As one of the ’80s most beloved style icons, it doesn't come as a surprise that Princess Diana’s timeless approach to dressing is still revered. Hers was an aesthetic of highs and lows, a royal who could transition from sweatshirts and bicycle shorts to coat dresses and ballgowns with mind-bending ease. When we reflect on her most memorable looks (a bevy of bubblegum pinks, glorious power shoulders, and that inimitable revenge dress), it remains startlingly clear that Princess Diana’s approach to fashion was not only groundbreaking, but era-defining, continuing to provide us with ample sartorial inspiration long after her passing.
But it seems we aren’t alone in looking to the late princess for help when choosing our outfits. Indeed, both Catherine, Princess of Wales, and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, have mirrored, time and time again, the Princess's aptitude for communicating through her clothing, using her dresses and millinery as as both a form of diplomacy, and at certain times, a powerful weapon. The contemporary royals have, both intentionally and subconsciously, channelled their late mother-in-law on a number of public occasions. Sometimes, it manifests in the choice of a power suit or printed dress; in others, it's a simple, small detail—the ruffle of a colour, or an instantly recognisable shade, worn on an anniversary or special event.
Below, we’ve rounded up all our favourite times the royals looked to Princess Diana to inspire their own outfits. Scroll on below to revisit every time they repeated history.
