Many people claim Meghan Markle is the ‘new Princess Diana’. While that is a subject up for debate, despite Prince Harry standing by his claim, the Duchess has time and again borrowed style ideas from her late mother-in-law. Whether in terms of fashion ensembles, iconic jewelry, or accessories, Markle has made a habit of recreating some of Princess Diana’s most memorable fashion moments. And it seems she has done it again. 

Earlier this month, Meghan Markle turned up at the ESPY Awards to cheer on her husband. But it was one of her accessories that grabbed all the attention for serving up a stylish tribute to Princess Diana.

Meghan Markle joined Prince Harry at the 2024 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, and the night was anything but free of controversy. The Duchess wore a chic white gown with a backless cut and a floor-sweeping hemline that almost echoed her wedding reception outfit. But it was her custom Lady Dior handbag, embroidered with "DSSOS"- short for Duchess of Sussex- that really caught the eye. This bag was a subtle tribute to Princess Diana, as it was a miniature version of a Dior bag named in Princess Diana’s honor.

The Princess Diana Dior bag, known as the Lady D-Lite, was an embroidered version of the Lady Dior, originally called the Chouchou bag. It was renamed the Lady Dior in 1996 as a tribute to Princess Diana, just a year before her passing. This was not the first time this year that the Duchess has turned heads by taking a page out of Princess Diana’s style book. 

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During the Sussexes' Nigerian trip earlier this year, Meghan Markle made multiple nods to Princess Diana with jewelry pieces. 

Meghan Markle was spotted wearing a cross-pendant adorned with sparkling diamonds set on a gold chain during her three-day trip to Nigeria. This necklace, believed to be from Princess Diana’s private collection, was a touching homage to the late princess. James Harris, the Regional Sales Manager at Austen & Blake, told GB News that the jewelry Markle wore to a reception for military families in Abuja was a “heartfelt tribute to her late mother-in-law.”

On the first day of her visit to Nigeria, Meghan Markle also donned a gold collar necklace strikingly similar to the one that Princess Diana wore during her trip to Nigeria over 30 years ago with King Charles. Right after returning from Nigeria, the Duchess was again seen channeling Princess Diana’s classic look of a blazer and all-white ensemble at Los Angeles airport. With all these nods to Diana’s style, it is clear that Meghan Markle is a passionate fan of the late princess’s sartorial elegance.

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What do you think about Meghan Markle's nod to Princess Diana at the ESPY Awards? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!