Every Time Meghan Markle’s Wardrobe Was Inspired By Princess Diana

Markle's wardrobe has featured quite a few nods to her late mother-in-law.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana style

by Shana Lynch |
Updated on

Ever since Meghan Markle was thrust into the spotlight at the end of 2016, her style choices have been watched with hawk-eye precision. From her tour wardrobe to her penchant for high street and, of course, her wedding dress, we are a nation obsessed.

Naturally, there have been parallels drawn between Markle’s sartorial choices and those of her husband’s late mother, Princess Diana. In fact, they've worn strikingly similar outfits on numerous occasions.

Meghan Markle princess Diana style - polka dot
©Shutterstock

Whether it’s a monochrome ensemble for a trip to Ascot, a tartan coat in Scotland, or, most recently, polka dots for the polo - there are numerous occasions where it looks like Markle might have been paying homage to Diana.

Doing her best Pretty Women impression, the Duchess – who attended a polo match that Harry was playing in on Sunday – looked impossibly chic in a pair of white shorts, which she styled with a polka-dot blouse and a wide-brimmed hat. Her mother-in-law was famously fond of spots (she once paired spotty socks with a pleated red and white polka dot skirt).

Princess Diana in Polka Dots
©Getty

After you've dug out all the polka dots from your wardrobe, take a look back at every time Markle has taken style inspiration from Princess Diana.

Gallery

All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

Meghan Markle Princess Diana1 of 21
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Polka for the polo! Meghan paid tribute to Princess Diana's love of polka dots this week while attending the polo in Santa Barbara.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana2 of 21

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Yellow is definitely the Duchess' colour - Meghan wore this sunny Brandon Maxwell sheath to the Youth Challenge reception in July of 2018, in a Diana-approved hue.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana3 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

The glittering Roland Mouret gown worn by Meghan at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil's Totem show was reminiscent of a Catherine Walker dress Princess Diana wore in 1990.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana4 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Both Meghan and Diana chose a monochrome colour palette for visits to Royal Ascot.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana5 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

It seems both royals are a fan of pairing red and purple. Princess Diana wore the combo on a visit to Hong Kong in November 1989 while Meghan wore it on a visit to Birkenhead in January of 2019.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana6 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

In 1987 Princess Diana wore tartan at Bute Highland Games in Scotland and two decades later Meghan wore a Burberry tartan coat for an official visit to Scotland during her engagement.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana7 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Both royal women are a fan of pinstripes, as seen by this pinstriped blazer worn by Diana in Sheffield and the buttoned Altuzarra dress Meghan wore at the Commonwealth Youth Forum.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana8 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Even at the end of her royal duties, Meghan channelled Diana in her wardrobe. Just look at this green dress and matching hat worn by Meghan on Commonwealth Day compared to Diana's Trooping of the Colour dress and hat from 1982.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana9 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

At the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, one of the very first times we saw Meghan and Harry in public together, Meghan and her Cali-girl vibes looked very similar to an outfit Princess Diana wore while in Bosnia.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana10 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

The power of a simple white dress.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana11 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Both have sported tailored blush pink dresses. Princess Diana wore a Versace coat dress in 1995, while the Duchess of Sussex wore a modern take on the trend when visiting the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at Southbank Centre in London.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana12 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Meghan's second wedding dress (a Stella McCartney design) was noticeably similar to a high-necked evening gown worn by Princess Diana at a reception at Spencer House in London.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana13 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Meghan wore a stunning Safiyaa caped red gown to the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall that looked very similar to the red Jacques Azagury dress Diana wore to an American Red Cross dinner in 1997.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana14 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

The chic plaid suit that Diana wore while at Paddington Station in London in 1988 looks very similar to an off-the-shoulder structured shirt Meghan wore on a visit to Wales.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana15 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

The off-the-shoulder pink Carolina Herrera dress Meghan wore to Trooping the Colour was rather similar to Princess Diana's look at the Royal Ballet in Germany in 1987.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana16 of 21
CREDIT: Getty

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

At Commonwealth Day in March 2019 Meghan wore an emerald green Erdem coat not dissimilar to the one worn by Princess Diana in 1982.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana17 of 21

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

There's nothing more chic than a beautifully tailored blazer.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana18 of 21

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Meghan took inspo from Princess Diana's visit to Saudi Arabia in 1986 to attend a wedding in 2018.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana19 of 21

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Immediately adds a blue striped button-down shirt to online basket.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana20 of 21

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

Basics are important, people, as demonstrated by Meghan's simple black roll-neck, which Diana also wore layered under a red blazer.

Meghan Markle Princess Diana21 of 21

Meghan Markle Princess Diana

In purple again - Diana in Versace and Meghan in Aritizia.

READ MORE: Everything You Need To Know About Meghan Markle

READ MORE: 11 Unexpected Things We Learned About Meghan Markle From The Tig's Archives

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us