When the Princess of Wales was pregnant with Prince William in 1981, the then 20-year-old was all too aware of the public interest in her pregnancy. "The whole world is watching my stomach," she famously said. With this in mind, Diana made sure she impressed with her pregnancy wardrobe, stepping out in pastel-hued dresses, intricately detailed coats and matching hats. When she fell pregnant with Prince Harry in 1984, Diana adopted the same stylish approach, always ensuring she looked the picture of easy elegance.
Many of the smock dresses that she wore were designed by the then Chelsea Design Company, which later changed its name to reflect its designer Catherine Walker. After the announcement that Kate Middleton was expecting her first child, fashion fans were quick to discuss whether the Duchess of Cambridge would be taking style tips from the late Diana, Princess of Wales. There was speculation that she might call upon the Catherine Walker label, having shown an interest in the brand after wearing its chic grey dress during an official trip to Montreal in 2011.
Kate has around three months to go with her pregnancy and so far she's only needed to make minor clothing concessions to accommodate her modest bump. On an official visit to a bereavement charity last week, she wore a loose-fitting Peter Pan-collar dress from high-street chain Topshop, which she paired with a cream A-line Redgrave coat.
The next day, she attended 150th anniversary celebrations of the London Underground in a teal outfit by Danish fashion label By Malene Birger. But as her tummy grows, she may opt for the loose-fitting styles favoured by Diana. As the world waits to see what Kate's take on maternity style will be, let's take a look back at Diana's pregnancy wardrobe.
