THE DRESSES OF PRINCESS DIANASPARTENBURG S.C.MAY 30-JUNE 03, 2000
PRESS CONFERANCE
THE PRESS STANDA FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE CONFERANCE.THE GROUP FROM THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS CLUBWAS INTERVIEWED BY THE SPARTENBERG HERALDAND WE WERE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE PRESSFOR A FIRST LOOK AT THE DRESSES
SUSAN DUNLAP CHARLES LEA CENTERINTRODUCES ELLEN PETHO, OWNER OF THE DRESSES.
ELLEN PETHO TELLS THE STORY OF HOW SHE BOUGHT THE DRESSES.
THE STORY
THE STORY OF HOW ELLEN PETHO BOUGHT THE DRESSES OF PRINCESS DIANA, IS IN A WAY, A CHILD’S STORY. IT STARTED WITH HER 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, CATHERINE ELIZABETH, AND HER LOVE FOR THE FAIRY TALE PRINCESS. HER PARENTS HELPED COLLECT THINGS FROM ALL OVER EUROPE TO ADD TO HER COLLECTION. ON HER DAUGHTER’S 30TH BIRTHDAY, ELLEN THOUGHT THE TABLE BOOK OF THE CHRISTY’S AUCTION WOULD BE A GREAT ENDING TO THE COLLECTION. THE MARRIAGE WAS OVER AND DIANA WAS MOVING ON….SO SHE ORDERED THE BOOK. IN SIDE WERE TWO INVITATIONS TO VIEW THE DRESSES.. SHE DECIDED TO ATTEND THE AUCTION. AN INTERIOR FASHION DESIGNER, ELLEN HAD MONEY WITH HER SHE PLANNED TO SPEND ON A COUPLE OF FIXER-UPPER HOUSES ..BUT FELL UNDER THE SPELL OF THE DRESSES…OF COURSE AT THE TIME IT WAS A GOOD INVESTMENT...SO SHE BID $20,000 ON EVERY DRESS AFTER NUMBER 8..AND TO HER SURPRISE AND DELIGHT…WON 5 OF THEM. AFTER PRINCESS DIANA’S DEATH...SHE DECIDED TO SHOW THEM FOR CHARITIES THAT NOT ONLY WOULD BE CLOSE TO HER HEART, BUT PRINCESS DIANA’S. SHE SHOWS THE DRESSES FOR CHARITIES THAT MAYBE DO NOT FALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE MAJOR CHARITIES…AND THAT IS HOW SHE CAN TO BE IN SPARTENBERG S/C. SO IT WAS A DREAM OF A CHILD WHO STARTED HER ON HER JOURNEY WITH PRINCESS DIANA…AND THE 5 DRESSES….THAT OF CATHERINE ELIZABETH…AND ONE THAT ENDED WITH THE DREAM OF A CHILD…PRINCE WILLIAM AND THE GOOD THE DRESSES COULD DO FOR HIS MOTHERS TREASURED CHARITIES. THE DRESSES ARE IN LOVING HANDS...PRESERVED FOREVER AND HELPING OTHERS AS DIANA ONCE DID…AND AGAIN…GIVING SUCH JOY TO THOSE THAT SEE THEM…
**************NOTE************THE DRESSES ARE NEVER TOUCHED WITH HUMAN HANDS..THEY ARE HANDLED WITH WHITE GLOVES AND ANY REPAIRS MUST BE DOCUMENTED...ELLEN ADMITS WHEN SHE FIRST BOUGHT THE DRESSES...SHE WAS THE SAME SIZE AND HER 80 YEAR OLD MOTHER ASKED HER TO TRY ON THE RED ONE..ELLEN DID..BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME...
THE RIBBON CUTTING
SIGN ON BELKS ANNOUNCING THE TOUR
THE BRISTISH BAND PLAYED FOR THE CROWD AND BRITISH FLAGS WERE GIVEN TO EVERYONE ATTENDING THE RIBBON CUTTING.
PAM GRAHAM, CHANNEL 7 NEWSHAILED PRINCESS DIANA AS A HERO.HER WORK WITH AIDS, LEPERS, LANDMINES AND ESPECIALLY CHILDREN WAS COMMENDED.THE OTHER HEROES, SHE SAID, ARE THE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, THAT THIS DRESS TOUR WILL BENEFIT
ELLEN PETRO IS WELCOMED BY PAM GREER
ELLEN AND PAM CUT THE RIBBON OPENING THE DIANA DRESS TOUR
CATHY, MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE'S PRINCES CLUB, AND CHARLES NOBLES
CATHY, ME AND CHARLES NOBLES
THE TEA
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A BRITISH TEA WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE GRAND OPENING DAY...BEST SUNDAY DRESS..COMPANY MANNERS..AND WONDERFUL BRITISH TEA. WE WERE SERVED FINGER SANDWICHESSCONES AND ASSORTED BISQUITS.TEA WAS SERVED BY VOLUNTEERS OF THE CHARLES LEA CENTERAND THIS ROYAL TREATMENT MADE US FEEL SO SPECIAL.
DANI AND ME WAITING FOR OUR TEA TO BE SERVED
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THE TABLE WAS SET WITH ROYAL PATTERN WEDGEWOOD CHINA.
CHARLES NOBLES AND ME AFTER THE TEA
DENISE AND ELLEN PETROOWNER OF THE DRESSES
THE BEST PART OF BEING AT THE TOUR OF THE DRESSESWAS BEING WITH PEOPLE WHO FELT THE SAME WAY I DID...THAT PRINCESS DIANA WAS ONE OF A KIND...SOMEONE VERY SPECIAL.. AND STILL...SO LOVED...THESE DRESSES WERE SPECIAL ...BECAUSE PRINCESS DIANA WORE THEM...NOT BECUSE SHE WAS A PRINCESS...BUT BECAUSE SHE WAS QUEEN OF OUR HEARTS.I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE...JUST ASI WILL NEVER FORGET PRINCESS DIANA.
ENTER DRESS GALLERYANDGALA NIGHTJOURNEY INTO MY HEARTMAIN PAGE
MUSIC
FAIRYTALE
