Meghan and Kate's 'Diana Cosplay': What the Public Really Thinks

The Duchess of Sussex and Princess of Wales received "gentle pushes" from aides to replicate the style of the late Princess Diana, according to leaked extracts from a soon-to-be-published royal biography.

According to a copy of Prince Harry and Meghan biographer, Omid Scobie's, new book, Endgame, obtained by Page Six, the author writes that over the past "thirteen years...Diana cosplay has become a royal staple."

Quoting a source who "worked" with Princes William and Harry, Scobie said that tributes to the princes' late mother were "always discussed" with them but on reflection could be viewed with unease given Diana's experiences within the royal family.

"'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,'" Page Six cites Scobie's source as saying, with the author adding:

"At the right moment this can be a sweet gesture, but there is also a slightly queasy feeling when you realize 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."

Over their years in the royal spotlight, both Kate and Meghan have repeatedly worn outfits with stylistic links to their late mother-in-law, who has come to be celebrated as one of the most fashionable royals of all time in the years since her death at the age of 36 in 1997.

In this, Scobie acknowledges that "finding a trend untouched by Diana's iconic style is almost impossible," but also adds that "the huge amount of effort that goes into channeling her exact look sometimes goes beyond the pale."

What Does the Public Think?

Whenever Meghan and Kate step out in fashion looks that are linked to Princess Diana in some way, whether through an aesthetic similarity or designer, it generates a surge of reporting and social media commentary.

In June 2023, strategists Redfield and Wilton conducted exclusive polling for Newsweek, looking at whether the public supported these style references to the princess or not.

Of 634 U.S. adults surveyed on May 31, 60 percent said that they "strongly approved" or "approved" of Meghan wearing "dresses that copy the style of Princess Diana."

This was opposed to 8 percent who said they "strongly disapproved" or "disapproved." And 23 percent responded that they "neither approved nor disapproved," 3 percent responded that they "don't know" and 6 percent that they "don't care."

For Kate the numbers were similar. Some 62 percent of those surveyed said that they "strongly approved" or "approved," against 10 percent who said they "strongly disapproved" or "disapproved."

In addition, 21 percent responded that they "neither approved nor disapproved," 1 percent responded that they "don't know" and 5 percent that they "don't care."

Expert Approval

In addition to winning approval from the public, Meghan and Kate's Diana fashion moments have also won over some fashion experts.

Celebrity stylist and royal fashion expert Miranda Holder previously told Newsweek that these moments provided the public with the opportunity to see the still hugely popular princess' legacy "live on" through her daughters-in-law.

"The world may have lost a style icon but she is most definitely not forgotten," she said.

"It's wonderful to see her influence on both the firm [royal family] and on fashion celebrated by other royals such as Meghan. Tributes are regularly paid to Diana by Meghan and Kate with stylistic nods in their own outfits. We love to see Diana's spirit, and everything she stood for, live on."

Endgame will be published by Dey Street, an imprint of HarperCollins, on Tuesday.

James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.

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