Every Time Kate Middleton Referenced Princess Diana’s Iconic Style

Sentimental pieces of jewelry have kept Kate Middleton close to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana: her sapphire engagement ring from Prince William, the Collingwood pearl earrings given to Diana as a wedding gift, the Saudi sapphire suite that Kate had made into earrings. But it’s in the fashion and style of Kate Middleton—now long Catherine, Princess of Wales—that their connection has deepened.

Catherine shares similar penchants for Diana’s signature details: polka-dots and plaids, jewel tones and candy shades, a suite of fascinators and wide-brimmed hats. Both royals have relied on striking looks by Catherine Walker, Alexander McQueen, and Jenny Packham for their global tours, galas, and public engagements. Tailoring has always been sharp shouldered and nipped in at the waist, while headgear is always by Juliette Botterill, Philip Treacy, and Jules Millinery. Kiki McDonough—who was recently awarded a Royal Warrant—and her elegant jewelry were often a finishing touch for Diana, and Catherine reportedly owns around 20 pieces.

The sartorial lineage looks to already be continuing with young Princess Charlotte, who Catherine has coordinated with on several occasions—including the 2025 Trooping the Colour celebrations. Both wore brilliant aqua looks, which made the callback to another Princess Diana look even sweeter.

Below, all the times Princess Catherine emulated Princess Diana with her style.

Lady Diana Spencer attending her first public engagement, a Gala Charity Concert at the Goldsmith’s Hall, London, May 1981. She wore a black strapless taffeta gown.

Princess Catherine wears a black Alexander McQueen gown at The Sun Military Awards, December 2011.

Diana in setting-appropriate plaid, attending The Bute Highland Games, August 1987.

Catherine on St Andrew’s Day in Scotland, wearing a similarly blue-and-green Alexander McQueen coat dress.

Diana wearing a pink Donald Campbell suit and matching John Boyd fascinator at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Bentley, Australia, April 1983.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge opts for candy pink with an Alexander McQueen dress and Jane Taylor fascinator, attending the annual Trooping The Colour parade, June 2017.

Diana at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace in New Delhi, India, February 1992. She wears a blue and white-trimmed suit by Catherine Walker and a matching Philip Somerville hat.

Catherine coordinates with Princess Charlotte while attending Trooping The Colour 2025 June 2025. She wears an aqua-colored and white-trimmed Catherine Walker coat dress, and a hat by Juliette Botterill—both labels loved by Diana.

Diana when awaiting the arrival of West German President Richard von Weizsacker at the start of his State Visit in London, July 1986. She wears a blue and white polka dot coat dress and wide-brimmed hat.

Catherine attends Wimbledon July 2022 in more blue and white polka dots care of Alessandra Rich.

An iconic Diana look: a red-and-white houndstooth coat and pencil skirt by Catherine Walker, while attending Princess Eugenie’s christening in 1990.

Catherine visits the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden in 2018. Her red and white houndstooth coat is, once again, Catherine Walker.

Catherine attends the Order of the Garter service in June, 2019. She wears a white and black piped Catherine Walker coat dress and a coordinating Lock & Co. hat.

Princess Diana attends V-J day 1995 wearing a white and black Tomas Starzewski suit and a Philip Somerville hat.

Diana wears a green taffeta evening gown designed by Graham Wren to attend a gala concert at Brangwyn Hall, Wales, October 1981.

Catherine attends a dinner in Kingston, Jamaica March 2022 wearing an emerald tulle Jenny Packham dress.

Diana wears a polka dot Victor Edelstein suit and hat by Frederick Fox, at Derby Day at Epsom racecourse, June 1986.

Catherine attends a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 2025. She wears a polka dot dress by Alessandra Rich and a hat by Sally-Ann Provan—plus, jewels that belonged to her late mother-in-law.

Another blockbuster red carpet look. Catherine attends the No Time To Die premiere in London, September 2021. She wears a gold beaded and caped Jenny Packham gown.

Diana attends the A View To A Kill premiere in London, July 1985. She wears a gold lame evening gown by Bruce Oldfield.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the Pakistani Air Force Base Nur Khan to start her royal tour of Pakistan with Prince William in October 2019. She wears an icy blue ombre Catherine Walker dress.

Diana visits the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan in 1996, wearing a pale blue tunic, scarf, and pants set.

Diana visits orphaned children at the Huo Jeong Won Center in November 1992 in a royal blue longline suit jacket and matching skirt.

An almost like-for-like Catherine visits Turning Point Scotland, May 2021. She wears a striking blue double-breasted Zara suit jacket and pleated Hope skirt.

Diana wears a blue and white Catherine Walker suit and matching hat as she attends the 50th anniversary of World War II’s Battle of the Atlantic, Liverpool, England, May 1993.

Catherine visits HMS Glasgow, May 2025 in a nautical look: a navy and white-lined collarless coat dress by Suzannah London, with a much-loved, jauntily-worn Philip Treacy hat.