HER FINAL HEAD-TURNING LOOKS DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES ICONIC 'FAMOUS FIVE' DRESSES SNAPPED UP BY U.S. COLLECTOR

Diana takes centre stage with her daring dresses: (from left) in London on her 36th birthday in July 1997; in Venice in June 1995; attending the ballet in June 1997; and in New York in 1995

-  TRACY SCHAVERIEN

They were dubbed the “Famous Five” – a collection of stylish and headline-grabbing dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales as she carved out a new life for herself after separating from the then Prince of Wales in 1992.

Now the glamorous evening gowns are in the spotlight once more after identical replicas of the pieces – created by their original designer, Jacques Azagury and put up for auction at Lay’s Auctioneers in Penzance, Cornwall – were snapped up before the hammer even fell.

Jacques, who first met Diana in 1985, made an exact “twin” of each of the 18 gowns he created for her at the same time as the original.