Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton had one thing in common this month

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle recently stepped out in matching ultraviolet looks. A coincidence? Not really.

Markle showcased her berry-hued ensemble (a violet Babaton dress and strawberry-red Sentaler coat) to visit Birkenhead, while Middleton recycled an old-favourite, a violet pleated Oscar de la Renta jacket and skirt. It turns out that Princess Diana was a big fan of wearing violet too.

In 2018, Pantone may have named Ultra Violet colour of the year, but for the royal family, the shade has a much deeper history. "Historically, purple has been highly valued, driven by its burdensome production and its association with wealth, power and royalty," writes Valencia Prashad for the New York Times.

Do Prince Harry and his fiancée, Meghan Markle, know that it is said that in the 16th century Queen Elizabeth I of England didn't permit anyone but close relatives of the royal family to wear purple?

Even though Pantone has already moved onto naming Living Coral as 2019's colour of the year, it appears that the royal family's love affair with violet isn't ending anytime soon.

- This article first appeared on Yahoo