Meghan wore a skirt by BFF Misha Nonoo days before Beatrice wore the same one

The Duchess of Sussex is considered a trend-setter in fashion circles but it appears she took her outfit inspiration from another member of the royal family last week. 

Meghan, 37, donned a $250 (£190) skirt by close friend and designer Misha Nonoo on Thursday – days after Princess Beatrice, 30, was spotted wearing the exact same piece for a charity event on Monday.

Photos of Beatrice’s outing emerged after Meghan’s appearance, leading some fans to mistakenly think she was copying the glamorous duchess, but in fact the timing of the two events suggest it might have been the other way around.   

Princess Beatrice, second from right, wore the ‘Saturday’ skirt by Meghan’s friend Misha Nonoo as she joined Holly Branson, far left, at a charity event in London last Monday

Days later the Duchess of Sussex wore the exact same piece, pictured, as she joined her husband Prince Harry and mother Doria Ragland at a Kensington Palace book launch

Days later the Duchess of Sussex wore the exact same piece, pictured, as she joined her husband Prince Harry and mother Doria Ragland at a Kensington Palace book launch

The $250 (£190) skirt is from designer Misha Nonoo, a close friend of the Duchess of Sussex. The Saturday skirt is 'made on-demand', with the brand explaining how the item will be shipped approximately 10 business days after orders are made

The $250 (£190) skirt is from designer Misha Nonoo, a close friend of the Duchess of Sussex. The Saturday skirt is ‘made on-demand’, with the brand explaining how the item will be shipped approximately 10 business days after orders are made

Beatrice, Prince Harry’s cousin, wore Misha’s ‘Saturday’ skirt as she joined Holly Branson, daughter of Sir Richard Branson, on a visit to the Pupil Referral Units at Hawkswood Primary Centre and Burnside Secondary Centre, in London. 

The centres work to support children who are struggling to cope in mainstream school and whose behaviour puts them at risk of exclusion.

Beatrice and Holly, 36, were visiting the centre to hear more about the issue of exclusion in their roles as co-founders of Big Change, the foundation they set up with Holly’s brother, Sam, 33, to fund youth charity projects. 

Beatrice, Prince Harry's cousin, wore Misha's 'Saturday' skirt, just seen above, as she joined Holly Branson, daughter of Sir Richard Branson, on a visit to the Pupil Referral Units at Hawkswood Primary Centre and Burnside Secondary Centre, in London

Beatrice, Prince Harry’s cousin, wore Misha’s ‘Saturday’ skirt, just seen above, as she joined Holly Branson, daughter of Sir Richard Branson, on a visit to the Pupil Referral Units at Hawkswood Primary Centre and Burnside Secondary Centre, in London

Beatrice, pictured far right, and Holly, 36, pictured far left, were visiting the centre to hear more about the issue of exclusion in their roles as co-founders of Big Change, the foundation they set up with Holly's brother, Sam, 33, five years ago to fund youth charity projects

Beatrice, pictured far right, and Holly, 36, pictured far left, were visiting the centre to hear more about the issue of exclusion in their roles as co-founders of Big Change, the foundation they set up with Holly’s brother, Sam, 33, five years ago to fund youth charity projects

One of the charities they support is The Difference, a partner of the two London centres, which works to train specialist leaders to work with the nation’s most vulnerable students. 

For the outing, Beatrice styled the skirt with a simple black top, black sandals and a chic camel coat. 

Meghan took a similar approach when she wore the skirt at a reception celebrating the launch of her Together: Community Kitchen cookbook, supporting families affected by the devastating Grenfell Tower fire.

Meghan paired the black pleated skirt with a $300 (£230) cashmere bodysuit from US label Tuxe and $1,195 (£905) blue coat from Canadian brand Smythe 

Misha (pictured at the royal wedding in May) was quick to gush over her friend's choice of skirt after Meghan's outing, saying that she was 'truly honoured' that she had worn the piece 

Misha (pictured at the royal wedding in May) was quick to gush over her friend’s choice of skirt after Meghan’s outing, saying that she was ‘truly honoured’ that she had worn the piece 

Misha also shared further photographs of the Duchess in the skirt on Instagram Stories

She also included details of how fans could buy the skirt

Misha also shared further photographs of the Duchess in the skirt on Instagram Stories, as well as including details of how fans could buy the skirt (right) 

Posting on Instagram, Misha said she was a 'very proud friend', and described Meghan's project as 'beyond inspiring'  

Posting on Instagram, Misha said she was a ‘very proud friend’, and described Meghan’s project as ‘beyond inspiring’  

And Misha, 31, was quick to gush over her friend’s choice of skirt, saying she was ‘truly honoured’ the piece was worn by the royal to celebrate the ‘brilliant project’.

The designer – who is widely believed to be Meghan and Prince Harry’s matchmaker – also shared details of how to buy the black pleated skirt with fans on Instagram Stories. 

On her website, the product description for the Saturday skirt reads: ‘Recently worn by Meghan Markle and great for any day of the week’.

The Saturday skirt is ‘made on-demand’, with the brand explaining how the item will be shipped approximately 10 business days after orders are made.

Meghan the shirt at the Invictus Games in Toronto in September last year, just two months before her and Harry's engagement was announced 

Meghan the shirt at the Invictus Games in Toronto in September last year, just two months before her and Harry’s engagement was announced 

WHO IS MISHA NONOO? 

Born in Bahrain, her father is an Iraqi businessman, her mother is English.

The family moved to the UK when she was 11 and she attended the ACS International school in Cobham (where full boarding and tuition fees are now a stonking £45,560 a year).

She then spent two years in Paris, before taking a job in a small tailoring firm in New York.

She has said that she wanted to be a clothes designer since she was 11 years old. Within ten years, she had achieved that ambition via a fashion collection — initially only of jackets and coats.

A few seasons later, she had been dubbed ‘one to watch’ in New York, with Gossip Girl star Blake Lively wearing her clothes in Vogue magazine, and actress Kirsten Dunst being an early fan.

Influential stylist Olivia Palermo has championed her, and happily Palermo is also a pal of Meghan’s. 

Nonoo’s stellar social profile in New York did her professional success no harm, and this was partly founded on her marriage to Old Etonian Alexander Gilkes.

He rose from beginnings at the luxury concierge service Quintessentially to work for the LVMH luxury goods group, before moving into art and auctions.

Misha’s 2012 wedding to Gilkes, the son of a wealthy dermatologist, was a three-day bash in a 16th-century castle in Venice, with a live performance by singer Lana Del Rey.

Given that Meghan said this week that she knew almost nothing about Prince Harry before she met him, it’s interesting to note that Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice attended the Gilkes-Nonoo wedding in 2012.

Not only that, Meghan’s ‘sister’ Misha also went to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton the year before. So it’s not as though Meghan was entirely a stranger to the young royal set.

And in the summer of 2012, Gilkes hosted Pippa Middleton at the couple’s Manhattan townhouse when she was on a trip to the city.

All of the Middletons are pals with Gilkes — his nightclub entrepreneur brother Charlie once dated Pippa. Also, in 2013, Gilkes employed Princess Eugenie at his New York-based art auction house, Paddle8. 

Eugenie and Misha became chums, and the Princess is a regular at her Fashion Week parties. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk