Fashion expert hails Kate Middleton's confidence in subtle dig at Meghan Markle

Kate Middleton is being applauded for her refined and confident style choices, with one royal expert pointing out a major contrast between the Princess of Wales and Meghan Markle.

On a recent episode of the Palace Confidential podcast, host Jo Elvin noted how Kate has taken a more “confident and experimental” approach to fashion lately—without letting it overshadow her royal role.

Mail columnist Sarah Vine chimed in, saying Kate doesn’t “announce” her outfit details or make fashion a focal point of her public image.

“She doesn't want to make it the focus of who she is, but she still has to look good,” Vine explained. “Most women in their forties know what suits them. You can really see that in her.”

Describing Kate’s aesthetic as having a “Jackie O style,” Vine said the princess now radiates “innate confidence” and knows exactly what works for her.

But when it comes to Meghan Markle, she noted a key difference.

“With the Duchess of Sussex, you always got the sense she was wearing clothes as a way of promoting the brands,” Vine said. “Whereas I don’t get that with Catherine at all.”

“She’s so confident in what she wears now, it almost doesn’t really matter.”

Do Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton get along?

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams has previously described the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Wales as having a "cold" relationship, particularly after Harry and Meghan’s royal exit.

"The relationship between Meghan and Catherine was cold or cool, putting it mildly," Fitzwilliams told The Mirror.

RELATED: Did Meghan Markle just copy Kate Middleton? Fans lash out over latest post