They're both fresh, modern royals, who've headed best dressed lists for years. So it comes as no surprise to know that the Duchess of Cambridge and Spain's own royal style star Queen Letizia of Spain share sartorial tastes. A case in point was the high-necked lace gown which the Duchess, née Kate Middleton, wore to an engagement with China's President Xi Jinping and his wife, elegant former soprano Peng Liyuan this week.
The Duchess of Cambridge's dress is Dolce & Gabbana while Letizia is wearing Felipe Varela
The Spanish queen loves lace dresses for day and evening, usually from the atelier of local designer Felipe Varela. Kate's autumnal aubergine shift costing £1,850 was actually by Dolce & Gabbana, who had previously expressed a wish to dress her. That's unusual for the patriotic Duchess who tends to stick to British designers, just like the 43-year-old reina.
And the similarities don't end there. Both ladies have become mistresses of the 'high-lo' mix: former newreader Letizia is just as likely to be seen in reasonably priced Spanish brands Mango, Adolfo Dominguez and Uterqüe as high-end designers.
Letizia loves red even more than Kate with several gowns in the colour
For daytime the two ladies tend to favour clean, structured looks and vertiginous heels to match their tall husbands. King Felipe is 6ft 5in to his consort's 5ft 7in, while Kate is 5ft 10in to Prince William's 6ft 3in.
Colour is also key in the royal armoury. When Kate stepped out in a distinctive Catherine Walker dress on tour in Canada, it echoed Letizia, who knows a fire-engine coloured outfit really makes her stand out from the crowd and owns several red gowns.
The off-duty royal look
When she's off duty Felipe's wife likes to look more like a classic cool girl about town with outfits that are unfussy and fit in with her image of herself as a working mum. As dedicated Kate watchers know Letizia's uniform of skinny jeans and casual tops is one also favoured by Britain's own number one brunette beauty.
