It’s not hard to see why Catherine, Princess of Wales and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark draw so many comparisons.
Two ‘commoners’ marrying into royalty, each has been asked to take on a new and daunting responsibility.
Where Catherine is now Princess of Wales, Mary will become Queen Consort of Denmark on Sunday January 14.
Each has studied hard to fulfil their roles – and under the most intense scrutiny.
Along with other royal women around Europe, they are also bound together by distinctive fashion choices.
From wearing the same piece to turning to different designers for the same result, there are times when Mary and her counterparts seem like doppelgangers – united by a secret style code for modern royalty.
From fitted frocks by day to glamorous gowns by night, together with floral prints and tailored separates, it’s as if the future Queen of Denmark has been taking notes from leading ladies including Queen Letizia of Spain and Princess Charlene of Monaco to refine a modern and sophisticated look.
Vilshenko
Pale pink and featuring an intricate floral design that is placed perfectly to flatter the figure, this keyhole detail Vilshenko dress cut from silk crepe de chine was the pick of both Princess Charlene of Monaco and Princess Mary of Denmark.
Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary meet Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan in October, 2017
Prince Albert II and his wife Princess Charlene of Monaco arrive with Prince Jacques, to take part in the traditional Monaco’s picnic in Monaco, September 10, 2016
Charlene chose it to attend the annual traditional Pique Nique Monégasque in September 2016 with contrasting black heels, and in October 2017 Mary wore it to a business seminar in Tokyo with coordinating navy and blush accessories.
Raquel Diniz
This cherry red dress by Raquel Diniz with keyhole detail and bow was worn by Princess Mette-Marit of Norway to the Munch Museum in Norway in May 2017 paired with Christian Louboutin pumps.
Crown Princess Mary is pictured for the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron in August, 2018
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit arrive at the Munch Museum in Oslo for the 2017 exhibition Towards the Forest
Crown Princess Mette-Marit at the opening of the Munch exhibition
Later in August 2018, Princess Mary also opted for it at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Denmark, although she gave it a more conservative edge by adding a brooch, tie belt and pulling her hair into a chignon.
Hugo Boss
Queen Letizia of Spain often wears Hugo Boss, however she is not alone as Crown Princess Mary of Denmark also favours the brand and both ladies own the same pale blue belted pencil skirt, each pairing it with different separates for subtle yet elegant daytime ensembles.
Crown Princess Mary opens an exhibition of Danish jewellery in Houston, Texas, in 2019
Queen Letizia of Spain attends a meeting at the Spanish Royal Academy of Language in June 2019
Letizia chose a navy blouse and heels for a public engagement in Madrid in June 2019, while Mary similarly chose a navy top, but instead hers was a polka dot print when she visited Texas a few months earlier.
Beulah
Crown Princess Mary and the Princess of Wales both opted for a blue floral printed dress from Beulah complete with a crisp collar and cuffs in contrasting white.
Mary and Kate choose blue Beulah for the hot weather. Crown Princess Mary is pictured in 2019 in Indonesia. Catherine is caught the following year in Norfolk
Although they both accentuated the waist with a tie belt, Mary softened the look by choosing nude heels and a loose blow dry during a trip to Indonesia in December 2019, while Kate pulled her hair back and added her favourite Rupert Sanderson navy suede pumps when visiting the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn as part of the NHS birthday celebrations in July 2020.
The Beulah Ahana dress, seen here worn by Mary and Catherine in different shades, has become a firm favourite with the royals. Princess Mary is pictured in 2020. Kate is in pink the following year
The Beulah Ahana dress has become a popular choice among the royals in many colours of the rainbow, and this time Mary and Kate opted for a similar shade of pastel pink with short sleeves and a wide belt at the waist.
Princess Mary wore it in June 2020 to an exhibition opening in Denmark, while the Princess of Wales wore it to Wimbledon in July 2021, and with their matching blush heels and wavy brunette locks they were style doppelgangers.
Zimmermann
Princess Mary honoured her native roots when she wore this lace, flowery dress by n designer Zimmermann on an official trip to South Korea in 2019.
Crown Princess Mary on an official visit to South Korea in May, 2019
Zara Tindall attends the Platinum Pageant on The Mall in June, 2022
With its flattering nipped-in waist and full sleeves it was also a stylish choice for Zara Tindall a few years later at the Platinum Pageant celebrations in June 2022 when paired with an Aspinal of London bag and Illesteva sunglasses.
Emilia Wickstead
One of the Princess of Wales’ favourite Emilia Wickstead frocks which she owns in four colours and is called the Kate dress is a mainstay in her wardrobe and has also been seen on Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
Princess Mary of Denmark wears Emilia Wickstead for Tokyo in 2015
Duchess of Cambridge attends the 2018 Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit at County Hall in London
Long-sleeved and belted at the waist with a sleek silhouette, the A-line style was worn by Mary in dove grey during a trip to Tokyo in March 2015, followed by her style twin choosing in in lavender whilst attending the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in October 2018.
Etro
This printed orange Etro skirt gave déjà vu when worn by Queen Maxima of the Netherlands during her visit to Kenya in October 2023. Styled with a crisp white skirt and belted at the waist, it was a mirror image of Crown Princess Mary’s look when on tour in India in February 2023.
Mary wears her Etro skirt in front of the Taj Mahal in 2023
Queen Maxima in an identical Etro skirt as she visits Kenya in 2023
The versatile skirt was first seen on Mary during the Rio Olympics in 2016, although when seen on both the royals seven years later it still looked just as fresh and on trend.
H&M
Showing that royals can still shop on the high street and look regal, both Princess Mary of Denmark and Princess Victoria of Sweden went for summer casual in a blue and white printed H&M dress with blouson sleeves and a flowing pleated skirt.
Mary chose this boho frock for her official summer family portraits in 2020
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden gave the piece a glamorous edge for a visit to the National Maritime Museum in June 2023
Mary chose the boho frock for her official summer family portraits in 2020, adding a leather belt and metallic flat pumps, whereas Victoria gave the piece a glamorous edge for a visit to the National Maritime Museum in June 2023 by adding a Valentino bag and Marzio pumps.
Alexander McQueen
Princess Mary dazzled in an Alexander McQueen design which featured silk ties at the waist when attending.
Princess Mary attends the 2005c Hans Christian Andersen bicentenial Gala Dinner in New York
Sarah Ferguson poses at the the 10th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation’s benefit in Wall Street , 2011
The red carpet showstopper was a recycled piece which she had worn on four previous occasions and had also been seen on Sarah Ferguson back in October 2011 at the Elton John Foundation gala.
Both swept their hair up and added diamond drop earrings to amp up the glamour of the floor length gown.