A Look Back at Princess Diana's Influence on Princess Charlotte's Coronation

  Princess Diana created an enduring fashion legacy. She wore bespoke gowns by designers like Alexander McQueen. She also took a few risks with her fashion choices. For example, she removed the line from her wedding vows that said she would "obey" Prince Charles. Now, it seems that her daughter has taken a few tips from the late royal. 1. The White Dress Diana’s royal wedding dress arguably set the bar for all other princesses to follow. Its large bell shape, enormous puffed sleeves and longest train in history made for a stunning visual statement. The royal bride wore the Spencer family diamond tiara and carried a bouquet of gardenias, lilies-of-the-valley, white freesias and stephanotis. The royal was a natural in front of the camera. In fact, she was a photographer’s dream — especially with her stunning frocks and hats. Whether she was looking regal at a gala or wearing a casual look to a charity event, her fashion choices always spoke to the occasion and her personality. Ahead, see how the Duchess of Cambridge and her daughter-in-laws have incorporated some of Princess Diana’s classic looks into their wardrobe. Princess Diana was a master at pairing casual and formal clothing. She paired her elegant pink Catherine Walker gown with a pair of blue jeans for a visit to the Highgrove estate in 1986. The two pieces looked totally coordinated and modern. She even wore the same shoes! In a similar vein, she once attended a gala dinner for a British charity in this yellow linen dress and gold flats. The outfit was incredibly chic and the pop of color perfectly complemented her bright blazer. Diana’s style became more relaxed after she began a rift with her ex-husband, Prince Charles. For this 1988 dinner, she opted for a one-shouldered floral Catherine Walker number that was reminiscent of her wedding dress. She topped off the outfit with her beloved emerald earrings from her father. The Princess once stepped out in this white silk gown designed by Gina Fratini for the British Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The midi length was flattering on her and showcased her gorgeous legs. She finished the look with a pair of black wedges and a simple clutch. On the eve of her coronation, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were seen walking through Westminster Abbey. While Charlotte looked adorable in her Alexander McQueen mini, the littlest member of the royal family drew some shade from social media when he was spotted gazing at a picture of his late grandmother as they entered the church. 2. The Cape Many royal fans couldn't take their eyes off of Prince Charlotte when she joined her family at the Coronation. The eight-year-old looked amazing in her ivory McQueen dress and cape, which featured embroidered rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock motifs to represent the four nations. Her headpiece was also made from silver bullion and crystal, and was designed by milliner Jess Collett in collaboration with McQueen. It matched her McQueen cap, which was embellished with crystals and silver thread work. While this isn't the first time that fans have spotted Princess Charlotte's uncanny resemblance to her late grandmother, this was one of the most prominent occasions. The duchess' resemblance to Diana isn't just based on their appearance either, they also have similar facial expressions. They both have the glancing side-eye and coy smile that Diana was known for. Another nod to Diana was Kate's choice of jewelry for the occasion. The duchess wore her mother-in-law's diamond and pearl earrings. The jewels were a favorite of Diana's and have been worn by her many times before. The pair is adorned with two stylized curves of diamond and pearl that have been suspended from each earring. The pair was first worn by Diana at a dinner for the Japanese Emperor Akihito in 1990 and have since been seen on the Duchess several more times including at the BAFTA Film Awards in 2019 and last year during a visit to Australia. As for the rest of the royal family, they all looked stunning at the ceremony. Queen Camilla wore a white silk dress by British designer Bruce Oldfield, who was the designer of Diana's famous silver lame dress. The new queen didn't reveal much about her outfit, but many royal fashion watchers and self-proclaimed palace experts have speculated that it could be a similar style to the dress she wore to Charles's coronation in 1952. The rest of the royals wore traditional outfits, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau making an elegant entrance in a blush-toned satin Ted Baker dress. The couple was joined by members of their extended family, who arrived in the Gold State Coach along with William and Charlotte and their children George and Louis. 3. The Tiara The youngest members of the royal family are often the highlights of special occasions, and that's especially true today at the coronation. Charlotte and brother Prince Louis made their way into Westminster Abbey alongside their parents, dressed in matching Alexander McQueen outfits — with Charlotte sporting her first tiara-like headpiece — to celebrate Charles' big day. Both were incredibly well behaved, despite the two-hour service likely being a long one for them both. As she walked with her parents into the church, the eight-year-old was seen holding onto her little brother closely. Whether she was offering him reassurance or making sure he didn't get lost in the crowd, it's clear that the younger princess is protective of her little bro. During the procession, Kate's husband William also held his daughter's hand as they walked ahead of the official Gold State Coach, which was driven by the Queen. The whole family waved to the crowds, and it's clear that the children have inherited their mother's love for public appearances. While Diana's divorce from The Prince of Wales reportedly strained their relationship, she remained very active in her charitable work and was the president or patron of more than 100 charities, according to a biography. She had a great love for the homeless and worked to highlight the issue of HIV/AIDS as well. Diana often reached for her diamond and pearl South Sea Pearl Earrings, which she wore to several events before her death in 1997. Vogue reports that Kate opted to tweak the pair, choosing smaller pear-shaped gems instead of the larger round ones worn by her late mother. Diana was the most photographed woman in the world, which is a major reason why she was so beloved by her fans around the globe. Despite her intense popularity, she had a hard time coping with the pressures of being a public figure. Ultimately, the pressures led to her downfall — she was thrown out of Kensington Palace following her separation from The Prince, she was stripped of her title as Her Royal Highness, and she was killed in a Paris tunnel along with Dodi Fayed after being pursued by paparazzi. 4. The Shoes Princess Diana was known for introducing a more modern approach to the Royal Family. From her fashion choices to how she carried herself on public occasions, the ‘people’s princess’ made a big impression during her time in the spotlight. And it looks like she might have passed some of her most notable traits on to her daughter, Princess Charlotte. As the duchess of Cambridge arrived at the Coronation ceremony this morning alongside her little prince, many followers took to social media to point out just how much resemblance she has to her late grandmother. From her shy smile to her innate sense of style, it was clear that the young princess had Diana's DNA in her bloodstream. The Princess of Wales was all about ensuring that her children had some semblance of a normal upbringing, which is exactly why she refused private governesses and would do the school run on a regular basis. In addition, she was very hands-on with her boys and ensured they attended the local schools rather than private institutions. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have clearly taken note of this, with the couple putting a lot of effort into making sure that their children are able to experience life as the average child as possible. Diana's love for shoes is also something that she passed on to her granddaughter. In fact, it's not uncommon to see the duchess of Cambridge wearing a pair of Castaner espadrille wedges, which are similar to the heels that her mother wore on her big day. This isn't the first time that Middleton has been compared to her grandmother in this regard. Back in spring 2022, body language expert Judi James pointed out how much of a resemblance there was between the two, particularly when it came to their expressions and mannerisms. Interestingly enough, it is believed that the duchess of Sussex will also be seen in Castaner wedges for this weekend's event. Although she won't be joining her husband at the event because she will be in California celebrating their son Archie's fourth birthday, it's likely that she will wear a pair of the sustainable shoes when she is next spotted stateside.