6 Times Meghan Markle Channeled Princess Diana's Iconic Style With Her Outfits

Although Meghan Markle never got to meet Lady Diana, the late Princess of Wales' sartorial influence is all over the California native's personal styling. From gowns to casual pieces, Markle's styling echoes the confidence of her mother-in-law in mores ways than one. Of course, it remains unclear whether Markle is doing so knowingly. After all, Princess Diana's style has become synonymous with timeless elegance, and Dianacore has become dubbed a trending style years after her passing.

That said, it's understandable why Markle gravitates towards the icon; Princess Diana never followed certain royal fashion rules, doing away with stuffy dress codes like high necklines and wearing gloves to meet the public. Markle herself has proven to be her own kind of rebel, stepping down as a senior royal alongside Prince Harry. That spirit has been expressed in her fashion choices, too. Since leaving the royal family, Meghan has worn some spicy outfits that she'd never have gotten away with when she was affiliated with Buckingham Palace. But whether intentional or not, during her royal life and during her post-royal life in Montecito, California, Markle has channeled Princess Diana many times.

Meghan Markle wore a purple dress and cherry red jacket while pregnant with her first child, Prince Archie of Sussex. This was in 2019, when Meghan was still a senior working royal and she visited Birkenhead, Merseyside, with her husband, Prince Harry. Meghan's colorful outfit was a direct nod to Princess Diana's sensational outfit in 1989 when she visited Hong Kong. Diana wore a red jacket and a purple skirt, with a hat that brought the two hues together. The bold color combination looked fabulous on both women. 

And after she and then-Prince Charles split up, Diana wore some looks that solidified her status as a style icon, dressing a little racier than she did when she was married.

The late Princess Diana loved a bold color moment, as seen by the red Catherine Walker dress she wore for a dinner in Argentina in 1995. Going monochromatic, she paired the off-the-shoulder red dress with a tonal clutch and heels. Decades later, Meghan Markle opted for the same concept, just with a fuller gown. In 2021, Markle attended the Salute To Freedom Gala in New York City and wore a strappy, red Carolina Herrera dress with a plunging neckline similar to the one on Lady Diana's 1995 ensemble. Like her mother-in-law, the Duchess of Sussex wore red heels. 

Princess Diana looked incredible in a strapless, black velvet gown with gold buttons along the front for the premiere of "Postcards from the Edge" in London on January 23, 1991. The evening gown was a bold choice at the time, but Diana wore it fearlessly. In December 2024, Meghan Markle attended the Paley Honors Fall Gala at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel wearing a black, strapless gown with a sweetheart cut neckline. Both gowns had a slight dip at the cleavage line, showing similar taste. 

Princess Diana looked sensational in a silver, one-shoulder gown for the premiere of the 1983 James Bond film "Octopussy." She kept jewelry to a minimum, save for a pair of dazzling drop earrings. In November 2023, Meghan Markle attended the Variety Power of Women event in a beige, Proenza Schouler one-shoulder gown. Like her mother-in-law, Markle carried a simple clutch and kept her jewelry minimal, pulling her hair back to let the simple dress have its moment. Both women loved the one-shoulder gown and have both worn different variations of that style numerous times. 

Princess Diana opted for neutrals from time to time, pairing a sand-colored blazer with a white top underneath. She also kept her accessories simple, going for basic gold hoop earrings and a gold watch. Meghan Markle went for exactly the same look when she attended the 2025 TIME100 Summit in New York City. She wore a neutral blazer by Ralph Lauren along with a white shirt under her blazer. Echoing her mother-in-law, she wore gold hoops with her ensemble as well as a statement watch.

In 1982, while pregnant with Prince William, Princess Diana wore a Hunter green maternity dress to the Trooping the Color along with a tonal fascinator featuring decorative decal. She styled it with a pearl choker. In 2020, for the Commonwealth Day Service, Meghan Markle stepped out in a dress that was clearly inspired by Diana's sartorial choice decades earlier. Markle's ensemble consisted of a green Emilia Wickstead cape dress in a similar tone, along with a circular fascinator with a nearly identical decal to that of Diana's. Even the location of Markle's decorative mesh on her headpiece was in the same place. Both women looked beautiful in green.