Melania Trump’s royal fashion: she may have copied looks from Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton and Princess Diana … and inspired one British countess
- Donald Trump’s wife has long been accused of copying royal outfits, like when she wore a dress by Gabriela Hearst, who debuted at Paris Fashion Week in 2020
- To meet Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 2019, Melania donned a Dolce & Gabbana piece that recalled what Markle wore to Ascot in 2018
Melania Trump is well-known for her sense of style, and a look back at her fashion choices while she was first lady of the US suggests she might have fit in as a royal too.
So which British and European royals might have inspired – or been inspired by – Melania’s outfits?
Sophie, Countess of Wessex
Sophie, Countess of Wessex first met Melania in June 2019 during the Trumps’ state visit to the UK. Two years later, the countess appeared to take style inspiration from the former first lady.
Sophie, who is married to Prince Edward, rocked a pink and white Alaïa maxi dress for a day at Silverstone in July – the same patterned piece that Melania donned to celebrate Easter in 2018. While Donald Trump’s wife paired the US$2,700 designer number with white Christian Louboutin heels, the countess paired hers with white wedges from Penelope Chilvers to watch the Formula 1 racing event.
Kate Middleton
It’s usually Melania who is accused of copying the style of the British royals, such as the time in September 2020 when she wore a polka dot dress by Gabriela Hearst – a Uruguayan designer who debuted at Paris Fashion Week that year – to host a White House round table about returning to work after recovering from drug addiction.