During his visit to Saudi Arabia’s AlUla oasis city on Wednesday, Prince William drew attention for his striking resemblance to the style seen in the BBC’s acclaimed spy drama, The Night Manager. The Prince of Wales, aged 43, embraced a look inspired by Tom Hiddleston’s character, featuring gray-framed sunglasses from Finlay & Co, a checkered jacket, and a casual buttoned shirt, illustrating a clear example of Tom Hiddleston style inspiration in William’s wardrobe.
Drawing Parallels Between Royalty and Spy Drama
The popular television series, adapted from John le Carré’s novel, follows Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine, a hotel night manager drawn into espionage involving arms dealers. Prince William’s recent outfit choices channel this character’s aesthetic with a relaxed yet refined combination of open-collar shirts, patterned jackets, and understated accessories. Unlike traditional royal formalwear, William favors a more approachable and contemporary style that mirrors the subtle sophistication of a modern-day spy.
On his tour through the AlJadidah Arts District, William sported rounded grey sunglasses from the London-based high-end brand Finlay & Co, specifically the ‘smoke’ grey Marshal model priced at £160, complementing the ensemble.
Specific Wardrobe Details Highlight Shared Style
The prince’s outfit—dark trousers paired with a light blue patterned, partially unbuttoned shirt and a grey check jacket—bears a strong resemblance to the look Tom Hiddleston wore in the second series of The Night Manager. While Hiddleston’s version featured a lighter jacket, the similarities in layering and casual tailoring are unmistakable. William’s choice captures the essence of Jonathan Pine’s balanced yet sophisticated look, suitable for both informal occasions and public appearances.
Later during the trip, William adopted another look evocative of Hiddleston’s character, wearing a khaki green linen shirt with dark trousers while visiting the Sharaan Nature Reserve. This echoes an outfit Jonathan Pine wore in the opening episode of the series, where the character assists a hotel guest. These sartorial nods clearly link Prince William’s wardrobe with Tom Hiddleston style inspiration.
Longstanding Admirer of Hiddleston’s Fashion
William’s embrace of this style extends beyond occasional wardrobe choices; he has displayed consistent similarities with the actor’s looks over several years. In March 2022, during the concluding segment of his Caribbean tour, William donned a cobalt blue linen shirt, black shorts, and a simple baseball cap—an ensemble closely reflecting Hiddleston’s penchant for blending elegance with casual ease.
Tom Hiddleston has frequently been seen in comparable apparel, including grey linen shirts and navy caps paired with chinos, as observed during personal moments in Manchester with his first child with actress Zawe Ashton.
Matching Looks on Red Carpet and Public Events
The parallelism between Prince William and Tom Hiddleston also extends to formal appearances. In 2023, Hiddleston wore a striking bottle green velvet jacket with black trousers and a bow tie at the 67th Evening Standard Theatre Awards held at Claridge’s Hotel in London. That same month, Prince William was seen at the Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony in Singapore wearing a remarkably similar outfit, consisting of a velvet jacket of the same shade, paired with matching black trousers and a bow tie.
This shared preference for combining classic tailoring with modern touches, such as the grey suit jacket and open-collared shirt without a tie often seen on Hiddleston while portraying Jonathan Pine, further reinforces the prince’s clear stylistic alignment with the actor’s wardrobe choices.
The Significance of William’s Modern Style Choice
Prince William’s inclination toward the relaxed yet polished looks synonymous with Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of a sophisticated spy signals a shift in royal fashion toward mixing comfort with contemporary design, setting a precedent for modern royals who wish to balance tradition with approachability. By adopting elements of Tom Hiddleston style inspiration, the Prince of Wales demonstrates an awareness of cultural icons and their influence on fashion, subtly modernizing his image while remaining fitting for his royal duties.
As this new sartorial direction gains attention, it may inspire further blending of high-profile British cultural figures’ stylistic nuances with royal attire, encouraging a more relatable and versatile aesthetic in future public engagements.
“Fans of the Night Manager will no doubt have noticed the actor wearing a very similar outfit in the first episode of series one of the show where his character Jonathan Pine attempts to help a wealthy hotel guest.” – Unattributed
“The prince looked the spitting image of Tom Hiddleston (pictured) in The Night Manager as he was shown around the AlJadidah Arts District wearing a similar pair of shades to the actor.” – Unattributed
