Kate Middleton’s Polka-Dot Dress Is a Replica of This Princess Diana Look

When Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement back in October 2010, it was inevitable that the newest member of the royal family would be compared to her mother-in-law, the late Princess Diana. Over the following years, Kate’s fashion choices have also often been compared to those of Lady Diana – many times because they might simply have worn the same color. However, there are some striking similarities between many of the women’s choices – some intentional, and others less so.

When Kate Middleton emerged in a blue-and-white polka-dot Jenny Packham dress from St. Mary’s Hospital with Prince George, royal fans immediately referenced Princess Diana’s appearance with Prince William 21 years earlier. The Princess of Wales wore a frock with green-and-white spots from Catherine Walker. Likewise, Princess Diana chose a floaty powder-blue dress by Catherine Walker for a gala at the Cannes Film Festival in 1987, and Middleton channeled her mother-in-law in a pale lilac dress 14 years later, at a BAFTA gala in LA.

The twosome are fans of many of the same sartorial statements, ranging from pastel colors to polka dots to plaids. Keep scrolling for every matching moment from Kate Middleton and the late Princess Diana.

Related: 8 Princess Diana Dresses With Stories Just as Significant as That of the “Revenge Dress”

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Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Polka-Dot Dress

On June 15, 1988, Princess Diana wowed in a Victor Edelstein white dress with black polka dots to added the Royal Ascot.

Getty / Pool/Samir Hussein

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Polka-Dot Dress

35 years later, Kate Middleton took a style cue from Princess Diana on June 19, 2023, wearing an Alessandra Rich white dress with black polka dots and a Phillip Treacy hat to The Order of The Garter Service at Windsor Castle.

Getty / Anwar Hussein

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Peplum Blazer

For a 1995 trip to Liverpool, Diana wore an orange Versace skirt suit with a black polo neck, belt, purse, and opaques.

Getty / Danny Martindale

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Peplum Blazer

Sixteen years later, Kate chose a very similar ensemble – but in red and by Luisa Spagnoli – for a trip to her former university, St. Andrews.

Getty / Anwar Hussein

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Polka-Dot Dress

For the iconic moment in 1982 when Diana left St. Mary’s Hospital with Prince William, she wore green and white spots from Catherine Walker.

Getty / Max Mumby/Indigo

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Polka-Dot Dress

No one missed the similarities when Kate emerged from the same hospital 21 years later with Prince George, wearing blue and white spots from Jenny Packham.

Getty / Anwar Hussein

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Military Chic

In 1987, Diana channeled military chic in a white and gold two-piece by her favorite designer Catherine Walker.

Getty / Anwar Hussein

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Military Chic

In 2014, Kate opted for a modern take on the look in a navy and cream blouse and skirt by her favorite designer Alexander McQueen.

Getty / Central Press

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Black Strapless Gown

Lady Diana’s first public engagement after getting engaged was a charity event, for which she chose a black strapless evening gown that nipped in at the waist. It was the first time she had worn anything by designers the Emanuels, who went on to create her wedding dress.

Getty / ARTHUR EDWARDS

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Black Strapless Gown

Shortly after her wedding, Kate attended the Sun Military Awards in a similar formfitting, strapless black floor-length gown by Alexander McQueen.

Getty / Anwar Hussein

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Pastel Gown

For a gala at the Cannes Film Festival in 1987, Diana turned to her favorite designer Catherine Walker, who created this floaty powder-blue number.

Getty / Kevork Djansezian

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Pastel Gown

At another overseas movie-related event 14 years later – a BAFTA gala in LA – Kate opted for a diaphanous gown in palest lilac by her favorite designer Alexander McQueen.

Getty / Anwar Hussein

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Pastel Suit

For a 1995 trip to Argentina, Diana channeled Jackie O in a pastel pink Versace skirt suit.

Getty / Karwai Tang

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Pastel Suit

For her 2016 trip to the Netherlands, Kate channeled Jackie O in a pastel blue skirt suit by Diana’s favorite Catherine Walker.

Getty / SAEED KHAN

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Head Scarf

For a trip to Pakistan in 1996, Diana teamed her white head scarf with a porcelain-blue Catherine Walker outfit.

Getty / Chris Jackson

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Head Scarf

Kate chose a similar shade by Beulah to wear with her head scarf on a trip to Malaysia in 2012.

Getty / Anwar Hussein

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Plaid Look

The red and lilac tartan outfit that Diana wore to the 1982 Braemar Games was designed by Caroline Charles.

Getty / Chris Jackson

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Plaid Look

Although Kate’s colors were different in the McQueen number that she wore on Christmas Day in 2013, there were similarities between the long-sleeved wintry two-pieces.

Getty / Princess Diana Archive

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Hat With Plumes

Just after getting married, Diana chose a neutral palette for her Caroline Charles coat and the plumes on her John Boyd hat for a trip to Wales.

Getty / CARL DE SOUZA

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Hat With Plumes

Kate favored a similar palette for her Day Birger et Mikkelsen coat and feathery fascinator at the wedding of Laura Parker-Bowles in 2006.

Getty / Tim Graham

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Blue Look

For her engagement announcement in 1981, Diana wore a blue Cojana skirt suit to complement her new sapphire engagement ring.

Getty / Chris Jackson

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Blue Look

Twenty-nine years later, Kate chose to show off Diana’s sapphire with a blue silk jersey dress from Issa.

Getty / Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Red Coat and Black Hat

At the family’s annual Christmas Day church outing in 1993, Diana accessorized her scarlet coat with a black asymmetric hat with a high crown.

Getty / Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Red Coat and Black Hat

For William’s passing out ceremony at Sandhurst in 2006, Kate teamed her red Armani coat with a very similar hat by Philip Treacy.

Getty / Tim Graham

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Peach Outfit

During her pregnancy with Prince Harry, Diana wore a layered peach outfit by Jan Van Velden at Ascot in 1984.

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Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Peach Outfit

When Kate was pregnant with Prince George, she wore layered peach Tara Jarmon for a charity engagement in 2013.

Getty / Tim Graham

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Polka-Dot Dress

Diana wore Victor Edelstein white with black spots at the polo in 1987.

Getty / Karwai Tang

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Polka-Dot Dress

Kate chose Topshop white with black spots for a trip to the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London back in 2013.

Getty / Bob Thomas/Popperfoto

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Yellow Dress

During a tour of Australia in 1983, Diana wore a yellow silk tea dress by Jan Van Velden.

Getty / Samir Hussein

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Yellow Dress

During a tour of Canada in 2011, Kate chose a yellow silk tea dress by Jenny Packham.

Getty / Tim Graham

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Floral Gown

For a charity event in Paris in 1988, Diana wore a big, bold, shiny, floor-sweeping gown by Catherine Walker.

Getty / Samir Hussein

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Floral Gown

For a charity gala in London in 2015, Kate wore a big, bold, shiny, floor-sweeping gown by Erdem.

Getty / Princess Diana Archive

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Houndstooth Print

Princess Diana arrived at a Toronto airport in October of 1991 wearing a houndstooth-print Moschino suit with a red-and-black hat from Philip Somerville.

Getty / Matthew Horwood

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton Fashion: Houndstooth Print

In 2023, Kate Middleton echoed her mother-in-law’s look with a red houndstooth jacket worn with black separates while attending the Wales vs. England Six Nations Match.

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