Meghan Markle's Magazine Feature Evokes Diana's Legacy
On Wednesday, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar magazine for its highly anticipated December 2025/January 2026 edition. The cover, boldly titled 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Meets Her Moment,' featured the mother-of-two in a low-cut, black silk blazer tied at the waist. However, the glamorous spread has since ignited conversations far beyond its fashion credentials, as observers note an uncanny resemblance to the photographic legacy of the late Princess Diana.
Side-by-Side: The Striking Visual Parallels
The photo series inside the magazine showcased Meghan in a variety of looks, each prompting comparisons. In one powerful image, she wore a sleeveless red dress with a dramatic cape draped over one shoulder. This ensemble was quickly matched by royal watchers to the red, halter-neck dress Princess Diana wore for Vogue's October 1997 issue.
Further parallels were drawn from the black-and-white shots. One photograph captured Meghan posed cross-legged on the floor, dressed casually in a button-down shirt and jeans while barefoot. This echoed a famous image from Princess Diana's final Vanity Fair spread in July 1997, titled 'Diana Reborn,' where she was pictured in black jeans and a white turtleneck in a similar seated pose.
Another shot featured Meghan lying languidly on a boucle armchair in an off-the-shoulder silk dress, her gaze fixed on the camera. This composition bore a remarkable similarity to a portrait from the same 1997 Vanity Fair story, which showed Diana lying on a cream couch.
Public Reaction and Historical Echoes
The visual similarities did not go unnoticed. On platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), users were quick to post side-by-side comparison photos, sparking a wave of commentary.
'Oh my God. I gasped when I saw this,' one Reddit user wrote. Another simply stated, 'Oh damn,' while a third commented, 'This is too weird.' Fans on X described the pictures as having the 'same energy' as Diana's iconic sessions.
This is not the first instance where Meghan's sartorial choices have drawn comparisons to her late mother-in-law. In 2018, her light pink Carolina Herrera dress for Trooping the Colour featured a neckline reminiscent of a spectacular pink satin Catherine Walker gown Diana wore in 1987. More recently, in 2024, Meghan's strappy red Carolina Herrera gown at the LA Children's Hospital Gala channeled a similar plunging, off-the-shoulder red dress Diana wore to a dinner party in Argentina in 1995.
Beyond the Photos: Meghan on Harry and Family Life
Accompanying the visually arresting spread was an extensive interview where Meghan spoke candidly about her life with Prince Harry. She described her husband's unwavering support, stating, 'He loves me so boldly, fully'.
'No one in the world loves me more than him, so I know he's always going to make sure that he has my back,' she continued. The Duchess also shared that Harry has brought out a 'childlike wonder' and 'playfulness' in her, which influences even their business ventures.
The couple, who are parents to six-year-old son Archie Harrison and four-year-old daughter Lilibet Diana, appear to be navigating their public and private lives with a renewed creative partnership. It remains unknown how much direct involvement Meghan had in the creative direction of the Harper's Bazaar shoot, for which the Daily Mail has sought comment.
