Diana and Charles announce their engagement on February 24, 1981. Kate and William announced theirs on Tuesday. Image Credit: Supplied
One was innocent, vulnerable and shy, who knew little of the world. And yet she is probably the most popular princess in history, as well as being an iconic figure of her time.
The other is level-headed, smart and down-to-earth. A media-savvy, public school-educated girl, who has dabbled in fashion retail.
In pictures: British royal weddings
There's no doubting that Diana and Kate are very different and yet they both fell for the future king of England and in doing so took on the monumental title of "modern-day real life princess".
But just how do their lives and royal romances measure up?
Ahead of what is likely to be the most exciting royal wedding since Charles and Diana tied the knot in 1981, tabloid! takes a look.
Kate Middleton
Background: Born in Reading, to Carole Elizabeth, an air hostess, and Michael Francis Middleton, a flight dispatcher for British Airways and later a successful entrepreneur, Kate grew up in Berkshire. She attended the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, where she studied history of art and afterwards worked as an accessory-buying assistant with Jigsaw. She left this position in 2007 due to media pressure.
Romantic history: Some say that Catherine Elizabeth — aka Kate — set her sights on the young Prince William before she had even met him, sporting posters of the young prince on her bedroom wall.
They met for the first time at the University of St Andrews in 2001. She had a boyfriend at the time, but her romance with William bloomed after they broke up. Kate and Will later shared a house.
The couple were first seen together publicly on a ski trip in Klosters in April, 2004. They split up in 2007, after which the British tabloids dubbed Kate "Waity Katie" in reference to how long it was taking William to pop the question. They soon got back together, but she revealed that during that time she had "suffered".
Age when she marries: Both William and Kate are 28 years old. Kate will be 29 at her wedding next summer.
Worst style moment: She was reportedly modelling a see-through dress which showed her underwear on the night she first went out with William.
Worst public faux pas: She's fallen out of night clubs in London on a couple of occasions, but otherwise Kate rarely puts a foot wrong.
What her enemies say: Boring — in comparison to Diana at least. It's hard to love someone who always appears so perfect.
Best style moment: Kate chose a dress by the London designer ISSA for the announcement of her engagement. You can get your own ISSA dress at Harvey Nichols and Boutique 1 here in the UAE.
Why the public likes her: It's no secret that the Queen is delighted at the match. Kate by all accounts is practical, down-to-earth and fun. What's more, the couple seem genuinely in love, and have been through the kind of relationship turmoil that affects everyone.
Of their break-up in 2007, she told ITV: "I, at the time, wasn't very happy about it, but actually it made me a stronger person. You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn't realised."
How she measures up: Kate lacks Diana's royal lineage, but is clearly more level-headed. Having been in the limelight since 2004, she is media-savvy and by all accounts more able to handle publicity than Diana was when she got married.
She will most likely play the part of wife of the future heir of the throne perfectly. Not only is she very different in personality, she has clearly had a very different type of romance from the start. Watch this space...
Diana Spencer
Background: Diana Frances Spencer was born in Norfolk in 1961. When she was eight, her parents, Frances Shand-Kydd and John Spencer, Viscount Althorpe (later Earl Spencer) divorced. She was educated in Kent and in 1979 moved to London, where she worked as a housekeeper, a nanny and a kindergarten teacher, living with three other girls in a flat.
Romantic history: Diana was a childhood playmate of Prince Andrew and met Charles on a number of occasions growing up. She also is reported to have had his picture hanging on her bedroom wall. He briefly dated her older sister Sarah and later in 1980, she bumped into him again, as her sister's husband worked for the Queen.
He asked her out and well, the rest is history. She married the Prince of Wales on July 29, 1981. They divorced on August 28, 1996, having had two children — Princes William and Harry.
Worst style moment: One of the British tabloids dubbed her amongst the top 10 worst dressed in 1982 — back in the days when she was snapped in an unfortunate see-through skirt, and had a fondness for pussy-bow blouses.
Age when she married: Diana was 20 years old. Charles was 32.
Worst public faux pas: Where to start? Was it the affairs she had while still married to Charles, some of which were known to the public? Maybe it was her public acknowledgement that she suffered from an eating disorder, or perhaps the fact that she failed to live up to the role that the Royal family had in mind for her and in the end divorced Charles.
What her enemies said: Some have labelled her "unstable" and clearly she had a number of personal problems.
Why the public loves her: Her fragile and shy persona endeared her not only to the UK public, but to the world, making her a very "human" princess and breaking away from the stiff upper-lip tradition of the House of Windsor.
How she measures up: Her ongoing iconic appeal says it all. Kate will have a tough time living up to her image.
