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Kate Middleton Gives Us Princess Diana 1980s Vibes with Polka Dot Look

Kate Middleton Garter Day CAT2
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

When it's time to dress up for a royal engagement, Kate Middleton, 41, has never shied away from channeling her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Whether she’s donning a lime green necklace once belonging to the people’s princess or rocking a royal blue Catherine Walker dress that bears a great resemblance to an outfit previously worn by the former Princess of Wales, Princess Catherine and her iconic outfit callbacks steal the show every time. 

This past weekend, the mother of three attended Garter Day alongside her husband, Prince William, 40. For the occasion, the royal princess was spotted wearing a black and white polka dot dress designed by Alessandra Rich—and royal admirers couldn’t help but get major flashbacks to a past look Princess Diana wore in the 1980s. 

Kate Middleton Garter Day Dress CAT
Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Back in June 1988, Princess Diana rocked a similar polka dot dress to the Royal Ascot in England. She accessorized the look with a pearl necklace and matching earrings.

Princess Diana Royal Ascot 1988 CAT
Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images

Unlike Princess Kate (who wore a black-brimmed hat), the late Princess of Wales paired the outfit with a matching black/white polka dot hat, which featured a black ribbon tied into a bow. 

While we’re still on the subject of the hat, royally-obsessed fans might have noticed the princess took some fashion inspo from herself too.

In the photo below from June 2008, the royal (Prince William’s then-girlfriend) can be seen talking to her future brother-in-law, Prince Harry, and rocking a similar black hat with a white feather on the top.

Kate Middleton Prince Harry Garter Day 2008 CAT
Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Who doesn’t love a royal fashion callback?

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Assistant Editor, News And Entertainment

Karelle McKay is the Assistant Editor of News and Entertainment at PureWow. Before she started writing about all things pop culture, she was a literal couch potato who loved...