Paris museum unveils Diana statue

Paris’s Musée Grévin has unveiled a new wax statue of Princess Diana, nearly 30 years after her death in the city. The life-size figure, crafted without the usual in-person sittings, depicts the late princess in the famous black off-the-shoulder “revenge dress” she wore in 1994 following then-Prince Charles’s public admission of infidelity. Museum director Yves Delhommeau said the move responds to long-standing visitor demand and completes a project first planned in 1996 but halted by Diana’s fatal 1997 car crash.

Sculptors relied on photographs and a stand-in model with similar measurements to produce the piece, a method Delhommeau described as challenging; the statue took more than a year to complete. The team aimed to present a “glowing” portrayal of Diana, distinct from existing wax representations elsewhere, and paid careful attention to details including her short hairstyle, pearl choker and black heels.

The statue’s installation in Paris—where Diana died—adds emotional resonance for many visitors and is expected to draw significant international attention, particularly from British tourists. Grévin officials cited ongoing requests from visitors and the presence of tributes across the city as influencing factors in the decision to install a permanent tribute to the global icon.

Delhommeau recalled that the museum had originally planned to meet Diana to take measurements before the 1997 accident, but the project was shelved for decades. Revisiting the idea, staff compared existing models and concluded that a fresh, carefully researched sculpture better honoured her legacy. The result is intended to reflect both Diana’s enduring public image and her humanitarian work, which included high-profile advocacy for people with AIDS and victims of landmines.

Crowds gathered for the unveiling, and museum officials said they expect the new exhibit to boost visitor interest. While the Grévin typically collaborates directly with the figures it models, the museum’s experience producing a respectful, accurate likeness from secondary sources demonstrates a commitment to commemorating influential figures even when direct collaboration is not possible. The Diana statue represents a renewed effort to acknowledge her cultural impact and lasting popularity nearly three decades after her death.