The Most Famous Moments Kate Dressed like Princess Diana

Ever since the Duchess of Cambridge entered the picture as a member of the royal family when she became Prince William’s fiancé, she has been spotted paying fashion tributes to her late mother in law.

From the moment Kate Middleton became engaged to Prince William in 2010, she started to pick up outfits that were winks to the memory of Princess Diana and her iconic sense of style, and the media was quick to notice it.

"Surely the late princess would have approved of Kate's outfit on Saturday — bright pops of color and full skirts are pages right out of Diana's style playbook,” a CNN article pointed out a month before Middleton and William announced their official engagement.

ENGAGEMENT DRESS

When William proposed Middleton, he found a way to feel his late mother closer to him at that special moment by giving his future wife Diana’s sapphire and diamond ring. In turn, Middleton channeled Diana’s engagement dress for the occasion.

Middleton wore the very same blue during her engagement that Diana did when she became engaged to Prince Charles. Middleton wore a wrap dress that resembled Diana’s in many ways, although with a modern twist.

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT

Later, when William and Middleton posed for their official engagement portraits, the two once again paid tribute to Diana by having the bride-to-be wearing a blouse that reminded of the one the late princess wore for her own engagement picture.

CHIFFON

Middleton shares a love for chiffon with her late mother-in-law, and just like Diana, she had the grace and elegance required to look good wearing it. Diana famously wore a strapless chiffon dress in powder blue when she attended the 1987 Cannes Film Festival.

Middleton used the occasion of another film-related event 24 years later for the 2011 BAFTA Brits to Watch in Los Angeles, to don a similar dress in pale lavender, designed by McQueen.

WEARING PINK

In 2012, Middleton pretty much replicated a look that Diana showed when she paid a visit to British troops in 1995, which was originally inspired by Jacqueline Kennedy and designed by Gianni Versace.

POST-BIRTH APPEARANCE

Both Diana and Middleton wore polka dots when they introduced their firstborns to the British people right after giving birth. Diana did so in 1982, when William was born, while Middleton did it 31 years later, as she welcomed Prince George.

The two mirror moments were captured at the same location, outside the Lindo Wing of London’s St. Mary’s Hospital. The only difference was that Diana’s dress was green, while Middleton’s was blue.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

One of Middleton’s most explicit homages to Diana happened in 2016’s Remembrance Sunday’s war memorial service when the former wore a nearly identical outfit to the one the latter wore for the same event in 1991.

Not only the two wore the same black overcoat with pearl earrings, a wide black hat, and red flowers, but also the two were caught in similar poses as they stood on the balcony.

20TH ANNIVERSARY

When the 20th anniversary of Diana’s tragic death arrived in 2017, Middleton once again managed to quietly pay tribute to her with her choice of a dress.

Middleton wore a colorful floral Prada dress that featured poppies, a symbol of remembrance in the UK as she walked around a sea of white flowers arranged in honor of Diana.

The outfit also resembled the kind of casual dresses Diana favored in the ‘80s before her engagement to Charles.