Kate and Meghan check with the Queen about their outfits

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex swap notes with the Queen about what they’re wearing before a joint engagement with her.

Royal commentator Omid Scobie tells Yahoo UK’s ‘The Royal Box,’: “It’s quite normal for a private assistant to Kate to check in with the Queen’s private secretary and find out what she’s wearing so you don’t clash or sort of take the colour that she’s picked to wear that day.”

When Her Majesty and Meghan had their first joint engagement in Cheshire last year, the Queen chose one of her signature block colour coats in lime green, while her granddaughter-in-law opted for a neutral Givenchy dress to complement her.

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The Queen and Meghan in Cheshire, and Her Majesty and Kate at King's College London. [Photos: PA]
The Queen and Meghan in Cheshire, and Her Majesty and Kate at King's College London. [Photos: PA]

Similarly, when the Queen and Kate visited King’s College London, the monarch stood out in a pale pink coat, while the Duchess of Cambridge wore a grey Catherine Walker dress.

It’s also been noted that when the Royal Family all get together, there is often a common theme or colour to their outfits. On the first day of Ascot in June, the Queen, Kate, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall wore looks in different shades of blue.

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Queen Elizabeth II, Zara Tindall, Princess Eugenie of York and The Duchess of Cambridge during day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse. Photo credit should read: Doug Peters/EMPICS
The Queen, Zara Tindall, Princess Eugenie and the Duchess of Cambridge all in blue at Royal Ascot. [Photo: PA]

Scobie adds: “I think one thing that Meghan and Kate really share in common is that they’re both very mindful dressers...there’s always that extra attention to detail.”

The duchesses both know the art of sartorial diplomacy, particularly when it comes to royal tours.

Their outfits usually include nods to the host nation either through the choice of designer, the colour in relation to the country’s flag or by a piece of symbolic jewellery.

File photo dated 25/10/18 of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving at Fua'amotu Airport, Tonga, with Meghan wearing a £345 red outfit by London fashion brand Self-Portrait.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive in Tonga, with Meghan wearing a red Self Portrait dress. [Photo: Getty]

During the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s tour of New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Australia last October, Meghan’s first outfit was a white dress by Australian designer Karen Gee. There was also a nod to Tongan red as she landed on the island wearing a scarlet Self Portrait number.

The Duchess of Cambridge has borrowed brooches from the Queen’s collection for her overseas visits, most notably the Maple Leaf in Canada and the silver Fern in New Zealand.

CALGARY, AB - JULY 08:  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits a reception at Calgary Zoo  on July 8, 2011 in Calgary, Canada. The newly married Royal Couple are on the ninth day of their first joint overseas tour. The 12 day visit to North America is taking in some of the more remote areas of the country such as Prince Edward Island, Yellowknife and Calgary. The Royal couple started off their tour by joining millions of Canadians in taking part in Canada Day celebrations which mark Canada's 144th Birthday.  (Photo by Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images)
Kate in Canada in 2011, wearing the Queen's Maple Leaf brooch. [Photo: Getty]

Kate is also renowned for her literal dressing - a floral Erdem dress for the Chelsea Flower Show, a nautical outfit for a visit to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich wearing a Breton stripe top and LK Bennett sailor-style trousers.

BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 14: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits 'Tomorrow's Women Wirral' Charity on January 14, 2019 in Birkenhead, United Kingdom. (Photo by Charlotte Graham - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Meghan visiting Tomorrow's Women Wirral in Birkenhead in January. [Photo: Getty]

Meghan uses subtle but clever style tricks to convey a message, for example, her purple Aritzia dress and red Sentaler coat combo to visit Birkenhead in January appeared to be a nod to the logo of Tomorrow’s Women Wirral.