All The Occasions Kate Middleton Twinned With Princess Diana

Dec 21, 2020

Princess Diana is still considered a true style icon, not just to women around the world but to those in the royal family as well. Although Kate Middleton never met her mother-in-law before Diana's untimely passing in 1997, it's clear she's played a strong influence on her, especially sartorially.

Here, we break down some of the moments when Kate was directly inspired by Diana's sense of style and paid tribute to her.

After giving birth to her first child, Prince George, in 2013, Kate wore a baby blue dress with white polka dots by designer Jenny Packham for the couple's photoshoot outside the hospital. Many were quick to notice that Kate's sweet look resembled Diana's dress that she wore when Prince William was born.

On a visit to Lahore, Pakistan in 1996, Princess Diana wore a simple white outfit and headscarf while visiting the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital. Then in September 2012, Kate covered up in a similarly chic white scarf when she visited a mosque in Malaysia.

Both Kate and Diana opted for crisp white dresses with black polka dots for various summer sporting events—Diana's look, complete with hat, was worn to the 1988 Ascot horse races.

Kate wore her white-and-black polka dot dress to Wimbledon in 2017. Not only did she show their shared similar style and taste during this event, but she also wore it to a sporting event, just like the late Princess Di.

Diana wore a somber look consisting of a black coat and hat, and poppy pin on Remembrance Day in 1991.

Remembrance Day is a British Commonwealth memorial day, sometimes also called Poppy Day. Since the first World War, it has been in place and is meant to commemorate and remember the fallen soldiers and veterans who have served the Commonwealth over the years.

Echoing the same outfit for the same occasion in 2016, Kate's look directly referenced Diana's Remembrance Day outfit.

Diana stunned in this lilac ensemble by Emilia Wickstead during her visit to Washington DC for the Anti-Landmines Speech At The Red Cross Headquarters back in 1997.

In 2017, Kate wore a dress in the exact same shade also by Emilia Wickstead. Nothing can make it clearer that these fashion choices are intentional than Kate's decision to entrust the same designer with her clothing choices.

Not only did Prince William give Kate the same 18-carat sapphire diamond ring that belonged to his mother from her engagement to Prince Charles, but Kate even opted for a similar outfit choice in their engagement photos.

Wearing a beautiful navy blue wraparound dress when they announced their engagement in November 2010, Kate's choice was undoubtedly made to match the shade of her gorgeous ring, but it also happens to be a similar color to what Diana wore in February 1981 when she and Charles announced their engagement.

When Lady Diana Spencer wed Prince Charles at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981, she wore a voluminous cream gown with a long train and veil, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.

30 years later when Kate Middleton walked down the aisle on April 29, 2011, she wore a stunning dress from Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton, which took similar elements from Diana's but brought them into the modern age.

Not only did Kate pay homage to Diana's hospital look after giving birth to Prince George, but she also did the same when she gave birth to her second son, Prince Louis. She mimicked Diana's outfit she wore after giving birth to her second son, Prince Harry.

This time the look consisted of a bright red dress with a white Peter Pan collar, while Diana's original outfit was comprised of a red jacket over a white shirt, also sporting a Peter Pan collar.

Powder blue skirt-suits aren't particularly common, but they sure do look wonderful! Diana wore one in 1988 and looked very fashion-forward at the time. This was one of the many times the People's Princess was considered brash and forward in her clothing choices.
Meanwhile, Kate wore a version with a peplum on her first solo trip overseas in 2016 and looked just as stylish as the late Princess.

What do you think of these subtle but touching tributes Kate has made to Diana over the years? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this on to your family and friends!