Every single time Meghan Markle took sentimental style inspiration from her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana
Meghan Markle and the late Princess Diana have many things in common, from a love for Prince Harry to a passion for philanthropy.
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were stepping back as senior royals, chat and comparisons between Meghan and Harry's mother reignited.
In a 2019, the Prince compared the tabloid press's coverage of his wife to the way in which his mother was treated. At the time, Prince Harry said that the 'ruthless campaign' against his wife was 'history repeating itself', adding: "I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces."
And now, that topic is expected to come up in the highly-anticipated Oprah interview with the couple, airing in the UK on Monday 8th March at 9pm on ITV, for which Meghan has chosen to wear Princess Diana's diamond bracelet.
This isn't the first time Meghan has chosen to pay tribute her late mother-in-law.
In an interview to mark their engagement, Meghan spoke of the importance of remembering Diana. Gesturing to her engagement ring, she said: "I think everything about Harry's thoughtfulness is – and the inclusion of that and obviously not being able to meet his mum it's so important to me to – to know that she's a part of this with us. And I think in being able to meet his aunts and – and also like Julia and just different people who were so important to his mum, I'm able to, in some way, know a part of her through them and of course through him. And it's – it's incredibly special."
Harry added: "It is days like – days like today when – when I really miss having her around and miss being able to share the happy news. But you know with the ring and with everything else that's going on I'm sure she's …" "She's with us," added Meghan.
On her wedding day, Meghan included forget-me-nots and white roses from Princess Diana's memory garden, in her wedding bouquet. She also plumped for the Princess' stunning emerald cut aquamarine ring on her finger at her evening reception at Frogmore House.
Flattering and easy to recreate.
To celebrate her first US Mother's Day as mother to baby Archie, Meghan's Instagram post of mother and son posing against a backdrop of forget-me-nots (Princess Diana's favourite flowers), poignantly made reference to Diana: "Paying tribute to all mothers today – past, present, mothers-to-be, and those lost but forever remembered. We honour and celebrate each and every one of you."
As well as the more obvious references, Meghan has also taken sartorial inspiration from Diana, who was recognised globally as quite the style icon.
From her trusty tuxedo dresses and netted fascinators to her penchant for colour blocking, we celebrate all the times Meghan Markle paid sartorial tribute to her late mother-in-law.
CBS / Getty ImagesThe crystal bracelet
For Oprah Winfrey's highly-anticipated interview with the royal couple, Meghan has chosen to wear a beautiful crystal bracelet that previously belonged to Diana.
According to People, the diamond bracelet is the same one that was used to help craft Meghan and Harry's engagement ring. Harry used two stones from his mother's bracelet to include in Meghan's three-stone ring. The couple wanted Meghan to wear the bracelet during the interview so Diana could be with them, according to the publication.
Getty ImagesThe butterfly earrings
During Harry and Meghan's 2018 Australia tour, Meghan wore these dainty butterfly earrings which belonged to Prince Di.
Getty ImagesThe blue-stone bangle
Meghan also wore this open bangle on the tour which belonged to her late mother-in-law, then a year later, to launch her clothing collection with the charity Smart Works. Diana was pictured wearing the blue-stone bangle in 1990 and 1994.
Getty ImagesThe aquamarine ring
Meghan Markle wore Princess Diana's stunning aquamarine cocktail ring, which she last wore in 1997, for the evening reception of her wedding day. The ring was reportedly commissioned by Diana in 1996 after her divorce from Prince Charles.
Getty ImagesOff-the-shoulder necklines
It's sexy, it's a little risqué... it's so Princess Di. In 1987, Princess Diana smouldered in a sexy ballgown by Catherine Walker, a look Meghan opted for via her Carolina Herrera dress, which she wore to Trooping the Colour in 2018. Talk about pushing the style boundaries!
Getty ImagesThe blue pleated skirt
Princess Diana, pictured in 1992, had a penchant for a pleated skirt - a look Meghan later gave a modern spin by offsetting her Givenchy number with a more casual jumper.
Shutterstock / Getty ImagesBlue florals
Princess Diana looked so chic in a blue floral dress on the red carpet in 1989, and Meghan quite clearly channeled the look in an Oscar de la Renta gown for Princess Diana's niece's wedding in 2018. Touching.
Getty ImagesBold yellow
There's something so gloriously cheerful about a bold yellow look, right? Princess Diana rocked the look in1995 in this marigold skirt suit set by Versace, whilst Meghan later embraced the eye-catching colour via her Brandon Maxwell dress in 2018.
Getty ImagesThe pinstripe
Princess Diana was a staunch fan of a chic pinstripe - the ideal design that takes away from the blandness of a white suit. Diana donned hers in 1985, whilst Meghan channeled the look via an Altuzarra belted dress in 2018.
Getty ImagesThe halterneck
There's absolutely no escaping the fact that Meghan's Stella McCartney evening wedding dress was a nod to the halter-neck dress Diana wore for a reception at Spencer House in 1992.
Getty ImagesThe races style
For Meghan's first time at the Royal Ascot in 2018, she looked super chic in a Givenchy dress and a black-and-white Philip Treacy hat, which bore an uncanny resemblance to the races look Di plumped for in 1985.
Getty ImagesThe big blue overcoat
Princess Diana looks undeniably chic in a cobalt blue coat in 1988. Meghan, meanwhile, opted for a Smythe coat in 2018 in the exact same hue.
Getty ImagesPlaid
Princess Di was a master at paying homage to the place she was visiting via her outfit, as proven by her plaid dress at the Highland Games in 1987 - a look Meghan echoed on a visit to Edinburgh Castle in February 2018.
Getty ImagesAll white!
Princess Diana looked ethereal in this Versace number in 1995 - a look Meghan echoed through her Karen Gee version.
Getty ImagesThe off-duty look
One of our first sightings of Meghan and Harry together was in September 2017 at the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. Does her outfit look familiar?
