The moment Meghan Markle walked down the aisle in a breathtaking gown by Clare Waight Keller for her wedding to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, she redefined what it means to be a royal and shifted culture as we know it. The Duchess of Sussex’s entrance into the public eye has simultaneously thrust her into the fashion world. The 40-year-old multi-hyphenate designed a collection with Canadian clothing brand Reitmans, having worked as the label’s brand ambassador in 2016. The fashionable duchess also launched a capsule collection with Smart Works in 2019 to benefit working women in the UK. Not to mention, she guest-edited the September 2019 “Forces For Change” British Vogue issue, which featured influential women like Gemma Chan, Jane Fonda, and former First Lady Michelle Obama. From her captivating beauty to her sophisticated yet unconventional style, people are constantly left in awe by Markle, just as they were with Princess Diana.
While the former actress has become a royal style icon in her own right, some of her greatest fashion moments are clear odes to her late mother-in-law, who’s held a lasting legacy as the royal trendsetter. Perhaps your mind goes straight to the time when the duchess stepped out in a purple-and-red colour block outfit while pregnant with Archie, directly reminiscent of Diana’s innovative looks during her global travels in the early ’90s. Markle also notably made her debut at the 2018 Royal Ascot wearing Givenchy, allowing the world to re-live the unforgettable moment they saw Diana in a similar black-and-white ensemble by Tomasz Starsweski at the same event. More recently, Markle has managed to keep Diana’s peerless legacy alive with her appearance at Trooping the Colour in a classy ensemble consisting of an off-the-shoulder navy dress and a wide-brim hat from Stephen Jones Millinery. Like Diana, Markle has developed a reputation for making clean colour palettes and combinations look extraordinary.
If you, too, like to compare their similar sartorial moments, scroll ahead to find 10 standout look-a-like outfits throughout history.
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While attending the 2022 Invictus Games in the Netherlands, the Duchess of Sussex opted for all-white in a double-breasted pantsuit by Valentino, accessorized with a white purse and gold pendant necklace.
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While attending a dinner at the Chateau de Chambord in 1988, Diana looked radiant as ever in a similarly striking, embroidered pantsuit by Catherine Walker.
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Remembered as one of her final appearances as a working royal at Commonwealth Day in 2020, Markle chose an emerald green Emilia Wickstead cape dress and hat by William Chambers, which served as a stunning ode to her late mother-in-law.
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In classic Diana fashion, the Princess of Wales attended the Queen’s Trooping the Colour in 1982 in a classy green dress and fascinator combination while pregnant with Prince William, ultimately rewriting royal maternity rules.
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All eyes were on Markle at the 2021 Freedom Gala in a vibrant red gown custom made by Wes Gordon. The look featured a floor-sweeping train, thigh-high split, and plunging neckline, with Giuseppe Zanotti heels to match.
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Diana’s official visit to France in 1988 was filled with similarly unconventional, groundbreaking looks, including this red-and-black, one-shoulder Catherine Walker dress.
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While attending the 91st Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in London in 2019, Markle chose a monochromatic outfit and wore a navy Sentaler coat with a Philip Treacy hat to match.
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While attending a commemoration service for the Arc de Triomph in Paris in 1988, Diana paid her respects in style with a black Jasper Conran coat, lined with gold buttons, and a black Viv Knowland hat with netting, along with a remembrance poppy.
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While visiting Birkenhead in 2019, a pregnant Markle wowed us all in a red Sentaler coat over Aritzia’s Maxwell by Babaton dress, accompanied by a tan Gabriela Hearst bag.
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30 years prior, While visiting Hong Kong in 1989, Princess Diana wore the exact same color combination. The look consisted of a purple-and-red suit designed by Catherine Walker and a wide brim hat of the same tones, along with gold accessories and a purple metallic purse to match.
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The Duchess opted for a modern take on a head-turning sparkly gown in this $6,000 navy sequin number by Roland Mouret while attending a 2019 Cirque De Soleil performance in London.
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Marking one of her most memorable looks, Diana wore a similar sea-green sequined dress designed by Catherine Walker while attending a gala performance of “Love For Love” at the Vienna Burgh Theatre in 1986.
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While attending the Commonwealth Youth Forum in 2018, Markle opted for a button-clad Altuzarra dress underneath a black Camilla and Marc blazer featuring bold shoulder pads. To accessorize, the duchess wore black Tamara Mellon pumps and a black-and-white striped Oroton bag.
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While pinstripe is reminiscent of a baseball player’s uniform, Diana, too, proved its fashion-forward appeal in a printed blazer over a navy top, while greeting royal fans in Sheffield in 1991.
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While attending the Commonwealth youth reception in 2018, the duchess selected a bright yellow hue in an elegant Brandon Maxwell sheath dress.
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The queen of colour that she was, Diana also proudly wore this bold shade, marking her appearance at the Bay of Islands in 1983 in this fresh dress and hat combo, with yellow roses as her accessory. Like Markle, she also selected neutral-toned footwear.
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While attending her first Royal Ascot in 2018, Markle made a regal debut in a monochrome outfit, which featured a white Givenchy shirtdress and an eye-catching black-and-white hat by Philip Treacy.
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The queen of power suits, Diana chose the same sophisticated, monochrome colour palette while attending VJ Day 50th Commemorative Events in 1995. Her black-and-white Tomasz Starsweski suit was coordinated with a Philip Somerville Milliner hat, accompanied by a pearl necklace and earrings.
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Markle made her relationship with Prince Harry public in style at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, having rocked a Diana-approved casual outfit: the classic denim and white shirt combo.
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Being one of the first royals to dress casually in public, Diana wore the classic white shirt and high-waisted jeans combo during a trip to Bosnia in 1997.
