Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2026

14 times Kate Middleton took her fashion cues from Princess Diana's rulebook

14 times Kate Middleton took her fashion cues from Princess Diana's rulebook

The Duchess of Cambridge shares very similar tastes with her late mother-in-law.

She's one of the most sartorially influential people in the world right now, but while we all look to the Duchess of Cambridge to provide endless fashion inspiration have you ever stopped to wonder who she, herself, takes style tips from?

Of course, she has a smorgasbord of designers, stylists and assistants on-hand to give their opinions and help tweak, but several fashion fans have picked up on a number of similarities between some of Kate Middleton's most-loved looks and those of another undeniable royal style icon.

Despite having tragically never met, it appears that the Duchess of Cambridge - whether consciously or subconsciously - in fact takes a number of her style cues from her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.

By no means full-blown 'replicas', many of Kate's looks bear a subtle yet undeniable resemblance to many of Diana's most popular outfits via subtle design details and colour combinations.

Undoubtedly confident in her own taste when it comes to matters of the wardrobe, it could of course be the case that any likeness between the two style icons' looks is merely a coincidence. For those who study the Duchess's every sartorial move, however, and who notice her frequent tasteful nods to her late mother-in-law, it seems increasingly likely that brief moments of similarity is a very deliberate, subtle nod to Diana.

But while the two women share a love for a similar overall aesthetic, Kate favours designers such as Alexander McQueen, Self-Portrait and Goat while Diana leaned more towards the likes of Victor Edelstein, Murray Arbeid and Emanuel Couture.

From red, calf-length overcoats worn atop black boots, turtlenecks and gloves, to ladylike lilac looks, bold green and navy checks, and even the exact same 'Cambridge Lovers Knot' tiara loved dearly by them both, we've rounded up fourteen of our favourite 'twinning' moments from the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Diana...


1. THE RED COAT OVER BLACK LAYERS
Princess Diana: 1993, A Christmas Day church service in Sandringham

The Duchess of Cambridge: 2020, A visit to Cleve Court Care Home



2. THE WHITE WITH BLACK PIPING

Princess Diana: 1995, At Vj Day commemorative events
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2019, Wearing Catherine Walker at the Order of the Garter service



3. THE DOUBLE-BREASTED, DETAILED-COLLAR AND HAT

Princess Diana: 1993, At a Remembrance Day service in Northern Ireland
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2016, Wearing Diane von Furstenberg at the annual Remembrance Sunday Service



4. THE LADYLIKE LILAC

Princess Diana: 1997, At the Red Cross Headquarters in Washington
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2017, Wearing Emilia Wickstead at the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie during an official overseas visit



5. THE RED SKI JACKET

Princess Diana: 1986, Skiing in Klosters, Switzerland
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2005, Skiing in Klosters, Switzerland



6. THE NAVY AND GREEN CHECK

Princess Diana: 1985, Wearing Emanuel Couture in Venice
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2012, During her visit to St Andrew's School



7. THE MATCHING PINK DRESS AND HAT

Princess Diana: 1983, Wearing a pink Donald Campbell suit at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Australia
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2017, Wearing Alexander McQueen for the Trooping the Colour Parade



8. THE 'CAMBRIDGE LOVERS KNOT' TIARA

Princess Diana: 1985, At a dinner in Washington hosted by the British Ambassador
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2016, At the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace



9. THE CHIFFON HEADSCARF

Princess Diana: 1996, During a visit to Pakistan
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2012, Wearing Beluah at Assyakirin Mosque in Kuala Lumpur



10. THE BLACK AND WHITE POLKA DOTS

Princess Diana: 1986, Wearing Victor Edelstein at the Epsom Derby
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2017, Wearing Dolce & Gabbana for the opening day of Wimbledon



11. THE ROYAL BLUE COAT

Princess Diana: 1990, Wearing Philip Somerville at the Sovereign's Parade
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2018, Wearing Goat to open the Action on Addiction Community Treatment Centre in Essex



12. THE WHITE LACE EVENING GOWN

Princess Diana: 1985, Wearing Murray Arbeid at a dinner in Washington hosted by the British Ambassador
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2016, Wearing Self-Portrait to the UK Premiere of 'A Street Cat Named Bob'



13. THE BLACK-BUTTONED PINK COAT

Princess Diana: 1989, At the Push 2 wheelchair race at the Marlborough Hotel
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2015, Wearing Mulberry during a visit to the Stephen Lawrence Centre



14. THE POWDER BLUE SUIT

Princess Diana: 1996, Visiting Cook County Hospital, Chicago
The Duchess of Cambridge: 2016, wearing Catherine Walker to visit the Mauritshuis in The Hague, Netherlands

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Signals Frustration with UK Leadership Amid Diverging Approaches to Iran Conflict
UK Government Takes Control of Hunterston B as Landmark Nuclear Decommissioning Begins
UK Public Inflation Expectations Jump Sharply in March, Raising Pressure on Bank of England
UK Ministers Warn Expanded North Sea Drilling Would Deepen Exposure to Global Energy Volatility
Delayed UK Defence Investment Plan Leaves Suppliers Under Severe Financial Strain
Can Iran Strike the UK? Assessing the Real Military Threat as Conflict Escalates
Sanctioned Iranian Banker Linked to Luxury Marbella Villa Through UK Corporate Structure
Casey Bloys Navigates HBO Max UK Launch, Paramount Integration and Industry Buzz Over Netflix Meeting
Iran Conflict Sparks Sharp Turbulence in UK Mortgage Market, Reaching Pandemic-Era Disruption Levels
Major Donor Urges University of Kentucky to Reconsider Mitch Barnhart’s Post-Retirement Role
United Kingdom Moves to Lead International Effort to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
UK Police Investigate Targeted Attack on Jewish Ambulance Vehicles
UK Police Investigate Targeted Attack on Jewish Ambulance Vehicles
Senior UK Advocate Criticises Barnhart Retirement Appointment, Calls for Reconsideration
UK Finds No Evidence of Direct Iranian Threat to Britain, Says Prime Minister Starmer
Assessing Iran’s Strike Capability and the UK’s Readiness Amid Rising Tensions
NATO Unable to Confirm Iran’s Role in Strike on UK-US Base as Tehran Denies Involvement
University of Kentucky’s Youling Xiong Receives SEC Faculty Achievement Award for 2026
Trump Highlights Satirical Portrayal of UK Leadership Amid Talks with Prime Minister Starmer on Iran Conflict
Trump Highlights Satirical Portrayal of UK Leadership Amid Talks with Prime Minister Starmer on Iran Conflict
UK Fuel Prices Surge Toward Crisis Levels as Experts Warn of Further Sharp Increases
UK Fuel Prices Surge Toward Crisis Levels as Experts Warn of Further Sharp Increases
Duchess of Sussex Secures ‘As Ever’ Trademark Rights in Australia Ahead of High-Profile Visit
UK Reaffirms Security as Officials Reject Claims of Immediate Iranian Missile Threat
Rising Middle East Tensions Spark ‘Trumpflation’ Debate Over Impact on UK Households
UK Minister Says No Evidence Iran Can Strike Europe Despite Heightened Warnings
British-Iranians Voice Safety Concerns to Authorities as Regional Conflict Intensifies
Confirmed Meningitis Cases Linked to Kent Outbreak Revised Down to Twenty
UK Government Sees No Evidence Iran Can Strike London Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Debate Grows Over Recognition of Indigenous Cultural Icons in the United Kingdom
Iran Missile Launch Toward Diego Garcia Raises Questions After Failed Strike on US–UK Base
Donald Trump Amplifies Viral Satirical Clip Highlighting UK–US Political Dynamics
UK Satirical Show Draws Attention with Sketch Referencing Trump and Prince Andrew
Meghan Markle’s Possible UK Return Sparks Renewed Attention on Sussex Role
Starmer Convenes Urgent Talks on Cost-of-Living Pressures Linked to Iran Conflict
Starmer Convenes Urgent Talks on Cost-of-Living Pressures Linked to Iran Conflict
UK Investors Eye Bargain Shares Ahead of ISA Deadline Amid Market Volatility
UK Investors Eye Bargain Shares Ahead of ISA Deadline Amid Market Volatility
Northern Lights Expected Over UK Skies Tonight Amid Strong Solar Activity
UK Condemns Iran Missile Strike and Warns Against Threats to British Personnel
UK Warns of Global Flight Disruptions as Iran Conflict Escalates Under Trump’s Leadership
UK Condemns Iran After Missile Strike Targets Strategic Diego Garcia Base
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak in UK Reinforces Urgency of Vaccination Campaigns
Iran Launches Long-Range Missile Strike on Remote US-UK Base, Signaling Expanded Reach
Iran Launches Long-Range Missile Strike on Remote US-UK Base, Signaling Expanded Reach
UK Rules Out Cyprus Base Role in Joint US Self-Defence Framework
UK Ends Hereditary Peerage Rights in Parliament in Historic Constitutional Reform
Lord Walney Warns of Expanding Iranian Influence Networks Within the United Kingdom
Iranian National Among Two Arrested After Attempt to Access UK Nuclear Submarine Base
Deregulation, Artificial Intelligence, and Fraud Laws Reshape UK Financial Services Landscape
×