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At the heart of the exhibition sits the Victor Edelstein gown Diana wore to dance with John Travolta at a 1985 White House state dinner

A sweeping new exhibition dedicated to Princess Diana will open on November 7 at the Ronald Reagan Library in Washington, D.C., running through to May 2027.

Titled Princess Diana: Love Life Legacy A Life of Giving, the show brings together more than 700 objects, from gowns and handwritten correspondence to childhood keepsakes, charting the Princess of Wales's life from birth to her untimely death.

The exhibition is the product of a collaboration between collector Renae Plant's Princess Diana Museum and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI).

Plant's vast collection had previously only been accessible through her virtual museum.

"It's been my dream for it to be seen in public so people can see her life and legacy up close," Plant told People.

The dress has been loaned by Historic Royal Palaces, which acquired it in 2019, and will be displayed alongside the beaded white gown Nancy Reagan wore that same evening.

"Seeing the two dresses together, like those two iconic women on the stairs of the White House, will be very exciting," Plant said.

Melissa Giller, the RRPFI's Chief Marketing and Cultural Programming Officer, described how the famous dance came about: "During the state dinner, as was customary, President Reagan had a dance with Princess Diana. [A Reagan staffer] had John Travolta tap the president on the shoulder and ask to cut in.

As soon as John Travolta and the Princess joined together in dance, the Marine Band struck up 'Staying Alive,' creating this iconic moment in history."

The original sheet music for the Saturday Night Fever hit, which the Marine Band had to learn specially for the occasion, will also feature in the show.

Among the 64 clothing items on display are roughly eight baby dresses and shoes that Plant says have never been shown publicly.

Diana's so-called "caring dress," purchased by Plant at auction in 2025 for $520,000, holds particular personal significance — the Princess was wearing it when Plant first encountered her during a visit to Australia.

Pre-fame garments including Laura Ashley dresses bearing hand-sewn ownership labels and ski trousers offer a glimpse of what Plant calls Diana's "Sloane Ranger years."

Visitors will find Diana's personal record collection, notably a copy of Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road adorned with three hand-drawn love hearts beside the singer's photograph. "How do you make that up?" Plant told People. "I get goosies talking about it."

A recreation of Diana's backup wedding dress, completed in 2024 with designer Elizabeth Emanuel, also features.

The exhibition also illuminates the deep connection between Diana and the Reagan family.

Nancy Reagan represented the United States at Diana's 1981 wedding to the then-Prince Charles, as President Reagan was still recovering from the assassination attempt on his life.

"By adding in items from President and Mrs. Reagan's archival collection at the Reagan Library with Princess Diana's artifacts, we've created a one-of-a-kind pairing telling the story of the Princess of Wales and the enduring transatlantic bond between the U.S. and the U.K.," Giller told People.

The show represents the culmination of a decade-long effort to stage the exhibition at the Reagan Library. Once the Washington run concludes, Plant hopes to take her portion of the collection on a global tour.

"By bringing these stories together, the exhibition explores why Diana remains such an enduring cultural figure — and why her story continues to resonate with audiences decades after her death," Giller added.