Frock horror as Diana’s dress leaves its mark on Washington

Princess Diana

MOST hosts would love a reminder that they had entertained the Princess of Wales.

But not the National Building Museum in Washington, which was left with a 520 bill to repair a mahogany table after her dresser used it as an ironing board.

Diana was the star guest as honorary chairman of the Salute to American Fashion Gala last month.

The museum, one of the American capital’s most elegant buildings, had been transformed into a palace for the occasion by Robert Isabell, who coordinated John Kennedy Junior’s wedding.

And the event out, raising 645,000 for breast cancer research.

Diana drew gasps of admiration in her Catherine Walker ivory satin gown bedecked with silver sequins.But little did guests know that dresser had left its imprint in a conference room the Princess had used to change in.

Directors meeting there next day were amazed to find iron marks and remnants of fabric burned into the finish.

Repairing the 5 ft by 12 ft table was a bill the museum, a non-profitmaking institution, had not budgeted for. But fortunately, The Washington Post, one of the event’s sponsors, has agreed to pay.