Prince William is reportedly mad at Meghan Markle over her “calculated” choice of clothing on Instagram. The Prince of Wales is “seething” after the Duchess of Sussex wore a sweatshirt not unlike one once worn by Princess Diana.
Meghan Markle wore a Northwestern sweatshirt on her Instagram Stories
On Feb. 23, 2025, Meghan offered a peek at her “small break from work to soak in the weekend” on her Instagram Stories. The photos and videos gave a rare glimpse of the sprawling outdoor space at her and Prince Harry’s Montecito, Calif., home. It also saw her make an apparent nod to Diana.
Between watering plants and picking an orange off a tree, Meghan could be seen wearing a purple Northwestern University sweatshirt almost identical to the one Diana wore in 1996.
She also sported a Northwestern sweatshirt while gardening on her new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan Season 1 Episode 7: “Elevating the Everyday,” per What Meghan Wore.
Meghan channeling Princess Diana’s style has upset William
William’s not happy with Meghan’s apparent nod to Diana, according to a Radar Online report. “William is seething,” an insider told the outlet. “He’s always been incredibly protective of his mother’s legacy. And he sees Meghan’s repeated nods to Diana’s style as more than just fashion choices—they feel calculated.”
Diana died on Aug. 31, 1997, following a car crash in Paris, France. She was 36. Two others also died in the crash: Dodi Fayed and Henri Paul. William, now 42, and the Duke of Sussex, now 40, were 15 and 12 at the time of their mother’s death.
“Meghan and Harry have ruffled plenty of feathers in the royal family, but this latest stunt? It’s really struck a nerve,” the insider added. “On the surface, wearing a college sweatshirt doesn’t seem like a big deal. But to William, it’s another calculated move.”
“She’s opening herself up to criticism,” they added of Meghan. “Diana’s image should be preserved with dignity, not used as a marketing tool.”
Over the years, Meghan’s come under fire for seemingly pulling from the “Princess Diana playbook,” including nods to her late mother-in-law with fashion. (Diana’s jewelry is a mainstay on Meghan’s trademark bracelet stack.) However, to be fair, Meghan did attend Northwestern University.
She graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in theater and international studies. So, while William might see her choice of sweatshirt as “calculated,” Meghan may view it as simply sporting gear from her alma mater.
Prince Harry warned Meghan about copying Princess Diana in 2017
Harry revealed in his 2023 Spare memoir that he gave Meghan advice not to follow in his mother’s footsteps during a 2017 visit to India with World Vision. “Do not take a photo in front of the Taj Mahal,” he wrote, referencing the now-iconic image of Diana from 1992 (via Express).
When Meghan “asked why,” Harry filled her in. “I’d explained that my mother had posed for a photo there, and it had become iconic,” he wrote. “And I didn’t want anyone thinking Meg was trying to mimic my mother.”
“Meg had never heard of this photo,” Harry continued, noting she “found the whole thing baffling,” for which he “loved her for.”
