There are times when the current Crown Princess of the United Kingdom overtly pays homage to her late mother-in-law, former Crown Princess Diana. What immediately comes to mind is the outfit she wore to introduce each of her three children to the world, which was the same outfit Princess Diana wore to introduce her own sons to the world. Royal expert Rebecca English notes that there are countless other examples of Kate paying tribute to Princess Diana, but some are more subtle. Royal expert Rebecca English noted that, according to OK, Kate "doesn't make a big claim to it," and that she always pays her respects overtly, as when her children were born.

"If there is a comparison, I don't think it's intended to be made," English said. 'It's very flattering. She obviously wears a lot of her [Princess Diana's] jewelry, so there's always a tribute to her in that sense.

The inevitable comparisons went further when Kate became Princess of Wales on September 9, 2022, closely linked to Princess Diana. Her next goal is to become queen when Prince William ascends the throne, and at King Charles' coronation in May, Kate said of Alexander McQueen's look, "When I stepped into Westminster Abbey, it was a real stopping moment on a fashion level. She was like a "queen-in-waiting." She was so elegant, sophisticated, and regal. I thought, 'She's got it.'"

The following month at Trooping the Color, designer Amanda Wakely thought Kate's look was similar to Princess Diana's.

Wakely had worked with Princess Diana early in her career, and Princess Diana loved her work. "I was very fortunate. It was early in my career, and I remember thinking, "Oh, here comes the Crown Princess." And then the doorbell rang, and Princess Diana showed up on my doorstep all by herself. She was unassuming, yet delightful. We really laughed."

According to the Daily Mail, speaking on the Palace Confidential podcast, Wakely said of Diana, "She was casual, a little bit sassy, a little bit gossipy, wanted the latest fashion gossip, just one of those girls She added, "She was just one of those girls. Wakely also added that Diana was "incredibly encouraging" to her as a fairly new designer.

Kate's engagement ring once belonged to her late mother-in-law. Of the sapphire and diamond sparkler, William said at his 2010 engagement press conference with Kate, "It's a family ring. It's my mother's engagement ring. So I thought it was very nice. Because, obviously, my mother is not around to share in all this fun and excitement.

William told interviewer Tom Bradby that Kate would make her own way in the company, and Kate has always professed her respect for Diana. Said Kate, "Obviously, I've wanted to meet her, and she's obviously an inspirational woman to look up to." But there's no pressure. There's no pressure. As Kate said, you make your own future. No one is trying to follow in my mother's footsteps. What she has done is wonderful. It's about taking charge of your own future and your own destiny, and Kate will do a very good job of that."

Thirteen years later, she is still at it. Wakely said of Kate wearing jewelry that once belonged to Princess Diana, such as her engagement ring, "She wears it as her own. She wears it as her own. It's not an imitation of the jewelry that Princess Diana wore. It's not a pastiche of the jewelry that Princess Diana would have worn.