The handshakes with AIDS patients, the hugs with sick children, the warm displays of maternal affection, and of course the stunning outfits that made her a style icon… Whatever you think of Diana’s time in the royal family, there’s no doubt that it gave the monarchy some of its best moments of the last century. .
In many countries of the world, the unforgettable Princess of Wales made the Windsors look glamorous and dazzling in a way that no other member of the royal family could, despite their admirable devotion to duty and country.
So it’s no surprise that more than 25 years after her death, palace staff and the royal family themselves remain committed to keeping Diana’s name in the headlines, mainly through her gentle but highly effective figure.
This is according to Endgame, the latest book by journalist Omid Scobie, which was released in Britain today. He writes that “someone has been known to walk around and take pictures of Diana at a particular place or time to get ideas” when it comes to designing clothes for the current Princess of Wales or Duchess of Sussex.
It’s a kind of two-in-one strategy – not only is there a dazzling photo of Catherine or Meghan in a stunning outfit, but news and social media accounts are sure to also spread the accompanying photo of Diana.
It’s particularly clever because there’s no obvious explanation required from the palace – just let the image speak for itself.
Sometimes there’s room to believe it might just be a coincidence – after all, Diana wore hundreds of outfits during her public appearances in a huge variety of colors and styles, so it’s not hard to find references to almost any combination.
But there were moments where the connection was undeniable. Apparently, this happened when William or Harry decided that their wives should get a piece from their famous mother’s jewelry collection.
The different way Kate and Meghan imitate Diana
Prince William proposed with Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring (which she chose from a selection tray given to her in 1981) and Kate Middleton often wore the Cambridge Lover’s knot tiara, which was a favorite of her mother-in-law.
Meanwhile, Meghan showed off Diana’s huge aquamarine ring on her wedding night to Prince Harry.
The Princess of Wales, who has mastered the art of speaking through her clothes, chose particularly poignant moments to channel Diana. Times like when she wore a Prada floral-bow dress reminiscent of the Laura Ashley style her mother-in-law wore in the early 1980s on the twentieth anniversary of her death, or when she wore a blue polka dot dress when leaving the Lindo Suite after the birth of Prince George. She copied the dress Diana had chosen when she left the hospital. With William in her arms. You can just imagine the brief that Jenny Packham, the dress’s designer, gave with notes about making Diana part of a historical moment that otherwise wouldn’t have featured prominently. A historic moment that would not have been so powerful with any other dress.
Meghan always seems to prefer emulating Diana’s less traditional royal choices, from wearing trousers over dresses, as the princess did in the late 1980s, to drawing inspiration from her chic post-divorce style.
The fine line is where tactile meets what Scobie calls “cosplay.” The temptation to recreate Diana’s magic and keep her memory alive is understandable. But can you attract all this adoration without creating the same tensions and mistakes that occurred in the 80s and 90s?
Both women seem to represent different outcomes of this question.
See also
The story behind Diana’s famous leopard-skin swimsuit – why she tore it into thousands of pieces in a furious rage
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