London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jun 13, 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

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Competition Watchdog Investigates Ryanair Family Seating Charges
Imperial College Study Links London Emissions Charges to Lower Hospital Admissions
Scottish First Minister Launches US Trade Initiative Ahead of World Cup Match in Boston
Fifteen Million Workers Gain Expanded Sick Pay Rights Under UK Reforms
British Retail Investors Secure Record Participation in SpaceX Share Offering
Keir Starmer and Micheál Martin Coordinate Response to Northern Ireland Violence
NHS Prepares for Major Disruption as Resident Doctors Announce Four-Day Strike
Bank of England Expected to Hold Rates as Energy Costs Complicate Inflation Outlook
Britain Moves to Ban Under-16s From High-Risk Social Media Platforms and AI Chatbots
UK Economy Contracts as Middle East Conflict Weighs on Growth
Defence Secretary John Healey Resigns Over Military Spending Dispute With Treasury
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Faces Leadership Crisis After Senior Cabinet Resignations
NHS Trust Secures Funding for AI Tool to Detect Heart Failure Earlier
Government Unveils £4.5 Billion Investment Plan for Walking and Cycling Infrastructure
Nationwide Reports UK House Prices Falling as Borrowing Costs Remain Elevated
Centre for Social Justice Says Two Million Britons Are Using Illegal Loan Sharks
UK Carmakers Warn EU Local Content Rules Could Damage British Manufacturing
UK Government Imposes Emergency Ban on Seven Potent Synthetic Opioids
Royal Navy Completes Major North Atlantic Anti-Submarine Exercise Off Norway
NHS Figures Show Nearly 3,000 Patients a Day Receiving Care in Hospital Corridors
CBI Cuts UK Growth Forecast as Middle East Tensions Drive Inflation Risks Higher
Dan Jarvis Appointed UK Defence Secretary Following Major Government Reshuffle
University College London Study Links Physical Punishment to Higher Risk of Bullying
East Midlands Railway Unveils First Refurbished Train in £60 Million Modernization Programme
RNLI Issues National Water Safety Appeal Ahead of Expected Heatwave
Climate Change Raises Subsidence Risks for Millions of Homes Across Southeast England
Manchester Advances Plans for Underground Piccadilly Station With £1 Million Funding Commitment
Anti-Immigration Violence Continues in Belfast Amid Heightened Security Concerns
UK Law Locks Great British Railways Into Public Ownership
Office for National Statistics Adopts Supermarket Checkout Data for Inflation Measurement
Applied Atomics Launches With $500 Million Space Infrastructure Order Book
BYD Plans Nationwide Rollout of Ultra-Fast EV Charging Network
UK House Prices Unexpectedly Fall in May
CBI Warns UK Growth Is Becoming Increasingly Dependent on Public Spending
Makerfield By-Election Fuels Speculation Over Labour’s Future Leadership
Britain Declines to Join EU SAFE Defence Fund
UK Unveils 2040 Emissions Target Despite Strong Political Opposition
Government Orders Full Review of Palantir’s NHS Data Contract
UK Borrowing Costs Climb as Markets Price in Further Bank of England Rate Rises
Resident Doctors Confirm Five-Day NHS Strike Across England
Violent Anti-Immigrant Riots in Belfast Spark Political and Diplomatic Tensions
United Kingdom Sees Recovery in Horizon Europe Research Funding Share to 9.3 Percent
UK Inflation Holds at 2.8 Percent as Office for Budget Responsibility Flags Persistent Price Pressures
United Kingdom Launches National Anti-Fraud Framework to Combat Rising Pension Scam Losses
United Kingdom Expands Sanctions on Israeli Groups While Funding Palestinian Authority Salaries and Gaza Mine Clearance
United Kingdom Issues Three-Month Ultimatum to Major Technology Firms Over Child Online Safety Controls
United Kingdom Government Moves Toward Blanket Social Media Ban for Children Under Sixteen
Widespread Anti-Immigration Rioting Erupts Across Belfast After Knife Attack Linked to Asylum Seeker
Farmers Warn of Crop Losses Following Months of Unseasonal Rainfall
Civil Aviation Authority Launches Review of Regional Airport Operations
×