Right from the beginning, Kate wore a royal blue Issa gown for her engagement announcement that mirrored the blue dress worn by Princess Diana for her own engagement announcement. More than that, Kate has also fostered a royal love affair with designer Catherine Walker, a close friend of Princess Diana, who designed over 1,000 of her outfits.
Both were right at home on a red carpet as well. The example that lingers in the mind is the outfit Kate chose for the premiere of No Time To Die – the latest film in the James Bond franchise – where she solidified her reputation as the Duchess of Dazzle, wearing an incredible gold sequinned cape dress by one of her favourite designers, Jenny Packham.
Kate Middleton in gold sequinned Jenny Packham ©Getty
Many were quick to point out that the dress looked a bit familiar…And indeed, at the July 1985 premiere of James Bond film A View To A Kill, Princess Diana wore a stunning gold lamé gown by Bruce Oldfield, very similar to the one worn by her daughter-in-law three decades later.
Princess Diana in Bruce Oldfield, 1985
So, from their engagement photos to their exits from the Lindo wing after giving birth, we’ve charted every time Kate Middleton has paid sartorial homage to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
The Houndstooth Coat
Kate Middleton was very on-theme at this weekend’s rugby match, Wales vs England, and the sharp houndstooth coat couldn’t help but recall this tailoring moment of Princess Diana’s.
The Showstopping Dress
There’s only one way to dress for a Bond premiere: full-throttle glamour.
The Blue Blazer
When Kate joined Prince William on a royal tour of Scotland, her blue ensemble – a Zara blazer with a Hope skirt and tan heels – was the spitting image of an outfit Princess Diana wore in 1992.
The Outdoor Jacket
Also in Scotland, Kate wore her Seeland Woodcock Advanced Jacket, a sensible choice for the weather, which shows similarities to the Barbour waxed jacket Princess Diana wore in 1984 ((also in Scotland).
The Sartorial Diplomacy
Kate Middleton is known for her love of . Here, she’s wearing a Strathearn tartan scarf in Scotland (she and her husband are the Earl and Countess of Strathearn), and it looks like Diana had a similar penchant for the print (pictured wearing a checkered wool coat in Wales).
The Knitted Jumper
For a visit to County Durham, Kate wore a printed jumper from Brora, which was very similar to the one famously worn by Princess Diana to a photocall before her wedding.
The Checked Midi
On an appearance at London’s V&A Museum, Kate chose a chic red houndstooth dress from Alessandra Rich.
The length and cut was very similar to a tartan dress worn by Princess Diana on a visit to Swindon.
The Red Tailoring
To celebrate the release of her book, Kate wore a red wool coat dress from Eponine. Princess Diana wasn’t afraid of a bold colour either, shown here in a scarlet skirt suit.
Kate Middleton Princess Diana
Both Diana and Kate have worn double-breasted black coats embellished with gold buttons.
Kate Middleton Princess Diana
At the official engagement announcement, Kate Middleton mirrored Princess Diana in her own iconic engagement photograph.
Kate’s dress was chosen in order to match her sapphire ring, which of course once belonged to Diana.