How Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton ‘cosplayed’ as Princess Diana – as Omid Scobie claims the royal wives were ‘urged to dress like mother-in-law so her shine would rub off on them’ in bombshell book
From her glittering red carpet ensembles to her chic off-duty looks, Princess Diana was often praised for her faultless sense of style.
So it’s hardly surprising that Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have turned to their late mother-in-law for fashion inspiration during their time in the public eye.
However, a new biography claims that the royal women’s wardrobes – which often reflect some of Diana’s most famous fashion choices – are put together specifically in the hope that the late royal’s ‘shine would rub off on them’.
In his new book End Game, which hits shelves in the UK tomorrow, Omid Scobie claims that the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex were urged by royal aides to essentially ‘cosplay’ as their husbands’ mother.
According to the Sussexes’ biographer, Kate, 41, and Meghan, 42, would sometimes be given outfits based on ideas which used photos of the late Princess of Wales for inspiration.
The 42-year-old quotes a royal source as saying that William, 41, and Harry, 39, were consulted anytime it was suggested that their wives be dressed in a style similar to their late mother.
In his latest bombshell book, Scobie also noted how Kate and Meghan both wear jewellery that once belonged to their late mother-in-law.
On their wedding day in 2018, Meghan Markle was pictured wearing Diana’s $90,000 aquamarine ring to her evening reception – and later wore it during the couple’s royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Kingdom of Tonga that October.
Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales has been pictured wearing multiple pieces of jewellery belonging to Diana since marrying into the Royal Family in 2012 – including a pair of her mother-in-law’s earrings and a bracelet that she donned during King Charles’ ‘Scottish Coronation’ in July.
Scobie added that a ‘huge amount of effort’ is put into ‘channelling her exact look’ and this is ‘sometimes beyond the pale’.
The author continues: ‘Were there gentle pushes from others? At times, yes. It had been known for someone to go back and pull images of Diana at a certain place or time for ideas.
‘At the right moment this can be a sweet gesture, but there is also a slightly queasy feeling when you realise it’s often orchestrated within the same system that contributed to her living misery, and an institution that still wants some of Diana’s shine to rub off on them.’
Here FEMAIL takes a look back at how Kate and Meghan have recreated their mother-in-law’s timeless style.
Elegant: Princess Diana sported a cream coloured blazer jacket with pleated detailing on the collar, which was alike to what Kate decided to wear at Prince George’s christening. She is sporting an off-white Alexander McQueen jacket
Pretty in pink: Both Princesses wore similar pink dresses with matching hats. Kate’s pleated dress is from Alexander McQueen with a matching hat. Both Princesses also matched their outfits with similar clutch bags
The Princess of Wales took inspiration from Diana when she wore a similar blazer from Smythe to one her mother-in-law wore in 1984
Well-dressed in white: Kate channeled Diana when she opted to wear a ‘Liza’ style coat by Catherine Walker in 2019, paired with her late mother-in-law’s pearl earrings
Princess Catherine pictured wearing a spring green tunic during a visit to Pakistan in 2019 (right) and Diana wearing a similar green tunic during her trip to France in 1992 (left)
Diana wore a burgundy tartan dress at the Braemae Highland Games. Kate wore a similar Alessandra Rich red and black houndstooth dress in 2021. Both Princesses paired their bold dresses with black stilettos
Dazzling: Diana looked picture-perfect in her metallic silver gown which she wore in 1985. The Princess of Wales opted for a bold sparkly Jenny Packham ‘Goldfinger’ dress. The two dresses have a very similar flattering V-neck cut, with padded shoulders
The royal opted for a pale pussybow blouse for a surprise visit to Northern Ireland in 2022(right). The look was largely popularised by the Princess of Wales (left)
Left: Diana chooses a teal suit and matching hat for Wellington, New Zealand, in 1983. RIght: Kate’s look for the 2023 St Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks was strikingly similar in colour and detail
Left: Princess Diana during a trip to South Korea in 1992. Right: The Princess of Wales in Scotland in 2021
Kate seemingly looked to her mother for inspiration with two bold red looks over the past few weeks (left, Diana arriving to visit the Lighthouse Trust in a bold red jacket with black accessories, and right, Kate in a similar ensemble while visiting Swansea)
In November 2022, Kate wore a long line Catherine Walker coat in a similar shade for the England vs Papua New Guinea Rugby League World Cup (right). Diana wore a similar coat with black buttons and a deep collar during a visit to New York in 1989 (left)
Weeks ago, Kate donned an all-tanned colour ensemble to visit Scarborough with the Prince of Wales (right). The ensemble echoed an all-beige ensemble Diana wore for a joint engagement with Prince Charles in 1982 (left)
In October 2022, Kate donned a silky navy polka dot Tory Burch shirt with a scallop collar, which she first wore last year, to launch a campaign for Addiction Awareness Week (right). The look was strikingly similar to one worn by Princess Diana, while photographed at home at Kensington Palace more than two decades ago (left)
Left: Princess Diana wears a wine-coloured hat to match her velvet suit by Jaeger and a John Boyd hat in November 1983. RIght: Catherine, Princess of Wales visits St David’s cathedral in a similarly wine-coloured hat and matching coat at St David’s Cathedral on Friday
For King Charles’ ‘Scottish Coronation’, Kate wore beautiful pearl bracelet which originally belonged to Diana (left, Diana wearing the bracelet in 1989)
Keeping it low-key, Diana sported a white button-up shirt with denim jeans when visiting Bosnia in 1997. Meghan (pictured right) mirrored the look – down to even the cropped sleeves – in September 25, 2017
The princess, left, in a plaid blazer with a matching skirt in London in 1988. Sporting the same pattern, Meghan oozed elegance during a visit to Cardiff in January 2018
Princess Diana on a walkabout in Sheffield in July 1991, pictured left, and Meghan on April 18, 2018 in London, right
Left: Princess Diana wore a blue-and-green tartan dress to the Highland Games in 1987. Right: The Duchess of Sussex wore a similar tartan during one of her first royal engagements in 2018
Left: Princess Diana during a royal tour of Saudi Arabia in 1986. Right: Meghan Markle attends a wedding with Prince Harry in July 2018
Diana in Argentina in November 1995, pictured left, and Meghan at Trooping the Colour on June 9, 2018, pictured right
Left: Princess Diana wearing her butterfly earrings in Vancouver in 1986. Right: Meghan Markle wearing her mother-in-law’s earrings in Sydney in 2018
Left: Princess Diana wearing her $90,000 aquamarine ring in 1996. Right: Meghan Markle wore her mother-in-law’s ring during the couple’s royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Kingdom of Tonga in October 2018
Touching tribute: Meghan Markle (right), 38, channelled Diana in an all-black ensemble when she joined senior royals for the Remembrance Sunday commemorations at the Cenotaph. The outfit looked strikingly similar to one the Princess wore to the Cenotaph in 1991 (left)
Left: Princess Diana in a red-and-purple ensemble in Hong Kong in 1989. Right: Meghan Markle wore a similar look in Birkenhead in January 2019
Diana wore an eye-catching sequin dress in December 1990, left, and Meghan donned a shimmering evening gown to a Cirque du Soleil performance in January 2019
Diana, during her pregnancy with her first son, Prince William, in March 1982. Meghan, right, in March 2019, at a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House in London
Diana touring a Hindu temple in London in June 1997, seen left. The duchess (pictured right with her husband) at her first public appearance following the birth of her son in May 2019
Left: Princess Diana during the Trooping the Colour in 1982. Right: The Duchess of Sussex arrives for Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in 2020
Omid Scobie, pictured here on This Morning in January, has not held back in his criticism of the Royal Family in the build-up to the release of his new book
Last year, Meghan Markle claimed she ‘toned down’ her wardrobe while she was a senior member of the Royal Family during her Netflix docu-series.
While speaking with a producer, the mother-of-two was quizzed about how she adapted to life in the Royal Family and revealed she even had to Google the UK’s national anthem.
In an effort not to step on any toes within the Royal Family, the Duchess said she also adapted her wardrobe accordingly.
She said: ‘Most of the time I was in the UK, I rarely wore colour.
‘To my understanding, you can’t ever wear the same colour as Her Majesty if there’s a group event but then you also shouldn’t be wearing the same colour as one of the other more senior members of the family.’
To respect this rumoured royal protocol, Meghan says she started dressing almost exclusively in shades of camel, beige and white.
She continued: ‘I wore a lot of muted tones but it was also so I could just blend in. I’m not trying to stand out here.
‘There was no version of me [that was] joining this family and trying not to do everything I could to fit in. I don’t want to embarrass the family.’
Omid Scobie’s new book Endgame, a full-frontal assault on their perceived enemies, is expected to further widen the rift between Harry and his family.
The Sussexes’ biographer has a new book, titled Endgame, which is set to be published on Tuesday
Leaked extracts seen by The Mail on Sunday paint an unflattering picture of King Charles, with Scobie judging him ‘a flawed father’ and a backstabber – and accusing him of effectively sanctioning leaks about his sons to the press.
Predictably, William also comes under fire. The author says he is increasingly in cahoots with Palace courtiers who dream up dirty tricks.
By Scobie’s account the Prince of Wales uses his aides and their press contacts to paint his younger brother as emotionally fragile.
Endgame also suggests William and Kate found the merciless lampooning of the Sussexes on the American animated satire South Park earlier this year ‘very funny’. William, it adds, disliked Meghan from the start.
And the book says the King thought his son was a ‘fool’ for making a soul-baring Netflix documentary which claimed his father told ‘lies’ and his brother ‘screamed and shouted’ at the Sandringham Summit that resulted in the Sussexes leaving for the US.
