According to experts, the young Princess quietly honored her late grandmother, Princess Diana, at the Together at Christmas event held on December 5.
Charlotte’s Outfit and Its Hidden Meaning
The 10-year-old arrived at Westminster Abbey wearing a deep blue velvet long-sleeved dress paired with a white lace statement collar. Her hair was styled neatly with a matching velvet bow as she joined the Prince and Princess of Wales and her brothers, George, 12, and Louis, seven.
Observers quickly recognized the resemblance between Charlotte’s outfit and several of Diana’s memorable fashion moments—an intentional and “touching” choice believed to have been encouraged by Princess Catherine.
Charlotte’s ensemble strongly mirrored the pale blue Jan Van Velden dress Diana famously wore at Trooping the Colour in June 1984, complete with its structured rectangular collar and the John Boyd hat with veil Diana paired it with. The late Princess wore the same dress again in 1985 during a visit to Sardinia while pregnant with Prince Harry.
Diana’s Lasting Fashion Influence
Throughout her life, Diana remained fond of dramatic collars and often turned to designer Catherine Walker, who created many of her most iconic pieces—from the burgundy dress worn during her 1986 Canada tour to the pastel pink outfit she debuted later that decade.
Diana’s nautical-inspired wardrobe itself traced back to a deeper royal tradition: Queen Victoria, who dressed her eldest son, Prince Albert Edward, in outfits based on Royal Navy uniforms.
“Honouring Her Grandmother’s Style”
A royal source told Radar Online that Charlotte’s look was no accident.
“Charlotte’s dress quietly honours her late grandmother’s iconic style,” the source shared.
“Diana’s influence is still very much felt among the younger royals, and Charlotte is embracing that legacy in her own way.”
Another palace insider echoed that the gesture fits into a broader trend among the next generation of royals.
“The younger members of the royal family are subtly honouring Diana through small, thoughtful gestures,” they said. “These tributes are woven into everyday public appearances, which makes them particularly touching.”
The insider added that royal watchers will often notice outfits inspired by Diana’s most recognizable fashion—or even “incorporating pieces of her jewellery” into public appearances.