The style transformation of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has been a subject of discussion among royal fans and fashion commentators. Some believe that her style has been influenced by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, since she joined the royal family.

Kate and Meghan have been compared to each other in various aspects, including their fashion choices. The Duchess of Cambridge's recent visit to NatWest's headquarters in London, where she wore a white Alexander McQueen blazer with slim black trousers and dark heels, has drawn comparisons to a similar outfit worn by Meghan in 2022.

TikTok user Amanda Matte (@matta_of_fact) has pointed out that Kate's style has evolved since Meghan became a member of the royal family after marrying Prince Harry in 2018. According to Matte, Kate rarely wore trousers and typically opted for culottes before Meghan's arrival.

Matte believes that Kate's updated style, which includes more trousers and a professional appearance, began when Meghan wore an Alexander McQueen suit in 2018.

However, fashion and royalty expert Miranda Holder disagrees. She told Newsweek that Kate's style has taken on a "more serious, business-like mood" since she became the Princess of Wales. Holder believes that this change reflects Kate's growing responsibilities as a senior royal and her proximity to the throne.

Holder also noted that Kate now prefers trousers to skirts and dresses, and her style shift may be an attempt to focus more on her activities rather than the brands she wears. "The fun, feminine, flirty Kate whom we all fell in love with in her polka-dot tea dresses seems to have been replaced by a new, more heavyweight incarnation," she said.

It's essential to consider that Kate has worn trousers before Meghan's arrival in the royal family, such as during a visit to Alberta in 2011 and the 1851 Trust roadshow at the Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre in 2017.

While some royal fans attribute the Duchess of Cambridge's style transformation to Meghan Markle's influence, it is more likely that her evolving fashion choices reflect her growing role and responsibilities within the royal family.