Meghan Markle is accused of ‘copying’ Kate Middleton after having photographs taken with pilots in the cockpit of a plane – days after the Princess’s RAF base visit
Meghan Markle has been accused of ‘copying’ the Princess of Wales after she shared photographs taken with pilots in the cockpit during her Washington DC trip this week.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, posted an Instagram reel of her whirlwind ’24 hours of impact and fun’ on Thursday evening, including behind-the-scenes footage of her appearance at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit.
At one point, Meghan was seen posing for pictures and chatting with pilots in the cockpit, before filming snippets of the view from her plane.
However, royal fans soon noted her newfound enthusiasm for the aircraft came just weeks after the Princess of Wales’ visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, where she was seen touring a Typhoon fighter jet and taking on a flight simulator.
As Royal Honorary Air Commodore, Kate’s passion for the planes was clear and she even wowed station commanders by performing a virtual ‘loop-the-loop’ manoeuvre.
Royal fans drew comparisons between Meghan’s pictures this week and Kate’s from October 2, with one critic even saying the Duchess was ‘copying as usual’.
A second said: ‘Exactly my thought when I saw her in the cockpit’, while a third added: ‘Is it her trying to copy the way Catherine was with the pilot?’
This isn’t the first time royal fans have accused Prince Harry’s wife of copying Kate; similarities in their engagements and their fashion choices have previously been noted.
Meghan Markle has been accused of ‘copying’ the Princess of Wales after she posed for pictures in the cockpit of her plane home from Washington DC
Royal fans soon noted her newfound enthusiasm for the aircraft came just weeks after the Princess of Wales’ visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire (pictured)
For example, a snap to promote her As ever line in June saw the Duchess taking to a swing in a picture very reminiscent of the Princess of Wales.
The Duchess had teased her recent launch via the As Ever Instagram account with a snap of her grinning on a swing in a sunny garden.
But the photograph was eerily reminiscent of a picture taken of Princess Kate in a garden she designed for the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019.
Royal fans also accused Meghan of ‘copying’ Kate when it was revealed the second season of the Duchess’s ‘With Love, Meghan’ lifestyle show would include a Christmas special.
Fans compared it to the festive productions created by Kate, including her 2019 collaboration with Mary Berry on a seasonal cookery programme, and her annual carol service, titled Royal Carols: Together At Christmas, which is typically broadcast on ITV1 on December 24.
Since she joined the royal family in 2018, Meghan’s style has also undergone a radical transformation as she has gradually exchanged her red carpet-ready ensembles for a more modest, regal wardrobe.
In doing so, Prince Harry’s wife appears to have looked no further than her sister-in-law for inspiration, actively mirroring Kate’s most memorable looks.
For example, in the second season of Meghan’s Netflix show in August, she was seen wearing the same red jumper once worn by her sister-in-law.
Meghan was seen chatting with pilots in the cockpit, before filming snippets of the view from her plane
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Royal Honorary Air Commodore, is shown a Typhoon aircraft on October 2
One of Kate’s most iconic looks was the Issa dress she wore to announce her engagement in 2010 to Prince William. In 2016 Meghan wore her own version of the style to an Instagram dinner in Toronto.
Meghan then sported a houndstooth Dôen blazer with a velvet collar, paired with Veronica Beard jeans in Vancouver earlier this year.
But the look had been seen previously when the Princess of Wales wore a similar style from Smythe during a royal visit to Essex in 2018.
Commenting on her latest ‘copy-Kate’ moment, one royal fan wrote: ‘Markle in a little airplane, Princess Catherine in military fighter jets. Please….’ Others said: ‘Yes, we get it, you fly private…’
Another said: ‘Of course she took a pic in the cockpit. The POW was literally in the cockpit of a fighter jet just a few weeks ago and set the internet on fire while walking down the stairs of the plane backwards.’
Meghan captioned her video: ‘Love being surrounded by strong women supporting each other!’
Royal fans drew comparisons between Meghan’s pictures this week and Kate’s from October 2
Her latest snaps bore a striking similarity to Kate’s recent engagement.
The Princess of Wales, 43, had wowed audiences during her visit as she gamely climbed narrow stairs in her navy stilettos to peer inside the cockpit of a fully armed Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon.
She also shared how her youngest son Louis is keen to become a fighter pilot, but added: ‘I’m going to tell them (her children) it takes eight years and a lot of hard work!’
The Princess seemed to take to her simulated flight with ease and appeared to enjoy her virtual climb from RAF Coningsby enough to perform the aerobatic stunt.
The princess ‘flew’ around the Lincolnshire countryside with the North Sea ahead and, at one point, appeared to perform a loop-the-loop manoeuvre.
Speaking afterwards, Group Captain Paul O’Grady said: ‘She seems to be a natural pilot so we might have to get her qualified and get her flying a Typhoon, if she’s up for it.’
Meanwhile, Meghan has been undertaking a two-week PR blitz in the US, as she appears to be gearing up for a ‘Meghan 3.0’ relaunch.
Meghan is out about again, this time in LA, at a dinner thrown by her friend, entrepreneur Emma Grede
Guests clink glasses of Meghan’s wine, which washed down an entirely plant-based dinner
Last night, she popped up at a glitzy vegan banquet in Los Angeles celebrating women ‘owning their power’ and helping ‘each other get s**t done’.
The Duchess was guest of honour at a party thrown by her friend and fellow podcaster Emma Grede, the British-born CEO of fashion brand Good American and a founding partner of Kim Kardashian’s Skims line.
Meghan’s appearance at the LA dinner – around an hour from her Montecito mansion – came in a fortnight of pseudo-royal public engagements.
Experts have predicted another new venture is on the cards, potentially in couture or cosmetics.
On Tuesday Meghan lectured on life as a ‘high-profile business founder’ as one of the stars of Fortune’s ‘Most Powerful Women’ summit in the US capital.
Her Washington address marked yet another public appearance after New York dinners with Serena Williams, another with a powerhouse talent agent, a night out with Ed Sheeran and a charity gala where she was crowned ‘Humanitarian of the Year’ with Harry.
Experts predict the flurry of east coast engagements – at least six in as many days, including some without her husband – is part of a wider ‘Meghan 3.0’ relaunch attempt after a bumpy 2025.
In an Instagram reel released before the DC event Meghan filmed herself applying what appeared to be unbranded make up. It immediately led to speculation online that they could be samples for her own range – or a new collaboration with a beauty brand.
Meghan also popped up at Paris Fashion Week ten days ago, ramping up claims she may move into clothing. One source predicted: ‘Fashion is where she will aim her focus now’.
