Although they never met, Diana and Kate share one thing in common – impeccable style.
From dazzling evening wear to chic classics like polka dots, it’s clear that Kate looks to her chic late mother-in-law for inspiration.
With her timeless fashionable flair, Diana certainly knew how to express herself through her wardrobe choices.
There have been dozens of occasions where the royal pair have looked strikingly similar over the years, and where Kate has channeled Diana – proving that the late Princess’s unique style is still relevant to this day.
Kate has unequivocally taken on the role of the Princess of Wales with both hands, but she has done much more. Kate has breathed new air into the late Princess’s outfits and gifted the younger generation the ability to see what royal style should look like.
One example is the pair both sporting royal blue, Kate was inspired by a similar regal ensemble that Diana wore 29 years before.
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Beautiful in blue: Diana pictured in a similar royal blue outfit with golden buttons in 1992. Kate is wearing a Zara blazer with a skirt by Hope, completing the look with court shoes, a Metier clutch and earrings from Hamilton & Inches in 2021
Princess Diana was pictured wearing her blue Catherine Walker suit, while The Princess of Wales donned a sapphire Zara blazer with a skirt by Hope, completing the look with court shoes, a Metier clutch and earrings from Hamilton & Inches.
The floaty skirt was crafted in Italy, from a silky sateen fabric, with a high waist, midi length and pleat detailing.
At Ascot in 2021, Kate wore a £1,970 Alessandra Rich polka dot dress – which almost perfectly mirrors a Victor Edelstien dress also worn at Ascot by her late mother-in-law Princess Diana in June 1988.
Kate even opted for a large, flat top hat, as Diana had at the very same event three decades earlier.
The then-Duchess of Cambridge also paid homage to her mother-in-law by wearing a pair of opulent diamond and pearl earrings that had once belonged to Diana.
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Polka hot! Diana was pictured wearing a black and white polka dot dress and a hat to Ascot in 1988. Kate was snapped wearing an identical look, sporting a Alessandra Rich dress and a similar hat to Diana’s at Ascot 34 years later in 2022
Princess Diana wore a chic red and white houndstooth Moschino suit jacket in October 1991 during a tour of Canada.
Decades later, the Princess of Wales was pictured greeting Princess Victoria of Sweden wearing almost a matching Catherine Walker houndstooth jacket during the Wales’s tour of Norway and Sweden in 2018.
The strikingly similar images and outfits of the past and present Princess of Wales shows that they when it comes to family and friends, both hold the same level of warmth and generosity.
During an Order of the Garter Service, St George’s Chapel in 2019, the Princess of Wales donned a ‘Liza’ style coat by Catherine Walker, with contrasting black lace detailing around the collar and in curved panels to create almost a peplum effect.
But in 1995, Diana wore a navy and white suit made by Tomasz Starzewski, with almost the same contrasting piping detail on the stitching. She paired this stunning suit with hat designed by Philip Somerville and paired with pearl necklace and earrings.
Kate also matched jewellery with Diana at this event, sporting her late mother-in-law’s delicate and regal pearl earrings to finish the look.
Generosity: Princess Diana puts her arms out to hug her son William while wearing a red and white houndstooth jacket in 1991. Similarly, Kate puts her hand on Princess Victoria’s arm to greet her in 2018 while wearing a similar bespoke jacket by Catherine Walker
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Well-dressed in white: Kate channeled Diana when she opted to wear a ‘Liza’ style coat by Catherine Walker in 2019, paired with her late mother-in-law’s pearl earrings
Sporting an elegant blue Alessandra Rich polka dot dress, Kate also gave a nod to Princess Diana’s style when she attended the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club last year.
Kate paired the stand-out dress with some white stilettos and a clutch bag, similar to what Diana paired her gown with, 36 years prior.
Diana was awaiting the arrival of West German President Richard von Weizsacker at the start of his State Visit, at Victoria Station in London in 1986 where she is wearing almost an identical polka-dot gown – the only difference between the royal pair is Diana’s hat.
Princess Diana opted for a grey smart blazer when she visited the Dr. Barnardos children’s home in London in 1984.
Kate channeled Diana’s business look when she wore a checked blazer from Smythe to Coach Core Essex at Basildon Sporting Village in October 2018.
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Perfect in polka dots: Princess Diana wore a powder blue and white polka dot dress paired with white heels and a clutch in 1986. The Princess of Wales took inspiration from her when she took a trip to All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club last year, wearing almost an identical dress by Alessandra Rich
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The Princess of Wales took inspiration from Diana when she wore a similar blazer from Smythe to one her mother-in-law wore in 1984
But it’s not just business ensembles that the pair have in common, they also don similar attention-grabbing gowns.
During the ‘No Time to Die’ James Bond premiere in 2021, The Princess of Wales wore a dazzling £4,000 Jenny Packham ‘Goldfinger’ dress.
She sparkled in the dramatic floor-length sheer cape gown, which was covered in gold metallic sequins – originally thought to be a custom creation.
Similarly, at the Bruce Oldfield fashion show in aid of Dr Barnardos in 1985, Diana wowed in a metallic silver pleated gown. Both of dresses have a very similar flattering V-neck cut, with padded shoulders.
On another occasion, Diana sported a crisp navy blazer with gold button detailing in 1997. Kate wore a similar double breasted blazer by Holland Cooper when she visited Fife in 2021.
The Princess of Wales also wore a Breton striped knit, tailored trousers, a pair of metallic trim Vejas and jewellery by Freya Rose and Spells Of Love.
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Dazzling: Diana looked picture-perfect in her metallic silver gown which she wore in 1985. The Princess of Wales opted for a bold sparkly Jenny Packham ‘Goldfinger’ dress. The two dresses have a very similar flattering V-neck cut, with padded shoulders
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Suit up! Diana sported a crisp navy blazer with gold button detailing in 1997. Kate wore a similar double breasted blazer by Holland Cooper when she visited Fife in 2021
Kate even gave a nod to Diana’s style at a very personal and notable event – her firstborn’s christening.
The Princess of Wales wore a cream Alexander McQueen jacket with a fluted lapel over a matching dress, and a jaunty Jane Taylor hat as she held baby George in her arms in 2013.
Diana had previously sported a very similar looking ivory coloured blazer jacket, with pleated detailing on the collar.
Another time where Kate mirrored her late mother-in-law’s style is when she wore her emerald Jenny Packham gown during a visit to Pakistan in 2019.
Kate wowed as she stepped out in the elegant glittery maxi dress and flashed a smile.
This is strikingly similar to when Princess Diana stunned in a showstopping Catherine Walker dress of the same colour at the Hunt For Red October film premiere in London.
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Elegant: Princess Diana sported a cream coloured blazer jacket with pleated detailing on the collar, which was alike to what Kate decided to wear at Prince George’s christening. She is sporting an off-white Alexander McQueen jacket
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Making them green with envy: Diana wore a stunning green gown at a premiere in 1990, and around 33 years later, Kate looked to her mother-in-law for fashion inspiration. She wowed in an emerald Jenny Packham dress during a visit to Pakistan in 2019
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Pretty in pink: Both Princesses wore similar pink dresses with matching hats. Kate’s pleated dress is from Alexander McQueen with a matching hat. Both Princesses also matched their outfits with similar clutch bags
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Diana wore a burgundy tartan dress at the Braemae Highland Games. Kate wore a similar Alessandra Rich red and black houndstooth dress in 2021. Both Princesses paired their bold dresses with black stilettos
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Stunning: Kate channeled Princess Diana when she wore her Alessandra Rich navy polka dot dress which has a large white collar, very similar to one Princess Diana has worn in the past
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Ravishing in red: Princess Diana looked so stunning in her ruby embellished gown when she attended a gala in Washington, that Kate simply had to replicate! Kate sported a scarlet embellished Jenny Packham gown in 2015
The Princess of Wales was inspired by Diana’s refreshing style when she wore a pink Alexander McQueen dress to the Trooping the Colour parade in June 2017, along with a matching hat.
Princess Diana also wore a belted dress in a strikingly similar shade of pink, except her gown had small white polka dots on it. They matched again with their accessories, opting for ivory coloured clutch bags.
Donning a red and black houndstooth Alessandra Rich dress, Kate also mirrored Diana’s burgundy tartan dress that she wore at the Braemae Highland Games in 1981.
Kate channeled Princess Diana again when she wore an Alessandra Rich navy polka dot dress with a large white collar. The dress is very similar to one Princess Diana wore.
Diana looked so stunning in her ruby embellished gown when she attended a gala in Washington in 1997, that Kate simply had to replicate. The Princess of Wales sported a similar scarlet embellished Jenny Packham gown in 2015 when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited.
