Kate Middleton wore an outfit that appeared to pay homage to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana for Remembrance Sunday yesterday.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, chose a favorite Alexander McQueen military-style black dress coat with red epaulettes, a white collar, and silver button detail to watch Prince William and Prince Charles lay wreaths at the Whitehall war memorial on a dreary day in Whitehall.
Kate looked solemn in the same elegant bespoke dress coat she wore to the 2018 Remembrance Sunday service, accessorizing with a chic Tiffany drop-brim £275 black hat.
The mother-of-three wore a hat that was strikingly similar to one worn by Princess Diana to the same event in 1992.
On the third balcony above the war memorial, the Duchess joined Sophie Wessex and the Duchess of Cornwall, taking time to chat with Camilla before the ceremony began.
As the three leading royals represented the Queen alongside other royals, Camilla frequently turned towards her daughter-in-law, and the Duchess of Cambridge appeared to be deep in conversation with the Countess of Wessex.
Kate’s outfit was inspired by Lady Diana Spencer, who attended the event in 1992 and wore a wide-brimmed hat similar to Kate’s.
In the meantime, the Duchess wore Diana’s Collingwood earrings to the Whitehall service.
Her brunette locks were swept into a low bun, revealing the pearl drop earrings she wore for the occasion.
Kate frequently wears jewelry that pays tribute to her mother-in-law, such as her sapphire engagement ring, which was once Diana’s.
Kate’s style choices are often influenced by Princess Diana, who has a keen eye for detail.
Kate dazzled in a custom Jenny Packham embellished gown – which is normally priced at £2,800 – at the James Bond No Time to Die premiere in September. She accessorized her dress, which featured cape sleeve detailing and structured shoulders, with bespoke £290 Onitaa earrings made in Pakistan by the South Asian luxury couture label.
Princess Diana wore a similar outfit to the premiere of the James Bond film A View to Kill in 1985, and Kate’s choice was strikingly similar.
In May, the Duchess wore a £59.99 Zara blazer and a £95.00 Hope Fashion pleated midi skirt in the color of the Scottish flag, which had a striking resemblance to a look worn by the Princess of Wales nearly three decades ago for a day of royal duties in Nottingham.
Kate wore a deep blue £525 Beulah London gown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn to commemorate the NHS’s 72nd anniversary in July of last year.
The Duchess’ bold shirt dress, with its striking white collar and blue polkadot pattern, was reminiscent of a similar outfit worn by Princess Diana in 1985.
Meanwhile, for the virtual appearance in May, the mother-of-three wore a £550 pretty red floral gown by Beulah London, which featured a bold white collar.
Princess Diana wore a dress that looked strikingly similar to this one during a trip to Oman in November 1986, according to royal fans.
In the absence of the Queen, the Duchess of Cambridge took center stage on the Foreign Office balcony yesterday, joining the Duchess of Cornwall and Sophie Wessex to pay their respects to the fallen at the Cenotaph.
The Queen was expected to attend the service, but doctors advised her against it at the last minute, leaving senior royals Kate Middleton, Sophie Wessex, and Camilla to represent her at the annual service.
Boris Johnson, Prince Charles, Prince William, and other members of the British elite observed the two-minute silence as the clock struck 11 a.m.
Buckingham Palace said the 95-year-old monarch made the decision ‘with great regret’ on Sunday morning and is ‘disappointed’ to miss the event, which will be the first time she has missed it in 22 years.
The Queen is said to be disappointed that she will be unable to attend the service, which she regards as one of the most important of the year, and she hopes to resume her schedule of light official duties next week as planned.
From the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building, the monarch, who served in the army as a driver and mechanic during World War II, was set to watch the service at the war memorial in central London.