It's been over two decades since the untimely death of Princess Diana, but her fashion choices are still as relevant today as they were then — just ask the Duchess of Cambridge. Over the years, Kate has more than once been compared to her mother-in-law [1], most notably because of their eerily similar style [2].
While Kate is known for her love of specific designers [3] such as Alexander McQueen, Jenny Packham, and L.K. Bennett, the mother of three also regularly turns to Catherine Walker, a fashion house which Diana had a particularly close relationship with [4]. In fact, some of the late Princess of Wales's most iconic outfits [5] were created by the brand, a few of which still take our breath away [6].
These days, Kate can often be spotted wearing Catherine Walker dress-coats, which of course never goes unnoticed. Will Meghan Markle [7] also start wearing the brand as a way to honour her husband's late mother [8]? Only time will tell. In the meantime, read on to get a closer look at the times both Kate and Diana put their trust in the brand.
The Duchess of Cambridge
The Duchess of Cambridge most recently wore Catherine Walker during her royal tour of Sweden and Norway. She opted for a red and white houndstooth coat from the brand [10], which she accessorised with a pair of fringed heels from Tod's, her gorgeous Chanel bag, and a pair of pearl earrings by the Swedish brand In2Design.
Princess Diana
One of Princess Diana's most famous outfits is this gorgeous blue chiffon dress by Catherine Walker [11], which she wore to the Cannes Film Festival in 1987. It was reportedly meant as an homage to a gown Princess Grace of Monaco wore in Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief.
Princess Diana
For her very first speech following her divorce from Prince Charles, Princess Diana wore a white-beaded, halter-style gown from Catherine Walker. It was later revealed that she sent a handwritten note to the brand [12] following the event, thanking them for dressing her and giving her the confidence boost she needed.
The Duchess of Cambridge
When she stepped out for the Order of the Garter service in 2016, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a bright red Catherine Walker coat-dress [13], which she first debuted back in 2011. She finished her look with matching heels, a Lock & Co. fascinator, Alexander McQueen clutch, and gorgeous jewels.
Princess Diana
In October 1991, Princess Diana wore a pink Catherine Walker dress when she attended a reception held in her honour in Lahore, Pakistan.
Princess Diana
Diana opted for a tartan Catherine Walker gown when she attended a charity function in February 1991.
Princess Diana
For the visit of a desert in Saudi Arabia in November 1986, Princess Diana wore a Catherine Walker outfit comprised of a white and blue long-sleeved dress worn over white pants.
The Duchess of Cambridge
Back in April 2017, Kate wore a cream Catherine Walker coat [14] when she attended the Easter Day Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor. She completed her elegant outfit with an Etui woven clutch, Rupert Sanderson pumps, tiny drop pearl earrings courtesy of the queen, and a pill box hat.
Princess Diana
During an official visit to Dubai in March 1989, Princess Diana wore a blue and white Catherine Walker outfit which she accessorised with a Philip Somerville turban hat.
Princess Diana
In March 1983, Diana wore a pink Catherine Walker and matching hat.
Princess Diana
For a visit to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Diana wore a black and white Catherine Walker outfit, which she accessorised with a Freddie Fox hat.
Princess Diana
Diana wore a gorgeous Catherine Walker gown which featured a beaded top when she attended a banquet given in her honour during a visit to India. She accessorised her outfit with a black clutch and the Spencer family tiara [15].
The Duchess of Cambridge
For a trip to the Netherlands in October 2016, Kate opted for a baby blue peplum and belted suit by Catherine Walker [16], accessorising with beige pumps and a beige clutch.
Princess Diana
When she visited the Sandhurst Military Academy in April 1987, Diana wore a very approriate Catherine Walker suit which featured gold frogging and épaulettes. She finished her outfit with a Graham Smith hat, a white clutch, and matching heels.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana first wore this green, sequinned Catherine Walker dress during a 1986 visit to Austria. In 2016, it was sold for $89,154 in a UK auction [17].
Throughout the years, she wore it on numerous occasion, including to a charity performance of High Society in 1987, to the premiere of Biggles in 1988, and to the Diamond Ball in December 1990.
Princess Diana
Diana wore this pink and red Catherine Walker outfit when she visited the Islamic Museum in Kuwait in March 1989.
Princess Diana
She opted for this green and white Catherine Walker dress when she visited Nigeria in March 1990. She finished her outfit with a matching hat and white heels.
The Duchess of Cambridge
The Duchess of Cambridge was spotted wearing a white A-line dress by Catherine Walker [18] when she made an appearance at Wimbledon in 2017. The dress featured colourful flowers at the hem and capped sleeves.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana opted for a dark Catherine Walker dress and matching Freddie Fox hat when she visited the Anzio cemetery in Italy in 1985.
Princess Diana
For a dinner in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1988, Princess Diana wore a red and purple Catherine Walker gown.
Princess Diana
In 1985, Diana stepped off a plane in Italy wearing a white Catherine Walker dress and Join Boyd hat.
Princess Diana
In October 1987, Princess Diana wore a long-sleeved, velvet Catherine Walker gown to a reception.
The Duchess of Cambridge
When she attended the Easter service in 2018, Kate wore a brown Catherine Walker coat [19] which she accessorised with neutral Gianvito Rossi pumps, a Loeffler Randall clutch, a Lock & Co cap, and pearls.
Princess Diana
During a visit in Hong Kong in November 1989, Princess Diana wore a gorgeous strapless, pearl-embroidered gown and matching jacket. She finished her look with the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara and pendent pearl earrings.
Princess Diana
She rewore the same dress in 1990 when she attended a banquet in Budapest, Hungary. This time around, she didn't wear a tiara but opted for a stunning pearl and sapphire choker.
Princess Diana
Diana wore a red and purple skirt skirt suit by Catherine Walker when she visited the Marie Stopes Clinic in India in 1992.
Princess Diana
She wore this gorgeous red Catherine Walker when she attended a dinner held in her honour during a trip to Argentina in 1995.
The Duchess of Cambridge
When Kate visited the Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Belgium in 2017, she wore a structured zipper-front Catherine Walker coat-dress [20] which featured contrast appliqué. She finished her look with a satin Prada clutch, a fascinator, and pearl drop earrings that complimented her brooch.
Princess Diana
When she visited the Mianpur Old Age Welfare Centre in India in 1992, Princess Diana wore a cream Catherine Walker dress.
Princess Diana
In March 1996, Princess Diana wore an embroidered cream dress by Catherine Walker when she attended a performance of Alice in Wonderland at the English national ballet.
Princess Diana
For the film premiere of Haunted in October 1995, Diana wore a navy Catherine Walker gown, which she accessorised with jewels that were a gift from the Sultan of Oman.
Princess Diana
She wore another blue Catherine Walker gown to the Fashion Awards in January 1995. This time, she accessorised with a pearl and sapphire choker.
The Duchess of Cambridge
For a day out in snowy Norway, Kate wore a sleek cerulean Catherine Walker coat [21], which she accessorised with a Lacorine fuzzy brown hat and matching Cornelia James gloves.
Princess Diana
In November 1994, Princess Diana wore a black halter neck gown by Catherine Walker. The occasion? A charity dinner organised at the Palace of Versailles in France.
Princess Diana
When she and Prince Charles attended a reception in South Korea in 1992, Diana wore a mauve Catherine Walker dress with an embroidered bolero, a tiara, and pendant earrings.
Princess Diana
During a visit to the Berlin Opera House in 1987, Prince Harry's late mother wore a light pink Catherine Walker ballgown, which featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and pink buttons down the bodice. Meghan Markle [22] wore a very similar dress [23] when she attended her very first Trooping the Colour on June 13.
Princess Diana
For the iconic moment in 1982 when Diana left St. Mary's Hospital with Prince William, she wore a green polka-dot dress from Catherine Walker.
The Duchess of Cambridge
For the annual Royal Festival of Remembrance in 2017, Kate wore a bespoke Catherine Walker design [24] which came in velvet and was embellished with Swarovski crystal buttons. The Duchess of Cambridge played up the shimmer with Princess Diana's Collingwood pearl earrings, a beaded Magid clutch, and her sapphire engagement ring [25].
Princess Diana
For a trip to Pakistan in 1996, Diana teamed her white head scarf with a porcelain-blue Catherine Walker outfit.
Princess Diana
For a charity event in Paris in 1988, Diana wore a big, bold, shiny, floor-sweeping gown by Catherine Walker.