Practically since birth, Princess Charlotte has favored her grandmother, the late Princess Diana. And as she’s gotten older, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 10-year-old daughter has started looking and acting more and more like the grandma she’s never met. Now, a resurfaced childhood photo of Diana reveals that Charlotte basically stole her whole face.
Princess Diana’s brother Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer, shared a vintage photo of him and his sister at the swimming pool this week. “A long ago summer, by the swimming pool at our childhood home, Park House, Sandringham,” he captioned the black-and-white photo on Instagram.
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Princess Charlotte of Wales during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace on June 15, 2024 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a ceremonial parade celebrating the official birthday of the British Monarch. The event features over 1,400 soldiers and officers, accompanied by 200 horses. More than 400 musicians from ten different bands and Corps of Drums march and perform in perfect harmony. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Charles and Diana stand next to each other near a backyard pool, with Charles’ hands down by his side in short swimming trunks. Diana’s hands are tucked primly behind her back in a swimsuit that resembles a tank top and bottoms, and a swim cap to cover her blonde hair. She smiles with her head tilted down and her eyes looking up, looking eerily identical to her future grandchild.
In the caption, Charles explained more about this time in their childhood in the ‘60s. “Diana and I both proudly showing off our swimming badges (sewn onto our swimming costumes),” he explained. “These were awarded (sparingly) by Mrs Lansdowne, a fairly terrifying but very gifted swimming instructor, who came to stay each year.”
“We were never out of that pool,” he added.
Princess Charlotte loves going swimming with her older brother as well. Prince William once said that Prince George, now 12, and Princess Charlotte swim “quite well.”
She also loves dancing ballet and tap, just like Princess Diana. In fact, one of Princess Di’s former dance instructors Anne Allan once said how much she loved watching her dance. “The biggest joy to me was just watching when she felt comfortable enough to just move by herself. You could see the pure joy that she got from dancing,” Allan told Closer Weekly.
Princess Diana and Princess Charlotte are so similar that they even position their feet in a very distinct way. Those Spencer genes are definitely strong, and we love seeing how much Charlotte takes after her beloved grandmother.
Before you go, check out these precious photos that show Princess Diana’s best motherhood moments.
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