Trooping the Colour is one of the most important royal dates in the royal calendar. The military parade celebrates the official birthday of the reigning monarch, regardless of their actual date of birth.
One of the day's most anticipated moments is the RAF fly-past, which coincides with the royal family's iconic appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony. There have been numerous iconic fashion moments during this centre stage placement, and none was more influential than the late Princess Diana, who never failed to captivate worldwide audiences with her fashion choices.
© Getty ImagesEver directional and modern, Diana wore a vast collection of incredible ensembles, but as a fashion editor who has been specialising in royal style for almost nine years, I can't help but be enamoured by one particular outfit she wore in 1987. It could easily be worn today, and despite the fact that it was the late '80s, there's not a puff sleeve or shoulder pad in sight.
© Photo: Getty ImagesDiana donned a sleek and feminine off-white suit designed by Jan Van Velden. The elegant two-piece featured a gentle peplum, a pretty, button-down front and a form-fitting shape. She teamed the style with a charming Philip Somerville hat. Feminine tailoring is a huge trend for 2026, and it's a style I could envisage Princess Kate sporting in 2026.
© Getty ImagesPictures showed Diana cuddling little Prince Harry, while a young Prince William can be seen looking out over the balcony, highly reminiscent of his youngest son, Prince Louis.
Kate takes inspiration from Diana
The Princess of Wales wore one of her most glorious outfits of 2025 during Trooping the Colour last year. Kate opted for a patriotic, sky-blue coat dress by one of her most-worn designers, Catherine Walker.
© Getty ImagesKate's stylish number was known as the 'Bria' - a deep aquamarine wool coat-dress with ivory contrasting lapels and cuffs. Despite the fact that the style was a new item in Kate's wardrobe, many remarked they had seen it before. This could have been because in 1988, also during Trooping the Colour, the late Princess Diana wore a similar coat dress, coincidentally designed by Catherine Walker.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetAlthough she donned a slightly different colourway - green and white - it featured the same bold, contrasting detailing on the front and on the cuffs. Uncanny!
