The Princess of Wales, Catherine, has once again captivated royal watchers by paying a poignant sartorial tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Stepping out in London for a significant summit, her choice of a sharp grey suit paired with a distinctive white ruffled blouse was an unmistakable nod to one of Diana's most iconic wardrobe staples.
A Fashionable Homage
On Tuesday, November 18, the Princess of Wales attended The Future Workforce Summit in London, convened by The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood. Her ensemble, featuring a ruffled white blouse remarkably similar to those favoured by Princess Diana throughout the 1980s, immediately sparked comparisons. This is not the first instance of such a tribute; Catherine previously debuted a similar shirt, reportedly designed by Knatchbull, at the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final in September.
Royal commentators were quick to note the parallel to an outfit Princess Diana wore during her 1986 tour of Canada, specifically during a meeting with musician Bryan Adams in Vancouver. The resemblance was so striking that one observer noted the two princesses are “so much alike, in their style and in their work.”
Championing a Vital Cause
Beyond the fashion statement, the event highlighted Catherine's long-standing and passionate advocacy for early childhood development. The summit gathered more than 80 business leaders to hear from experts in leadership, human development, and this critical area.
In her keynote address, the Princess of Wales delivered a powerful message on the foundation of a child's well-being. “Love is the first and most essential bond,” she stated. “But it is also the invisible thread. Woven with time, attention and tenderness, through consistent, nurturing relationships, it creates the grounded and meaningful environments around a child.” She powerfully described this love as “the very fabric of resilience and belonging,” closing her speech by reaffirming her core belief that “every child deserves respect and safety.”
Symbolism in Jewellery
Adding another layer of significance to her appearance, Catherine was notably wearing a stack of four rings. Among them was her famous sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which once belonged to Princess Diana. When Prince William proposed to Catherine in 2010, he explained that giving her his mother's ring was his “way of keeping her sort of close to it all,” making its presence a constant and deeply personal connection to the late princess's legacy.
