Since marrying Prince William in 2012, Princess Catherine has quietly woven tributes to Princess Diana into her royal fashion choices. Rather than relying on direct replicas, she has favoured modern reinterpretations that capture the late Princess of Wales’ confidence, strength and emotional intelligence. 

Over time, these nods have become more assured, blending heritage dressing with a sharp, contemporary edge befitting a future queen. Now, Princess Catherine, 44, is extending that legacy to the next generation through her daughter, Princess Charlotte.

Charlotte’s, 10, carefully chosen looks echo Diana’s spirit while remaining age-appropriate. It is a fashion-forward approach to remembrance – one that honours the past without being confined by it.

In doing so, Princess Catherine ensures Diana’s light continues to shine within the evolving language of modern royalty. Below, we break down the royal looks that tell this story through style.

Diana’s original moment came in May 1985, when she stepped out in a striking blue-and-green checked coat by David and Elizabeth Emanuel – a look so iconic it later sold at auction for £11,260 in 2016.

Fast forward to yesterday in Stirling, Scotland, and Princess Catherine, 44, echoed that same confident silhouette in a bespoke checked coat by Scottish designer Chris Kerr, updating Diana’s bold 1980s energy with a sharper, contemporary cut.

That influence has already filtered through to the next generation. Princess Charlotte was seen wearing a custom checked coat by Alexander McQueen during the family’s Christmas Day appearance back in 2024, designed to complement her mother’s look while offering a subtle nod to her late grandmother’s enduring style.

Through these carefully considered choices, Princess Catherine is doing more than referencing the past – she is safeguarding Princess Diana’s fashion language, reworking it for a modern monarchy and passing it thoughtfully to the next generation.

At Trooping the Colour back in June, last summer, a powerful visual thread emerged across generations, united by the unmistakable design language of Catherine Walker.

In 1988, Princess Diana wore a vivid green-and-white Catherine Walker ensemble, finished with a sweeping hat and sharp contrast lapels – a look that encapsulated her flair for ceremonial drama.

Decades later, in 2025, Princess Catherine revisited that legacy in a turquoise Catherine Walker coatdress, its crisp white detailing and sculptural millinery offering a refined, contemporary take on Diana’s signature polish.

Beside her, Princess Charlotte appeared in a complementary palette, also dressed by Catherine Walker, quietly echoing both her mother’s elegance and her late grandmother’s style.

Princess Catherine has consistently championed nautical-inspired dressing, favouring crisp lines and classic navy-and-white hues for moments of national significance.

That preference mirrors Princess Diana’s own approach, most notably in 1993 when she wore a Catherine Walker ensemble to the Battle of the Atlantic service, pairing a structured blue jacket with a flowing white pleated skirt.

Catherine later echoed that same maritime polish at the 2025 naming ceremony of HMS Glasgow, stepping out in a navy Suzannah London dress defined by clean lines and sharp contrast detailing.

The thread had already been set in motion a year earlier, when Princess Charlotte appeared at Trooping the Colour in 2024 wearing a navy-and-white Jenny Packham design.

As a future Queen, Princess Catherine has shown she understands the power of symbolism, thoughtfully weaving Princess Diana’s legacy into her own style while ensuring it continues, with purpose and sensitivity, into the next generation.