Kate Middleton was ‘tentative’ with fashion when she joined Royal Family, says author

The Duchess of Cambridge was more ‘tentative’ in her style approach when joining the Firm because ‘she didn’t want it to just be about what she was wearing’, according to a royal author.

Kate, 39, was ‘really careful not to dive into fashion in the way that [Princess] Diana did’, claimed London-based journalist Bethan Holt.

Speaking to Australia’s Nine Honey, the author of The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Royal Style said: ‘Diana really quickly became this fashion icon and everyone was going crazy for what she wore.

‘I think Kate was a little bit more tentative because she realised she didn’t want it to just be about what she was wearing.’

The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured right, last week) was more ‘tentative’ in her style approach when joining the Firm because ‘she didn’t want it to just be about what she was wearing’, according to a royal author. Pictured left: In 2011, during her first engagement with Prince William in Wales

Kate, 39, was ‘really careful not to dive into fashion in the way that [Princess] Diana did’, claimed London-based journalist Bethan Holt. But she now uses her outfits to send hidden messages. The duchess uses her accessories to boast special meanings, said the royal author, noting the mother-of-three’s necklace (above), which features the initials of her children on it

But the mother-of-three is now braver in her fashion choices, claimed Ms Holt, explaining how Kate has opted to follow in Princess Diana’s footsteps by including hidden messages in her ensembles.

The royal author said the duchess often uses the trick to pay tribute to her mother-in-law on special occasions.

She noted Kate sported a blue spotted dress for her first appearance following the birth of Prince George, similar to the frock worn by Princess Diana when Prince William was born.

The royal author said Kate often uses hidden messages in her outfits to pay tribute to her mother-in-law on special occasions. Kate channelled the Princess of Wales after the birth of Prince Louis, donning a red and white dress (pictured left) that resembled the frock worn by Diana when leaving the hospital following Prince Harry’s arrival (pictured right)

Kate also sported a blue spotted dress for her first appearance following the birth of Prince George (pictured right), similar to the frock worn by Princess Diana when Prince William was born (pictured left)

Kate also channelled the Princess of Wales after the birth of Prince Louis, donning a red and white dress that resembled the frock worn by Diana when leaving the hospital following Prince Harry’s arrival.

The duchess not only pays homage during the happier moments, but in the sadder ones too, according to Ms Holt.

She pointed to the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, when Kate sported a floral pussy bow dress similar to one her mother-in-law donned in the early 80s.

The duchess not only pays homage during the happier moments, but in the sadder ones too, according to Ms Holt. She pointed to the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, when Kate sported a floral pussy bow dress (pictured left) similar to one her mother-in-law donned in the early 80s (pictured right)

The duchess also uses accessories to boast special meanings, said the royal author, noting the mother-of-three’s necklace, which features the initials of her children on it.

Kate is often seen wearing the shimmering gold piece when attending events around childhood or early development. 

This is to showcase ‘she’s not just there as a Duchess, she’s there as a mum too’. according to royal author Ms Holt.