Kate Middleton pays tribute to Diana with a Givenchy coat-dress and sapphire jewels

On April 25, 2026, Kate Middleton made a striking appearance at the Anzac Day commemorations. The Princess of Wales wore a navy blue ensemble that was strikingly reminiscent of an outfit worn by Lady Diana in 1995. Thirty-one years separate the two looks, yet the resemblance immediately struck observers.

Anzac Day, a meaningful ceremony for the Royal Family

Kate Middleton represented the British Royal Family on this solemn day. Commemorations were held at the Cenotaph andWestminster Abbey. Each year, this date honors the memory of fallen Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

Australia and New Zealand are members of the Commonwealth. This ceremony is therefore of particular importance to the British Crown. The presence of the Princess of Wales underlined this historic link between the nations.

A Givenchy coat-dress with striking details

For the occasion, Kate wore a bespoke coat-dress by Sarah Burton for Givenchy. The navy blue piece featured wide white lapels, a crossover neckline and structured shoulders. The parallel with Diana was immediate in the public mind.

In July 1995, Lady Diana wore a navy-blue skirt suit by Catherine Walker. At the time, she was in Germany to present new flags to the Light Dragoon Guards regiment. This piece had almost identical white lapels, as well as a white belt and wide brimmed hat.

“On an occasion like Anzac Day, jewelry ceases to be decorative and becomes communicative. It’s about meaning, continuity and respect for the moment.”

Kate Middleton’s choice of accessories to complete the ensemble

The Princess of Wales completed her outfit with a number of carefully selected accessories. She wore a Jane Taylor hat to match her coat-dress. Her navy pumps were by Gianvito Rossi, and her bag was by DeMellier London.

A red poppy brooch was pinned to his coat. This traditional symbol accompanies every commemoration ceremony in the UK. Every detail was chosen to honor the event.

• Sarah Burton made-to-measure coat-dress for Givenchy
• Jane Taylor hat in navy blue
• Assorted Gianvito Rossi pumps
• DeMellier London bag
• Traditional red poppy brooch

Diana’s jewels worn by the Princess of Wales

The Diana connection didn’t stop with the clothes. Kate Middleton wore her mother-in-law’s sapphire and diamond dangling ear rings. According to the tabloids, these were given to Diana on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Charles in 1981.

These earrings have accompanied Diana on many occasions. These included her one-off Met Gala in 1996 and the cover of British Vogue in 1994. Kate also wore a tanzanite and diamond pendant by G. Collins & Sons, said to be a gift from Prince William given in 2015.

Jewelry as a symbolic language, say experts

These choices have not escaped the attention of jewelry specialists. Nilesh Rakholia, founder of Abelini, shared his analysis with InStyle. He believes that Kate Middleton has “consistently used jewelry to create a sense of filiation”.

The expert adds that it “never looks like a replica”. The pieces associated with Diana are “recontextualized”, worn in a way that reflects Kate’s own role. Her own moment too, he says.

This approach weaves a thread between two generations of the royal family. The jewels become a silent but powerful means of communication. Each public appearance offers a multi-layered reading.

A visual tribute to continuity

This is not the first time that Kate Middleton has visually evoked Diana’s memory. On official ceremonies and important occasions, this type of sartorial echo appears regularly. The precision of the April 25, 2026 outfit gives it a particularly strong dimension.

It’s not just an imitation, it’s a transmission. A navy blue coat-dress, sapphire earrings: the Princess of Wales needed no words. Thirty-one years after Diana, the message is being passed on intact from one generation to the next.

• Kate Middleton