LONDON, Nov 25: Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has faced social media comparisons to Princess Diana following the release of her Harper's Bazaar cover shoot and interview. Several photos from the December edition, styled by Carlos Nazario and photographed by Malick Bodian, were compared to images of Prince Harry and Prince William’s mother, sparking reactions online.

Political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos shared side-by-side images of Meghan and Diana on X, describing Meghan as “the creepiest, most sinister, most wretched person on the face of the earth.” His post went viral, garnering 30,000 likes and 1.7 million views. While Yiannopoulos was not the only commentator to weigh in, his post captured the attention of the wider public.

It remains unclear how much influence Meghan had over the outfit choices or artistic direction of the shoot. The Harper's Bazaar interview focused on authenticity and included a discussion of her recent appearance at the Balenciaga show during Paris Fashion Week.

The resemblance noted in one viral image shows Meghan sitting cross-legged in black trousers and a white shirt, a pose compared to a 1994 photo of Diana by Patrick Demarchelier that was later published in Paris Match after Diana died in 1997. Another image from Meghan’s shoot, featuring her in a red dress, was likened to Diana’s Vogue cover from 1994, also shot by Demarchelier.

Fashion tributes to Diana by royal women are not uncommon. For example, when Kate, Princess of Wales, wears a piece from Diana’s jewelry collection, press officers make the tribute explicit. In Meghan’s case, however, online commentators noted the similarities independently.

Meghan has previously acknowledged the scrutiny of her wardrobe. In a 2024 New York Times interview, she said:

"Times where I know there is a global spotlight, and attention will be given to each detail of what I may or may not be wearing, then I support designers that I have really great friendships with, and smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven't gotten the attention that they should be getting. That's one of the most powerful things that I'm able to do, and that's simply wearing, like, an earring."

Prince Harry has often drawn parallels between Meghan and his late mother. In the 2021 Apple TV series The Me You Can’t See, he said:

"History was repeating itself. My mother was chased to her death while she was in a relationship with someone who wasn't white, and now look what's happened. You want to talk about history repeating itself? They're [the media] not going to stop until [Meghan] dies."

In his memoir Spare, Harry recounted taking Meghan to Diana’s grave on the Spencer family’s private Althorp Estate:

"At long last, I was bringing the girl of my dreams home to meet mum. We hesitated, hugging, and then I went first. I placed flowers on the grave. Meg gave me a moment, and I spoke to my mother in my head, told her I missed her, asked her for guidance and clarity. Feeling that Meg might also want a moment, I went around the hedge, scanned the pond. When I came back, Meg was kneeling, eyes shut, palms against the stone. I asked, as we walked back to the boat, what she’d prayed for. Clarity, she said. And guidance."

The Harper's Bazaar spread, entitled “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Meets Her Moment,” showcased Meghan in a variety of outfits, including a caramel trench coat and a red Balenciaga dress. In several black-and-white images, she appeared barefoot, wearing a white shirt and black cigarette pants by Celine, staring directly at the camera—a pose that drew direct comparisons to Diana’s Vogue shoot.

Princess Diana appeared on the cover of Vogue three times (1991, 1994, and 1997), all photographed by Demarchelier. Hair stylist Sam McKnight, who worked with Diana for years, recalled her approach to photoshoots, telling HELLO!:

"When I met her, it was the end of the 80s, and she had a perm as everyone did then. She was an absolute joy. She could always put everyone at ease. The first time I met her, we didn’t know she was coming. Next thing I know, this tall leggy blonde comes bounding up the stairs and completely sets us at ease."

McKnight reflected on Diana’s comfort in front of the camera, noting:

"I don't think she ever found them [photoshoots] particularly easy. It wasn’t her comfort zone to be sitting there in a studio with lights and six people staring at you, having her hair and makeup done."

The Harper's Bazaar shoot and ensuing comparisons highlight both Meghan’s status as a style icon and the enduring influence of Diana’s legacy in the royal family’s fashion narrative.