12 Times Meghan Markle Paid Tribute to Princess Diana's Iconic Style

The moment Meghan Markle walked down the aisle in a breathtaking gown by Clare Waight Keller for her wedding with 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 41-year-old multihyphenate 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 British Vogue's September 2019 Forces For Change 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 has held a lasting legacy as the royal trendsetter and is currently being remembered in HBO's new documentary "The Princess."

In her own way, Markle successfully allows us to relive the ever-so-iconic moments of Diana's unparalleled style. Perhaps your mind goes straight to the time the duchess stepped out in a purple and red colorblock 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 relive the unforgettable moment they saw Diana in a similar black and white ensemble by Tomasz Starzewski 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 color palettes and combinations look extraordinary.

If you, too, like to compare their similar sartorial moments, keep reading to find 12 standout lookalike outfits throughout history.

Getty | Eamonn M. McCormack

While attending the One Young World Summit opening ceremony in London in October 2019, Markle took a page out of her late mother-in-law's book and opted for a classic purple ensemble for the fancy occasion. Markle rewore a simple Aritzia Babaton Maxwell dress (the same one from when she was pregnant with Archie), this time styling it with a pair of navy Manolo Blahnik pumps.

Getty | Tim Graham

Just like with any other public appearance, Diana arrived in style at a gala at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago in June 1996. The princess donned a purple gown by Gianni Versace with Jimmy Choo heels and a clutch in the same shade. Diana accessorized with a diamond choker, earrings, and her famous sapphire engagement ring.

Backgrid

Markle showed off a summer-friendly denim-on-denim moment while watching Prince Harry's polo game at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club on June 17, 2022. She teamed up a light-wash chambray shirt with darker-wash Dôen shorts with flat sandals from Emme Parsons, a Celine bag, Valentino sunglasses, a Cartier Love bracelet and her Tank watch, as well as a black sweater tied over the shoulders.

Getty | Tim Graham

While on a skiing holiday in Lech, Austria, with Prince William and Prince Harry in March 1993, Diana showcased her own denim-on-denim style, separating her fitted pieces with a brown croc-effect belt, black leather jacket, and gold jewelry. Her white snow boots were a casual but sporty touch.

Getty | Max Mumby/Indigo

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.

Getty | George De Keerles

While attending a dinner at the Château de Chambord in 1988, Diana looked radiant as ever in a similarly striking embroidered pantsuit by Catherine Walker.

Getty | Max Mumby/Indigo

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.

Getty | Tim Graham

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.

Getty | Theo Wargo

All eyes were on Markle at the 2021 Freedom Gala when she donned 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.

Getty | George De Keerle

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.

Getty | Karwai Tang

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.

Getty | Anwar Hussein

While attending a commemoration service for the Arc de Triomphe 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.

Getty | Neil Mockford/GC Images

While visiting Birkenhead in 2019, a pregnant Markle wowed us all in a red Sentaler coat over Aritzia Babaton Maxwell dress, accompanied by a tan Gabriela Hearst bag.

Getty | Anwar Hussein

Thirty 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.

Getty | Karwai Tang

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 du Soleil performance in London.

Getty | Anwar Hussein

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 Burghtheater in 1986.

Getty | Samir Hussein

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.

Getty | Andy Stenning/Mirrorpix

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.

Getty | Yui Mok

While attending the Commonwealth youth reception in 2018, the duchess selected a bright-yellow hue in an elegant Brandon Maxwell sheath dress.

Getty | John Shelley Collection/Avalon

The queen of color 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.

Getty | Tim Graham Photo Library

The queen of power suits, Diana chose the same sophisticated, monochrome color 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.

Getty | Karwai Tang

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.

Getty | Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix

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.