Princess Diana Exhibit to Visit Long Beach

An extensive exhibit chronicling the British royal family opens Saturday aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, officials said.

"Diana: Legacy of a Princess" focuses primarily on the late princess, but also features memorabilia and artifacts of the royal family, ranging from King George and Queen Mary (the person, not the ship) to Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton.     

The exhibit will be onboard for at least a year in the ship's new 13,000-square-foot gallery. A portion of the proceeds will go to breast cancer support organizations, including City of Hope.

The collection includes about 2,000 items gathered over the past three decades.

"We are pleased to find that the image and icon status of Diana is alive and well," Queen Mary entertainment director Steve Sheldon said.

The Long Beach exhibit marks the first time the artifacts will be shown in their entirety, according to Queen Mary officials.

Some items -- such as a hand-carved bench that was a wedding gift to Princess Diana and Prince Charles -- will be displayed for the first time.

Also shown are a ball gown worn by Diana to the America's Cup Ball, a jeweled evening gown she wore to a Red Cross gala, a cocktail dress she wore to private events and other dresses and accessories chosen by Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.

Show organizers said advance ticket sales have been brisk and a large opening weekend crowd is anticipated.

-- City News Service