeles, joining the extensive collection curated by Renae Plant, founder of The Princess & The Platypus Foundation. Plant operates a 3D interactive online museum housing over 1,800 historical items associated with Princess Diana.