Meghan Markle And Kate Middleton Have This One Key Part Of Their Style In Common

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Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, might have their differences, but when it comes to fashion, these two royal women have quite a bit in common: outfit repeating. Instead of constantly buying new looks, both seem to love to shopping their own closets. For instance, back in 2019, Middleton stepped out in a black, floor-length Alexander McQueen gown that had been reworked from an off-the-shoulder neckline to cap sleeves she wore perviously. A serious devotion to McQueen has been a key part of Middleton's stunning style transformation, and she got extra mileage out of the elegant floral piece here. The update made the dress seem fresh and in tune with fashion trends. "It would be insane for someone like her to buy a different outfit for every single moment she is seen in public; I can't imagine how much shopping would be involved to make that happen," wrote one Reddit commenter. "I'm glad she reuses her clothing, especially since they are all so classic and suit her so well."

Markle has done the same on several occasions. For example, she rewore a bright blue Veronica Beard shirt dress for multiple occasions that perfectly flattered her complexion's color palette. This strategy of redeploying previously worn fashion looks means that wonderful pieces like this don't need to go to waste, forgotten after just one appearance.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle aren't the only experts at up-cycling their previous fashion picks. Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, and even the late Queen Elizabeth have all been known to rewear pieces. Part of this is arguably out of remembrance and reverence for royals past. Like Kate, Meghan has channeled Princess Diana's iconic style. Reusing pieces helps to develop a consistent and recognizable visual brand. It's also, in part, an effort by the British Royal Family, who remain at least partially dependent on taxpayer money, to avoid looking inappropriately flashy or wasteful. "Sensible dressing is a big part of the Duchess of Cambridge's brand," Elizabeth Holmes, author of "HRH: So Many Thoughts On Royal Style" told The Cut. "She's sending a message that she's not going overboard."

But there's another important reason why these royal women choose to outfit repeat. After all, these are women known for making statements through fashion, We saw this with special meanings behind Kate and Princess Charlotte's Trooping the Color 2025 outfits. By re-wearing items, they can help spotlight their charitable causes. That's because royal fashion is usually big news, and the media even coined the phrase "Kate effect" to describe how rapidly clothes sell out after she wears them. By rewearing pieces, the royals can sidestep the usual frenzy about their outfits, and leave more media attention on their work.