Meghan Markle Is Using Princess Kate's Style to Rebuild Her Authority, Royal Expert Claims

In the world of royal fashion, clothes are rarely just a matter of taste. They are a carefully chosen way of speaking that shows power, intent and position. A lot of people are talking about Meghan Markle's clothes lately. A lot of people think that the changes she made to her clothes seem more planned than random.

The Duchess of Sussex seems to be moving away from the relaxed, sun-drenched California look she has worn for years and toward a more restrained style that is very similar to the one her sister-in-law has mastered. The difference became even more clear in late January 2026. Princess Catherine, who is now 44, was in Scotland with Prince William to see the National Curling Academy. She chose a custom-made Chris Kerr coat, which is a masterclass in British craftsmanship with structured tailoring and a muted color palette that gives off a sense of steady, royal authority.

Specifically, Catherine co-designed this full-length blue tartan piece with Kerr, pairing it with a kilt-inspired skirt from Johnstons of Elgin and Tod's chunky suede ankle boots to navigate the ice. It was quintessential Catherine: a look that quietly signals her future role as queen through disciplined silhouettes and rich, heritage-led fabrics.

Meghan Markle Adopts The 'Catherine Code' at Sundance

When the Duchess of Sussex, also 44, stepped out days later in Salt Lake City for the Cookie Queens premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the parallels were impossible to ignore. Gone were the breezy linens of Montecito; in their place was a Heidi Merrick 'Fog' coat in a deep sea blue, a shade remarkably similar to the tones favoured by the Princess of Wales just 48 hours earlier. Meghan layered this £500 trench over an all-black ensemble consisting of a crewneck sweater and Veronica Beard 'Beverly' skinny-flare jeans.

This was a departure from Meghan's post-royal style. The look was clean, tailored and deliberately restrained, echoing the heritage outerwear that Zara Tindall has also been championing this winter — most notably at Cheltenham in a navy Karen Millen Italian wool-blend coat just a day before Meghan's Utah appearance.

Even her hair seemed to be sending a message. The loose, undone waves that defined her post-Megxit image were replaced by a sleek, glossy and perfectly smoothed-out style. This level of high-gloss polish is unmistakably Princess Catherine territory, where hair serves as a frame for the face that never distracts from the overarching message.

Is Meghan Markle Reclaiming Authority Through Royal Brown?

The pattern of emulation only deepened as the week progressed. For a second appearance in Utah, the duchess wore a sumptuous deep brown 'Hunter' wool and cashmere coat by Anine Bing, retailing for approximately £665 ($900). For those who follow royal fashion optics, the choice of palette was a loud 'Catherine-coded' signal.

Brown has quietly transitioned into Princess Catherine's primary power colour throughout 2025 and into early 2026, featuring prominently in her Christmas Day ensemble and multiple high-profile engagements. Style analysts note that Catherine has transformed this 'quiet luxury' staple into shorthand for modern royal authority, often styling it tonally to bring warmth and sophistication to her maturing work wardrobe.

Meghan Markle seems to be paying close attention to the visual shorthand that is currently at the top of the monarchy's fashion hierarchy by stepping into this specific palette. The timing of this change is very interesting. The Sussexes had a tense start to 2026. Prince Harry went back to the UK in mid-January to give evidence in his high-profile legal battle against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

During the high court hearing, the Duke of Sussex was questioned for two hours. He strongly denied claims that his social circle was 'leaky' and also challenged claims that he had gathered information illegally. With the couple thrust back into the British media glare, the duchess's return to a 'pre-royal' level of polish suggests an understanding that, in the current climate, traditional elegance carries far more cultural currency than sartorial rebellion.

In the world of the Windsors, a coat is never just a coat. By drawing from the monarchy's most authoritative visual codes, Meghan isn't just dressing for the cold—she's engaging in a strategic repositioning.