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13 times Kate Middleton took style cues from Princess Diana

13 times Kate Middleton took style cues from Princess Diana
Princess Diana in April 1983, and Kate Middleton in June 2017.Tim Graham/Chris Jackson/Getty Images
  • Kate Middleton has seemingly taken inspiration from Princess Diana's style over the years.
  • On two occasions after giving birth, Middleton wore dresses that mirrored looks Diana wore.
  • She's also worn hats and carried purses that matched those owned by the Princess of Wales.

Kate Middleton began dressing like Princess Diana early in her relationship with Prince William.

Kate Middleton began dressing like Princess Diana early in her relationship with Prince William.
Princess Diana in February 1986, and Kate Middleton in March 2005.      Tim Graham/Getty Images

While on a 2005 ski trip with Prince William in Klosters, Switzerland, Middleton was photographed carrying her equipment in a red coat with a high collar and black gloves.

Middleton looked just like Princess Diana did when she visited the same resort with Prince Charles in February 1986. Diana also wore a red coat and black gloves at the time, though she accessorized with a tricolored headband

In 2006, for example, Kate Middleton emulated an outfit Princess Diana wore approximately 13 years earlier.

In 2006, for example, Kate Middleton emulated an outfit Princess Diana wore approximately 13 years earlier.
Princess Diana in December 1993, and Kate Middleton in December 2006.      Princess Diana Archive/Stringer/Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images

Princess Diana's version of the look, which she wore on Christmas in 1993, included a red coat with black buttons, a high-neck shirt, black tights, and a wide-brimmed hat with fishnet material that hung in front of her face.

Middleton took a more modern approach in December 2006. She wore a red coat over a black shirt with a scoop-style neckline, as well as knee-high boots and black tights. But like the Princess of Wales, Middleton also carried a black clutch, wore black gloves, and donned a similar hat.

Both women have worn strapless black gowns to formal events.

Both women have worn strapless black gowns to formal events.
Princess Diana in March 1981, and Kate Middleton in December 2011.      Central Press/Stringer/Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images

On March 9, 1981, Princess Diana made her first public appearance with Prince Charles at London's Goldsmiths' Hall. She looked like royalty at the event in her strapless gown — which had a sweetheart neckline with short ruffles — and diamond jewelry.

The Duchess of Cambridge wore an almost-identical dress on December 19, 2011, while attending the A Night of Heroes: The Sun Military Awards in London. Her dress was the same color and had a similar neckline. Middleton also wore diamond jewels.

They've also worn similar outfits while on international trips.

They
Princess Diana in June 1996, and Kate Middleton in September 2012.      Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Middleton was photographed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on September 14, 2012, wearing a baby-blue headscarf and a matching dress. The latter garment had sheer sleeves and a buttoned bodice.

The outfit looked extremely similar to one Princess Diana wore while visiting the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, on June 22, 1996. Though her version was a pantsuit and not a dress, both outfits were the same color with button detailing.

Middleton honored Diana by wearing a polka-dot dress after giving birth to her first child, Prince George.

Middleton honored Diana by wearing a polka-dot dress after giving birth to her first child, Prince George.
Princess Diana in June 1982, and Kate Middleton in July 2013.      John Redman/AP and Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Princess Diana famously left St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, on June 22, 1982, in a green polka-dot dress, white tights, and red flats after giving birth to Prince William.

Almost 31 years later on July 23, 2013, Middleton left the same location with her firstborn in a similar outfit: a blue dress with white polka dots, and short white heels. Both couples even posed for the same picture outside the hospital.

They looked like twins after Middleton copied one of Princess Diana's boldest looks in 2015.

They looked like twins after Middleton copied one of Princess Diana
Princess Diana in June 1990, and Kate Middleton in March 2015.      Tim Graham/Karwai Tang/Getty Images

Princess Diana first wore a long, hot-pink blazer over a matching skirt while visiting Westminster, London, in June 1990. She paired the vibrant outfit with short black heels, a matching clutch, and gold jewelry.

Middleton then wore a similar outfit while visiting the Stephen Lawrence Centre in London, England, on March 27, 2015. Her look was a one-piece jacket — unlike Diana's two-piece suit — though the Duchess of Cambridge styled it almost exactly the same with similar accessories.

Both royals looked pretty in pink while wearing long-sleeved dresses and similar hats.

Both royals looked pretty in pink while wearing long-sleeved dresses and similar hats.
Princess Diana in April 1983, and Kate Middleton in June 2017.      Tim Graham/Chris Jackson/Getty Images

On April 7, 1983, Princess Diana visited Freemantle Hospital in Australia while wearing a pink dress with white polka dots. Her look also included a knotted neckline, sleeves that puffed at the shoulders, and a circular hat.

Middleton later ditched the polka-dot pattern and put her own twist on the style on June 17, 2017, while at Buckingham Palace. Her version of the dress had long sleeves like Diana's, and she wore a hat that looked almost exactly the same as Diana's.

Middleton wore a floral dress in 2017 that looked like one from Princess Diana's closet.

Middleton wore a floral dress in 2017 that looked like one from Princess Diana
Princess Diana in 1981, and Kate Middleton in August 2017.      Tim Graham/Samir Hussein/Getty Images

She arrived at Kensington Palace's Sunken Garden on August 30, 2017, wearing a green, long-sleeved dress with an orange floral pattern. The garment also had a high neckline that tied into a bow, and sleeves that puffed at the shoulders.

It makes sense that Middleton wore the dress — which looked like a blue one Princess Diana wore in 1981 during her wedding rehearsal — as the garden had just been transformed into a White Garden to honor the late royal's memory.

Though she's taken style cues from Princess Diana over the years, the Duchess of Cambridge has always found a way to make fashion her own.

Though she
Princess Diana in June 1986, and Kate Middleton in July 2017.      Tim Graham/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Just look at the outfit Middleton wore on July 3, 2017, when she attended Wimbledon in London, England. She arrived at the event in a white dress with black polka dots. It had three-quarter-length sleeves, a square-shaped neckline, and she wore it without tights underneath.

Her outfit looked slightly similar to the black-and-white polka-dot dress Princess Diana wore on June 5, 1986, while attending Derby Day. However, there were still plenty of differences in their looks.

The Princess of Wales, for example, styled her dress with white tights, a white clutch, and an oversized hat. Her dress was also more detailed than Middleton's — it had longer sleeves and a peplum-style fringe across the waistband.

That being said, she continued to honor Princess Diana's maternity style.

That being said, she continued to honor Princess Diana
Princess Diana in September 1984, and Kate Middleton in April 2018.      Hulton Deutsch/Jack Taylor/Stringer/Getty Images

After giving birth to Prince Louis, Middleton was photographed outside St. Mary's Hospital on April 23, 2018, while wearing a red dress with mid-length sleeves and a white collar.

While holding her child and standing next to her husband, Middleton looked like the spitting image of Princess Diana, who also wore a red dress with a white collar on September 16, 1984 — shortly after Prince Harry was born.

She also repeated some of the Princess of Wales' formal outfits.

She also repeated some of the Princess of Wales
Princess Diana in August 1995, and Kate Middleton in June 2019.      Antony Jones/Julian Parker/Max Mumby/Pool/Getty Images

While attending the Order of the Garter Service in Windsor, England, on June 17, 2019, Middleton wore a white, long-sleeved dress with black stitching. She completed the look with black heels, a white clutch, and a black hat.

Similarly, Princess Diana wore a white blazer with black stitching and a matching skirt while attending an event with her children on August 19, 1995. Like Middleton later wore, Princess Diana accessorized with black heels, a black clutch, and a large hat, though hers was white with a black stripe.

Both have found elegant ways to incorporate sparkles into their evening wear.

Both have found elegant ways to incorporate sparkles into their evening wear.
Princess Diana in February 1987, and Kate Middleton in October 2019.      Tim Graham/Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Princess Diana was the first to do so on February 23, 1987, when she attended a charity performance of "High Society." She wore an emerald gown with balloon sleeves, a ruched bodice, a V-shaped neckline.

Middleton later wore a similar look on October 15, 2019, while visiting Pakistan. Her outfit, however, had slimmer sleeves, a flat bodice, and a straight skirt. Both dresses were covered in sparkles.

Most recently, Middleton wore a pleated skirt and long blue blazer that matched an outfit Princess Diana wore.

Most recently, Middleton wore a pleated skirt and long blue blazer that matched an outfit Princess Diana wore.
Kate Middleton in May 2021, and Princess Diana in November 1992.      Phil Noble/Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Diana first wore the style while visiting South Korea on November 5, 1992. Middleton later mirrored her look while visiting Scotland with her husband on May 24, 2021.

Both royals wore kitten heels with the outfits, though Middleton wore a brown pair and Diana chose blue shoes. Diana also added a red flower pin to her jacket, while Middleton wore a patterned face mask and carried a $1,380 clutch.

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