Kate channels Diana during Nigerian state visit: Princess wears her late mother-in-law’s pearl drop earrings and chic coat that could have come straight from her wardrobe

The Princess of Wales channelled Princess Diana this morning as she joined Prince William to welcome the Nigerian president and first lady ahead of their state visit.

Kate, 44, took a leaf out of her mother-in-law’s style book as she chose a coat dress with contrasting ivory-trim lapels from Tolu Coker, an up-and-coming British-Nigerian designer.

Tolu already has a royal connect; King Charles attended her London Fashion Week show last month.

The double-breasted style was reminiscent of the famous Catherine Walker coat that Princess Diana wore for Easter service at St George’s Chapel in 1987.

Kate’s coat featured a pencil-cut skirt, 80s-style lapels, and a surprise lace-up detail at the back, as the princess finished her look with a matching Jane Taylor hat and snakeskin heels by Hugo Boss.

The ensemble also bore a striking similarity to Diana’s red Catherine Walker coat that she wore during a visit to the Dartmouth Naval College in 1989.

Kate’s sartorial tribute to Prince William’s late mother also included a pair of pearl and diamond drop earrings that originally belonged to Diana.

The earrings were originally a wedding gift to Diana from Collingwood, a trusted jeweller of the Spencer family. She began wearing them several weeks before her marriage to Prince Charles, and they quickly became one of her signature pieces

Kate, 44, took a leaf out of her mother-in-law's style book as she chose a coat dress with contrasting ivory-trim lapels from Tolu Coker, an up-and-coming British-Nigerian designer. She is seen here with the Prince of Wales, Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and first lady Oluremi Tinubu
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Kate, 44, took a leaf out of her mother-in-law’s style book as she chose a coat dress with contrasting ivory-trim lapels from Tolu Coker, an up-and-coming British-Nigerian designer. She is seen here with the Prince of Wales, Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and first lady Oluremi Tinubu

The double-breasted style was reminiscent of the famous Catherine Walker coat that Princess Diana wore for Easter service at St George's Chapel in 1987. Diana with William and Peter Phillips
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The double-breasted style was reminiscent of the famous Catherine Walker coat that Princess Diana wore for Easter service at St George’s Chapel in 1987. Diana with William and Peter Phillips

The ensemble also bore a striking similarity to Diana's red Catherine Walker coat that she wore during a visit to the Dartmouth Naval College in 1989
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The ensemble also bore a striking similarity to Diana’s red Catherine Walker coat that she wore during a visit to the Dartmouth Naval College in 1989

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Since debuting the earrings at a state banquet in 2017, Kate has worn them on numerous occasions, including with the iconic Lover’s Knot Tiara- another of Diana’s favourites.

The monarch is hosting Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife Oluremi Tinubu during their two-day state visit to the UK and will host a state banquet in St George’s Hall later.

William and Kate met the Tinubus at luxury spa hotel Fairmont Windsor Park, before escorting them by car to Windsor town centre to formally meet the King and Queen.

The King and Queen then arrived at the Royal Dais in central Windsor, near the castle. Charles and Camilla were met with the national anthem, played by a military band.

The King wore a morning suit and carrying a black top hat, while the Queen was in a pink wool crepe dress by Fiona Clare and a pink beret-shaped hat by Philip Treacy.

Camilla was also wearing the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Cartier flower clip pair of brooches, as crowds gathered to watch the welcome in the warm spring sunshine.

The King, Camilla, William, Kate and Mr and Mrs Tinubu then travelled in a carriage procession in a show of traditional pomp and pageantry through Windsor to the castle’s quadrangle to see the Guard of Honour for the ceremonial welcome.

The King welcomed the Nigerian president with a broad smile and a handshake.

Both the Prince and Princess of Wales greeted Camilla with a kiss on both cheeks, with Kate curtsying to Camilla and later the King.

Kate's coat featured a pencil-cut skirt, 80s-style lapels, and a surprise lace-up detail at the back, as the princess finished her look with a matching Jane Taylor hat and snakeskin heels by Hugo Boss
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Kate’s coat featured a pencil-cut skirt, 80s-style lapels, and a surprise lace-up detail at the back, as the princess finished her look with a matching Jane Taylor hat and snakeskin heels by Hugo Boss

Kate's sartorial tribute to Prince William's late mother also included a pair of pearl and diamond drop earrings that originally belonged to Diana
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Kate’s sartorial tribute to Prince William’s late mother also included a pair of pearl and diamond drop earrings that originally belonged to Diana

Kate styled her long bronde tresses loose waves
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Kate styled her long bronde tresses loose waves

It comes after Kate visited the Irish Guards for their annual St Patrick’s Day parade.

She wore a pair of rarely seen emerald earrings from her collection and accessorised her festive monochrome look with glittering earrings.

She previously wore them for her memorable all-green look at the Earthshot Prize in Boston in 2022.

The Emerald and Diamond Halo Earrings from luxury jeweller Asprey London include 72 dazzling diamonds (totalling 0.79ct) and four emeralds (totalling 1.27ct).

While no longer available on the site, they appear to have been worth around £8,500.

The future queen, who is colonel of the regiment, also opted for an Alexander McQueen coat today – adorned with a matching Gina Foster Millinery hat and £130 Merino Wool gloves from Cornelia James – as she greeted officers and guardsmen at Mons Barracks in Aldershot this morning.

She finished the outfit with a black scarf, gloves, a belt and high-heeled boots from Ralph Lauren.

Adding a sweet touch, Kate also wore a delicate gold shamrock brooch by Cartier, loaned by the Irish Guards.

During the event, Kate was introduced to Lance Sergeant Mills, who led the drums and pipes during the parade, alongside his three-year-old daughter Vienna, who appeared rather taken with the princess.

Playfully holding the youngster’s arms and leaning her back while Vienna squealed with excitement, Kate, 44, crouched down and asked: ‘Are you afraid of doing a roly poly?’

As Vienna squealed and momentarily ran away, three-year-old Mila, daughter of Sergeant English, charmingly went over to greet the princess. In response, Kate took her hands and kindly asked, ‘What’s your name?’

Showing her caring side, the future Queen then complimented the youngster on her delightful green dress.

‘I love that!’ said Kate, as she held the girl’s hands and beamed at her with earnest.

The incredibly ‘sweet moment’ of the princess and the excited young girls delighted royal fans, who soon took to X to praise Kate for being ‘so warm and caring’ with the ‘adorable’ youngsters.