Meghan Markle could be coming for Princess Catherine's fashion crown when she returns to Britain, and one stylist believes the Duchess may even have the edge. For six years, the Princess of Wales has enjoyed the royal fashion spotlight largely without her sister-in-law beside her, cementing an extraordinary ability to send everything from high-street dresses to designer handbags flying off the shelves.
But Meghan's return could shake things up considerably. Fashion stylist Ciara Russell believes Britain could bring out a sharper, more structured side of the Duchess's wardrobe, marrying the relaxed Californian aesthetic she has cultivated since Megxit with the polished tailoring of her working royal years.
Structured side could return
Russell told the Daily Express: "I definitely think being back in Britain could bring a slightly more structured side of Meghan's wardrobe out again."
The expert pointed to the "beautiful neutral tones, fluid silhouettes and understated luxury" Meghan has embraced in California, compared with the "tailoring, structured coats and very polished occasion dressing" she once wore in Britain.
But don't expect Meghan, 45, to simply dust off her old royal wardrobe. The stylist predicted a modern hybrid of "effortless Californian minimalism" with sharper tailoring, statement coats and British heritage pieces.
Fashion influence in royal sphere
That could put her firmly back on Catherine's fashion turf. Russell said Meghan could "absolutely become a major fashion influence within the royal sphere again", although she stressed the two women appeal to shoppers in very different ways.
She explained: "Catherine has really established her style over the years and understands royal dressing incredibly well. She can wear a beautifully tailored coat dress one day and something much more accessible the next, and both will sell out."
Meghan, however, offers something altogether different. Russell described her wardrobe as "more fashion-led, minimal and internationally influenced" - a distinction that could make comparisons between the sisters-in-law impossible to escape once they are both regularly dressing on British soil.
British fashion as a weapon
Every coat, handbag, dress and pair of shoes could once again find itself under the fashion microscope. The expert added: "Meghan will know that as well, so I imagine there would naturally be more thought behind what she wears in Britain."
One particularly powerful weapon in Meghan's wardrobe could be British fashion itself. The Duchess previously wore labels including Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney and Strathberry, and Russell believes reconnecting with familiar names while championing emerging British talent could prove a shrewd move.
She said: "What Meghan wears has huge visibility, so choosing an emerging British label could genuinely transform a young designer's business overnight."
When it comes to the ultimate fashion showdown, Russell believes Catherine retains the broader influence, particularly through her formidable ability to make polished royal dressing feel accessible. Yet, when it comes to what women actually want to wear in 2026, she gives Meghan an intriguing advantage.
