Skip to main content

Did Kate Middleton Wear the Same Outfit as Princess Diana at Trooping the Colour?

Wearing the same outfit as someone else always carries a bit of risk: Do they wear it better than you? What will people say? And if you’re a royal, there’s the extra scrutiny of the public and the rabid British press—especially if the person who first wore the look is the late, great and oh-so-fashionable Princess Diana.

Kate Middleton is no stranger to these emotions (or the whispers). The Princess of Wales stepped out this past weekend at Trooping the Colour wearing a blue-and-white dress that immediately called to mind a look made famous by her late mother-in-law. The event, held every June to celebrate the monarch’s birthday, brought together Kate, William and other royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a parade complete with 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians.

So have you seen both dresses? What do you think? Ahead, we’ll take you through the latest fashion question lingering after the princess’ weekend appearance. Read on to learn whether Kate’s dress this year was a dupe for Diana’s or a loving homage.

Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more royals, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.

Did Kate wear the same dress as Diana once did?

No, it’s not the same dress, but you’d be forgiven for doing a double take because the two are remarkably similar. Both are double-breasted, light blue Catherine Walker coat dresses with white trim, though the blues are slightly different hues. Kate’s buttons are fabric-covered while Diana’s were not, and the lapel design, pockets and trim differ a bit as well.

Everyone is talking about Kate’s dress mimicking Diana’s Easter 1987 outfit, but there’s another Diana and Catherine Walker combo that might give you déjà vu as well: the light-blue-and-white suit Diana wore on a trip to Delhi, India, in 1992. Though Diana wore a white pleated skirt on that trip, the tailored blue jacket with white piping bears a striking resemblance to Kate’s Trooping the Colour dress.

And since no royal outfit would be complete without a fancy hat, Kate’s choice this year—light blue and white with a wide brim—also seems designed to recall Diana’s similarly styled lids.

What message was Kate sending with this outfit?

We can’t know for sure, but it’s definitely not the first time Kate’s fashion choices have given us Diana flashbacks. In 2022, the princess wore a polka-dot ensemble by Alessandra Rich to the Royal Ascot horse race, a clear nod to the Victor Edelstein dress that Diana wore to the Epsom Derby in 1986.

Speaking of polka dots, both princesses also wore spots when introducing their firstborn sons to the public. In 1982, Diana stepped out with baby William wearing a green polka-dot dress, while Kate sported a similar, if more modern, light-blue look in 2013 when introducing Prince George. Likewise, in 2018, Kate showed off Prince Louis in a red dress with a white collar, mirroring one Diana wore with Prince Harry in 1984.

Royal insiders have long said that William and Kate are aware of Diana’s reputation as a style icon and have hinted that Kate’s outfits are sometimes chosen deliberately with that in mind. “I think we have seen lots of examples where the reference is very intentional, and I think that Kate uses fashion to pay tribute to Diana in a very positive way,” Bethan Holt, the Daily Telegraph‘s fashion news and features director, told People.

In 1997, it was William who suggested that Diana auction her wardrobe off for charity. She did, raising more than $3 million for cancer and AIDS research.

Did Kate’s accessories also have special significance?

Not only did Kate’s dress evoke Diana nostalgia at this year’s Trooping the Colour—her jewelry choices also turned heads. Eagle-eyed royal watchers noticed Kate’s earrings right away: They were the same Cassandra Goad pearl floral burst earrings she first wore in 2018 for Louis’s christening. And earlier this year, the gorgeous earrings showed up again when Kate was on hand for the installation of the new archbishop of Canterbury.

Finally, there’s the bracelet Kate was wearing this weekend: a three-strand pearl stunner that used to be Diana’s. The late princess wore it multiple times in the late 1980s, most famously with a white bejeweled outfit known as her “Elvis” gown, which she wore with the iconic Lover’s Knot tiara.

William gifted the bracelet to his wife after his mom died, and this weekend, Kate wore it with pride. In a sweet twist, William and Kate’s daughter, Princess Charlotte, was wearing what looked to be a replica of the Nigel Milne–designed bracelet as well.

RELATED:

Why trust us

Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • ABC News: “King Charles III, Prince William and Kate, more step out for Trooping the Colour”
  • Royal.uk: “What Is Trooping the Colour?”
  • Princess Diana Museum: “Sequins Saves Lives”
  • People: “Kate Middleton’s Blue Outfit Draws Comparisons to Princess Diana’s Matching Outfit with Young Prince William”
  • Today: “Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, honors Princess Diana with her red maternity dress”
  • BBC: “Royal Family watch Red Arrows flypast on palace balcony”
  • Fox News: “Kate Middleton wears Princess Diana’s pearl bracelet at Trooping the Colour as Charlotte mirrors her mother”
  • Town & Country: “Kate Middleton Looks Lovely in a Pair of Sentimental Earrings at Trooping the Colour 2026”

How Queen Elizabeth Got People to Open Up

Which Royal Didn't Like Her Engagement Ring?

What Princess Kate Does in Her Spare Time

The post Did Kate Middleton Wear the Same Outfit as Princess Diana at Trooping the Colour? appeared first on Reader's Digest.



from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/iXeBK0W
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

41 of the Most Useful Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

Everyone wants everything they do on their computer to be fast. Their Internet connection, the speed they type, and how quickly they can save, open, and alter documents. These mac keyboard shortcuts can help you do just that. Try out these Mac hotkeys to make your browsing, typing, and viewing experiences a little more convenient. Here are some keyboard shortcuts that will make web browsing so much easier . Mac keyboard shortcuts allow you to do things on your computer that would typically require you to use a mouse, trackpad, or another device with a combination of the keys on your keyboard. To find the Mac shortcuts that are already set up on your device, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts. From there you can look through the different mac keyboard shortcuts that are set up for your keyboard, launchpad and dock, Mission Control, Spotlight, and so on. To change an existing shortcut you can select the one you want to change, click on the key combination, and then ty...
Post a Comment
Read more

30 Math Puzzles (with Answers) to Test Your Smarts

Math is not everyone’s favorite, understandably. Hours of math homework and difficult equations can make anyone sour on the subject. But when math problems are outside of a school setting, there’s no time limit to do them, and they’ve got a fun, more whimsical concept than just finding x, they can be great activities for kids. (And adults, of course!) They test your brain and critical thinking skills, provide some constructive, educational fun,  and  provide tangible examples of math lessons you’ll actually use in real life . Math puzzles come in plenty of different varieties, too. Some more straightforward number puzzles do require calculations to find the solution. Others are more like logic puzzles and challenge you to look for a pattern. Still others present the puzzle through pictures, making them great for visual learners. From  Reader’s Digest ‘s “Mind Stretchers” books, these math puzzles have a bit of everything! If you’re more of a riddles person, we’ve got reg...
Post a Comment
Read more

Will Cicadas Destroy Your Garden? 10 Things You Need to Know

It’s easy to wince thinking about the mass emergence of insects like cicadas. Their numbers can reach millions per acre, creating a near-deafening buzzing chorus. So it’s understandable that questions like, “Will cicadas eat my plants?” immediately spring to mind. But cicadas are also pretty fascinating and play important roles in the ecosystem. “Cicadas inspire wonder in our world!” says Jennifer Hopwood, senior pollinator conservation specialist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “They spend most of their life underground next to the same plant roots. Somehow, these creatures are able to track the years that pass by and time their emergence with other periodical cicadas in the region to overwhelm predators. They are amazing little critters.” Here’s a rundown of what to know about cicadas, good and bad, including whether or not they eat plants and how to protect your trees during an emergence. Get Readers Digest s Read Up newsletter for more gardening, humor, cl...
Post a Comment
Read more