Unseen pictures of Diana show how Kate’s countryside chic is inspired by the late Princess of Wales
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The Princess of Wales is often said to pay homage to her predecessor with her beautifully curated appearance.
And a new series of photos from Princess Diana shows how Kate Middleton seems to channel her late mother-in-law’s country chic when enjoying the outdoors.
A portrait of Diana, then 21, sitting against the picturesque Scottish Highlands at the Balmoral estate, perfectly showcases the princess’s timeless style.
Prince William’s mother posed for the photo wearing a long brown cardigan, white polo neck, tweed bloomers and brogues.
While Kate, 41, is unlikely to rock this old-fashioned trouser cut and is rarely seen in oversized cardigans, she’s become known for conveying a classic Diana-esque look that’s perfect for rural settings.
Country chic: A portrait of Diana, then 21, sitting against the picturesque Scottish Highlands on the Balmoral estate, perfectly showcases the princess’s timeless style.
The candid photo of King Charles III’s first wife was taken by the close friend of the royal family, Lord John King of Wartnaby.
The similarities between Diana’s relaxed demeanor as she leans against a bench for the portrait and a photo of Kate taken in 2004 are apparent.
There are echoes of the tweed pants Diana wears with Kate’s matching skirt and jacket, a look Diana also wore while at Balmoral with Charles.
Kate is often photographed in classic tweed jackets, as is Diana, both during visits to the Scottish estate and on official engagements.
Diana’s long aqua socks are another field staple that Kate has sought out often over the years.
The Duchess of Cornwall regularly wears her trusty £475 Penelope Chilvers leather boots, which she bought almost ten years ago.
Kate was first seen wearing the boots at the Blenheim Palace Games Fair in August 2004, shortly after news of her relationship with Prince William broke.
The boots have become a go-to for thrifty Kate, who’s known for reusing wardrobe staples in later years.
Before she switched to her brogues, Diana likely wore knee-high boots like these with the bloomers she was photographed in at Balmoral.
When visiting Balmoral in September, these pants are a traditional sporting outfit worn during hunting season.
The country sporty flair and earthy tones of Diana’s looks are regularly reflected in Kate’s outfits.
The princess has been known to wear her olive green Defense Barbour jacket and other outdoor clothing during trips to the countryside.
When opting for more casual looks, Kate opts for statement fabrics, something Diana was well known for.
During her first Christmas at Sandringham as a working royal in 2011, the princess was photographed wearing a chunky white knit sweater with a brown shearling coat. Again this year, she wore a white knit that she matched with the coat.
The Princess of Wales again wore a white turtleneck with a khaki jacket when she visited Copenhagen, Denmark last year.
Notably, Diana also paired her brown cardigan with a white turtleneck during the royals’ trip to Balmoral in September 1982, a look Kate has chosen on several occasions.
During her first Christmas at Sandringham as a working royal in 2011, the princess was photographed wearing a chunky white knit sweater with a brown shearling coat.
She has since donned a similar combination, again wearing a white turtleneck but with a khaki jacket when she visited Denmark last year.
Again this year, she wore a white knit sweater, this time a Holland Cooper Fair Isle-style jumper, which she’s teamed with her beloved shearling coat for ten years since she was last photographed in it.
Kate is often photographed in classic tweed jackets, as Diana has done, both during visits to the Scottish estate and on official engagements.
Diana’s photo at Balmoral isn’t the only one that shows the parallels between her fashion and Kate’s.
In another photo from the collection, Diana was also pictured wearing a trusty pair of green wellies as she sat on the lawn overlooking the water at the estate.
While the princess often opted for Hunter wellies, Kate’s go-to brand is Le Chameau when she’s enjoying an outing in the countryside or on rural engagements.
Both keen photographers, another Balmoral photo, revealed to the public today, shows Diana holding a camera, as Kate has often been depicted.
Next month, the set of 22 images including the photos will go up for auction at Willingham Auctions in Cambridge.
Both keen photographers, another Balmoral photo, revealed to the public today, shows Diana holding a camera, as Kate has often been photographed doing.
The never-before-seen set includes a number of poignant images of the late royal cradling her firstborn outside what appears to be Balmoral Castle.
Other images in the photo collection show the adorable mother and son as Diana hugs Prince William, who is wrapped in a white blanket.
The late Princess of Wales, who became a mother for the first time just three months earlier, gazes lovingly at William as the Lord King looks over her shoulder.
The photos will be sold at auction in Cambridge on March 4 along with their original negatives.
Lord King of Wartnaby, who passed away at the age of 86 in 2005, left school with no qualifications and is best known for overseeing the privatization of British Airways.
Despite his humble origins, Lord Wartnaby began to rub shoulders with royalty when he became the master of the Belvoir Hunt. In 1979, John was knighted by the Queen.