Yes, you read that right. Half a dozen dirty, old, and simple dresses will be up for auction next month, and they’re expected to fetch a [very] pretty penny. In June, collectors will have the opportunity to buy dresses worn by the late Queen Elizabeth II and the late Princess Margaret when they were kids at Kerry Taylor Auctions in Bermondsey.
in the collection is a white cotton baby dress and bonnet worn by the late monarch, a pink and green floral dress, a red and white scalloped dress, and a yellow smocked dress. There’s also a pair of matching blue and pink spotted dresses worn by both Queen Elizabeth and her little sister.
Per The Daily Mail, the lot is expected to sell for more than £12 thousand (or $15 thousand), even though some of the items are dirty — an indicator that the young royals had fun playing in the outfits outdoors. This would have been well before the late Queen knew she was destined for the throne. And they were kids. Even royals get to play in the mud (…right?).
And now we’re wondering … should we halt our spring cleaning efforts? Should we hold onto every article of clothing our children wear — dirty or otherwise? Sure, your kid isn’t royal (unless Kate Middleton is reading this!), but who knows: they could be famous one day. And maybe their grimy play clothes will be worth something too.
Here’s to hoping! And for seeking out a lot more storage space.
“The dresses make Elizabeth seem more human because you can see her as a child and running around getting dirty and playing,” antiques collector Daniel Haddon told MailOnline, per The Daily Mail. “When you look at the dresses and see the repairs you can see that they were stitching them up and using the clothes as much as possible.”
“It makes the Queen relatable.”
Admittedly, we see a lot of Princess Charlotte in these dresses. The floral patterns, light colors, puffed sleeves, and collars are similar to what the Queen’s great-granddaughter wears today. Who knows what her dresses will sell for in the future. Middleton is certainly an advocate for her children playing outside, so they may be dirty and “relatable” too.
Before you go, check out 20 precious photos that prove Princess Diana’s commitment to motherhood over royalty.
