Kate Middleton Honored Princess Diana By Dressing Like Her On Several Occasions

May 29, 2020 by apost team

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. With her signature coiffed hair, appreciation of bright patterns, admiration for creative necklaces and ability to make any dress look classy, everyone can admit that Princess Diana was a fashion icon. 

Many publications, such as Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Elle and similar magazines, covered the People's Princess's often daring fashion choices in detail while she was still alive. And even decades later, she is still regarded as one of the big fashion icons and style legends of the 20th century. Diana's simple yet elegant style has inspired countless people.

Other prominent, younger members of the royal family are still regularly compared to her, such as her daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton. Although Kate never met her mother-in-law before Diana's untimely passing in 1997, it's clear she played a strong influence on her, especially sartorially.

Kate has been a favorite among royal fans ever since she married Prince William in 2011. After her wedding, she gracefully took on the role of a senior member of the royal family, and one of the things she is best known for is her impeccable sense of style. She is often referred to as the “Children’s Princess,” which was similar to her late mother-in-law's name of the “People’s Princess.” From coat dresses to skirt suits, she has added her own signature style to every outfit she chooses. 

Here we break down nine times 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, according to Harper's Bazaar. Many were quick to notice that Kate's sweet look resembled Diana's dress that she wore when Prince William was born. According to Insider, Kate wore the imitation look almost 31 years later on July 23, 2013. Her late mother-in-law wore a green polka-dot dress as she left St. Mary's hospital in Paddington, London on June 22, 1982. Both Princess Diana, King Charles III, Kate and Prince William posed outside the same hospital for the same picture. 

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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. People were also more than happy to see that Kate was wearing an iconic dress that paid tribute to her mother-in-law. She was dressed in a polka-dot frock that resembled the same dress her mother-in-law wore many years prior. In 1986 Princess Diana wore a very similar dress to another race event, the Epsom Derby. She also wore a polka-dot dress in 1988 to the Royal Ascot horseraces.

Kate wore her white-and-black polka dot dress to Wimbledon in 2017. Not only did Kate dress like her late mother-in-law, but she also wore Diana’s earrings. The beautiful South-Sea pearl earrings were worn by Diana many times at different public appearances, such as in 1992 in Budapest for the English National Ballet Gala Performance. After her passing, her two sons Prince William and Prince Harry received their mother’s jewelry collection, according to People. 

Diana wore a somber look consisting of a black coat and hat, and a poppy pin on Remembrance day in 1991. The event takes place on the second Sunday of every November to honor members of the military according to Insider. 

Echoing the same outfit for the same occasion in 2016, Kate's look directly referenced Diana's Remembrance Day outfit. In 2021, Kate stood in for the late Queen Elizabeth II and showcased another similar look to her late mother-in-law. Kate wore a military-styled coat designed by Alexander McQueen. She also wore pearl drop earrings that had once been Princess Diana's. 

Houndstooth is a classic pattern but when it's executed in red, it stands out as something very fresh and different. Diana wore the print on a Moschino suit in the 1990s.

Meanwhile, Kate wore a red houndstooth Catherine Walker coat on a trip to Stockholm, Sweden.

Not only did Prince William give Kate the same 18-carat sapphire diamond ring that belonged to his mother from her engagement to King Charles (then 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 no doubt intentional 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 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. Thirty years later when Kate walked down the aisle on April 29, 2011, she did so with similar elements to Diana's but brought them into the modern age. She didn't disappoint when she stepped out in a custom gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Since shoulders and arms have to be covered in the church according to royal protocol, Kate went with a long-sleeved lace dress that was inspired partially by Grace Kelly's wedding dress from 1956. The public was blown away by Kate's wedding gown and many bridal shops soon sold knock-offs of the dress. 

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, as she mimicked the outfit Diana wore after she gave birth to her second son, Prince Harry. Kate's look consisted of a bright red dress with a white Peter Pan collar, while Diana's outfit comprised a red jacket over a white shirt, also with 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. Meanwhile, Kate wore a version with a peplum on her first solo trip overseas in 2016 and looked just as stylish.

What do you think of these subtle but touching tributes Catherine, Princess of Wales has made to Princess Diana over the years? We think that they are beautiful! If you found this article interesting, pass it on to others who love to read about the royal family too!