Kate Middleton channelled Princess Diana as she arrived at St George’s Chapel for the Garter Day service this afternoon.
The royal, 41, opted for a chic black-and-white spotty midi dress by Alessandra Rich for the occasion – which is reminiscent of a dress her late mother-in-law wore to Royal Ascot in 1988.
Kate’s sophisticated high-necked gown featured voluminous sleeves with dainty button detailing.
It also featured ruching around the middle which is almost identical to Diana’s Victor Edelstien.
Taking style notes from her late mother-in-law, Kate even worked the print of her dress into her hat.
Kate’s black Philip Treacy headpiece feathering which perfectly matched the print of her dress.
When Diana attended Ascot 35 years ago, the then Princess of Wales expertly matched the print of her polka dot dress to her statement hat as well.
Keeping her jewellery minimal, the Princess opted for Diana’s pearl drop earrings – which she wore to the Queen’s funeral last September – and a matching bracelet.
The royal finished off her ensemble with a nude clutch bag and white heels with a black toe, which are clearly inspired by a pair Diana wore to Ascot.
The Princess opted for a brown-toned smokey eye and then completed her makeup with a nude lipstick.
The Italian-born, London-based designer Alessandra Rich has become a go-to for Kate in recent years – with the Princess of Wales previously wearing her designs to Prince Philip’s memorial service and on a royal tour of the Bahamas.
The designer has previously said she is inspired by the ‘polite rebels’ of history, like Princess Diana.
‘I’m drawn to history’s polite rebels, such as Princess Diana, and I want to embody that spirit in the Alessandra Rich woman,’ Rich once said.
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Describing her designs as ‘modern with a twist’, she added that her ideas often stem from French women in the movies she most admires – such as Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour.
Order of the Garter day comes just two days after the Royal Family were out in force to celebrate the King’s official birthday at Trooping the Colour.
The Princess of Wales was pictured sharing a laugh with the Duchess of Edinburgh, who was dressed in a pretty pink £1,630 floral dress by Emilia Wickstead.
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, which is the oldest British order of chivalry and the oldest national order of knighthood in existence, is limited to 24 Knights or Ladies Companion in addition to the King and Prince of Wales.
It also includes ‘supernumerary members’, including foreign monarchs and other royals.
The Order of the Garter is a a 700-year tradition founded by Edward III in 1348, and recognises contributions of great public service from those honoured – usually Lords and Ladies of the UK.
Foreign royals have been given honorary ‘Stranger Knight’ status since 1813, with controversial recipients over the years including Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany before World War I.
King Felipe was appointed by the late Queen during his July 2017 state visit while King Willem-Alexander received the honour during his state visit in October 2018.
In celebration of the first parade of the King’s reign, Queen Camilla has been made a Royal Knight of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland’s greatest order of chivalry, joining the Princess Royal and Princess of Wales, who also hold the honour.
Knights of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally.
Foreign royals have been receiving Stranger Knight status since 1813, when Emperor Alexander I of Russia was invested with Order status.
Other foreign royals who are currently Stranger Knights are Queen Margrethe of Denmark, King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, former King Juan Carlos of Spain, Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, King Harald of Norway and former Emperor Akihito of Japan.
The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain and it was first established by King Edward III in 1348 – almost 700 years ago.
During the First World War, two Royal Knights and six Stranger Knights, all monarchs or princes of enemy nations and including Kaiser Wilhelm II, German Emperor, and Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria, were struck off the roll of the Order or had their appointments annulled in 1915.
Emperor Hirohito of Japan was also removed from the Order during World War II in 1941, but it was restored to his great pleasure after he made a state visit to the UK in 1971, 26 years after the country was defeated by the Allies
The King and Prince William, as sovereign and heir, are automatically given membership of the Order and are considered ‘ex officio knights’ with the power to admit new members.
The Garter is open to British and Commonwealth citizens, with former Prime Minister Sir John Major and Lord Sainsbury numbered among the current members.
Field Marshall, the Lord Bramall, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, the Duke of Abercorn, the Duke of Westminster and Baroness Manningham-Buller, the former Director-General of MI5, are also Knights of the Garter.
The appointment of Knights of the Garter is in the King’s gift and is made without consulting ministers.
Recipients of the honour are chosen because they have held public office, contributed to national life or served the sovereign personally.
Other members of the order include Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, a past president of the Supreme Court, and Admiral Lord Boyce, a former head of the UK’s armed forces.