It is the kind of debate that the internet has a way of keeping alive indefinitely, and once again Meghan Markle finds herself at its center. A wave of online criticism has surfaced following the spread of a viral image collage placing the Duchess of Sussex side by side with the late Princess Diana, with the two women appearing in strikingly similar outfits, poses and even camera angles across multiple photographs.
The comparisons have drawn a sharply divided response. Some observers view the resemblances as an organic and even touching reflection of the admiration Markle has openly expressed for her late mother-in-law. Others have been far less generous, with critics describing the similarities as calculated and deeply uncomfortable, using words like creepy and cringe to characterize what they see as a pattern that goes well beyond fashion inspiration.
What the images show and why they went viral
The collage that set off the latest round of commentary features several distinct pairings. In one, both women appear in relaxed open-collar tops with sunglasses tucked at the neckline and nearly identical hands-on-hips poses. Another comparison places them in formal black ensembles with wide-brim hats and closely matched styling details. A third pairing highlights coordinated green outfits and similar headwear, while a fourth focuses on nearly identical head coverings that drew immediate attention once the images began circulating.
For critics, it was not just the fashion that raised questions. The matching stances, expressions and framing of the photographs led many to argue that the resemblance felt too deliberate to attribute to coincidence. The thread where the collage appeared grew quickly, with reactions ranging from bemused to openly hostile, and the phrase cosplaying Princess Diana emerged as the sharpest form of criticism leveled at the Duchess.
A connection Markle has never hidden
Whatever one makes of the comparisons, Markle has never been shy about the place Princess Diana holds in her life. Because Diana died in 1997, years before Markle met Prince Harry, the two women never had the opportunity to meet. It is something Markle has described as a genuine source of sadness.
During a 2025 podcast appearance, Markle responded warmly to the observation that Harry has publicly likened her to his mother, citing qualities like empathy and warmth as traits the two women share. Markle described the comparison as beautiful and acknowledged she would have treasured the chance to know Diana personally.
Her connection to Diana extends beyond admiration. When Harry proposed in 2017, the engagement ring he chose featured two diamonds from Diana’s personal collection, a gesture Markle later described as deeply meaningful. She has also spoken about learning who Diana was through conversations with Harry and through time spent with people who knew the princess closely.
A visit to Diana’s burial site
In 2022, four years after marrying into the royal family, Markle visited Diana’s burial site for the first time. The visit took place on the 25th anniversary of Diana’s death and was later recounted by Harry in his memoir Spare, where he described the emotional weight of the moment and how he stepped away to give his wife privacy at the gravesite.
When he returned, he found her kneeling before the tomb with her eyes closed and her hands pressed against the stone. According to his account, he later asked what she had been thinking about in that moment, and her response was simple and searching. She said she had been looking for clarity and guidance.
Whether that kind of deep and documented connection to Diana’s memory reads as reverence or something more fraught may depend entirely on who is looking.
