Diana’s Favorite Courtier-Designed Feather Dress for Catherine at the Coronation

In a remarkable display of fashion homage, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, pays tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, through her patronage of Catherine Walker, the design house favored by Diana.

Over her 12 years as a member of the royal family, Kate has established herself as a celebrated figure in British fashion, much like her iconic mother-in-law.

One of the most notable ways she keeps Diana's style legacy alive is by donning the signature coat dress, a style synonymous with the Duchess.

As anticipation builds for Kate's appearance at the historic coronation event, royal fashion expert Josh Birch-Jones predicts that she will make a statement with her gown.

Birch-Jones describes Kate's fashion choices as classic yet personal, and believes that all eyes will be on the Princess of Wales, who is expected to captivate with her distinctive style approach.

Speculating on Kate's attire, Birch-Jones suggests that she might opt for a feather dress by renowned British designer Catherine Walker, noting that Kate has previously been seen in the designer's exquisite and expensive pieces.

The prospect of Kate wearing a feather dress designed by Diana's trusted designer adds an extra layer of significance to Catherine Walker's creations for this momentous occasion.

However, it appears that Meghan, Kate's sister-in-law, will not have the opportunity to be noticed by Walker, as she is not expected to attend the coronation.

The relationship between Diana and Catherine Walker began in November 1981 when the princess was newly pregnant with Prince William.

In her memoir, “Catherine Walker: An Autobiography,” the private courtier to Diana recalls their first meeting.

Initially, Diana was quite shy, but as the princess continued to commission dresses from Walker's studio, their bond grew stronger.

Walker fondly remembers Diana as young and beautiful, stating that she didn't need Parisian fashion immediately as it would have overwhelmed her.

For the next 16 years, Catherine Walker became Diana's go-to designer, surpassing all others in terms of dress commissions.

Diana had an agreement with Walker that she would always have first refusal on any designs each season.

Tragically, the last dress commissioned for Diana was scheduled to be delivered to her in November 1997.

However, this delivery never took place due to Diana's untimely death in a car crash in Paris that August.

Following Diana's passing, Catherine Walker continued to create stunning garments, albeit not for high-ranking members of the royal family.

It wasn't until Kate's emergence that Catherine Walker and co extended an exclusive offer to her, recognizing her brilliance and radiance, reminiscent of the late Diana.

Since then, the designer has received numerous commissions from Kate, solidifying her role as one of the Duchess's most trusted style sources, helping her maintain her regal appearance.

Recently, Kate wore a Catherine Walker and co coat dress during a three-day visit to Denmark in February.

She has also been seen wearing two different iterations of the same Catherine Walker and co design this year: one in black for the funeral of Prince Philip, and the other in red for the Together at Christmas community carol concert at Westminster Abbey.

Now, more than 40 years after Diana's first maternity commission from Catherine Walker, the brand has become synonymous with another royal fashion icon—her daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton.