One is a chip off the old block! Prince Louis proves he’s Prince William’s ‘mini-me’ in photos of them at the same age
Prince Louis proved to be the salivating image of Prince William in his birthday portrait – but this isn’t the first time the father-son duo have bore a remarkable resemblance to each other while being the same age.
The Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated their youngest son turning eight with the release of a new photo and video showing the royal diving into the sea, playing cricket on the beach and digging in the sand.
Photographed during the family’s Easter holiday in Cornwall earlier this month, it shows a grinning Louis on a boat, with the sea in the background, his arms folded over the ship’s metal barrier.
Eagle-eyed royal fans were quick to note the royal’s striking resemblance to his father, now 43, when the heir to the throne was on a family holiday in Mallorca, Spain, in 1990.
In a photo taken when the future King of England was just eight, William is seen holding the handlebars of the yacht Fortuna while on holiday with his parents, Princess Diana and King Charles, with Prince Harry, who was five at the time.
Sporting a cheerful smile similar to his son’s, William’s brown hair falls just above his eyes like Louis’, while the prince can also be seen squinting slightly due to the bright summer sun.
In both photos, both William and Louis wore smart, casual clothes, but the future King opted for a more summery look in a white T-shirt, while Louis’ navy blue jumper was indicative of slightly cooler English spring weather.
But that’s not the only time Louis looks a lot like his father. The young royal has shared several moments over the years that match up with nostalgic photos of young Prince William.
Prince Louis proved to be the spitting image of Prince William in his birthday portrait (pictured left). Eagle-eyed royal fans were quick to note the royal’s striking resemblance to his father, now 43, when the heir to the throne was on a family holiday in Mallorca, Spain, in 1990.
For example, Louis’ appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony in a smart double-breasted suit and red tie at Trooping The Color in June 2025 was similar to Prince William’s outing at the traditional royal event in 1990.
Standing next to the late Queen and her husband Prince Philip, William, then nearly eight years old, also looked sophisticated in a black suit and red tie.
There was another twin brother moment when Louis joined Christmas at Sandringham in 2024. Wearing a navy blue jacket and a smart tie, the young royal looked incredibly grown up for his age.
The youngster, who received gifts from well-wishers, looked like his father of the same age, whose first official engagement William attended in Cardiff in 1991.
The heir to the throne wore a stylish navy blue jacket and tie while out and about with his mother, the late Princess Diana.
Photos of young William, meanwhile, show exactly where Prince Louis got his lively mannerisms.
The Prince of Wales regularly gestured to the crowd of well-wishers on the balcony of Buckingham Palace or waved with a similar facial expression his son often uses these days.
The father-son duo also wore similar outfits when they were younger; On more than one occasion, Louis wore sportswear that resembled the clothes his father wore as a child.
William at Trooping the Color in 1990, pictured left and pictured right, Prince Louis at the same event in 2025
Prince William in 1990, pictured left, and Prince Louis, pictured right, in his birthday video
Prince William attending a concert at the Royal Albert Hall as a child, pictured left. Pictured right, Louis attends Easter Matins Service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2026
Yesterday, Kate and William shared a rare glimpse into their family life in a heartwarming video to thank supporters for sending Louis ‘birthday wishes’.
The young royal was spotted playing in the sand, playing cricket and running on the beach during the Easter break.
Proving to be as adventurous as she is cheeky, the fearless young royal was also caught eagerly diving into the sea from a height.
The sweet clip was posted on Kensington Palace’s social media accounts with the following message: ‘Thank you for the birthday wishes Prince Louis. 8 is great!’
The images were captured by photographer Matt Porteous, whom Welsh people often turn to for family celebrations.
Love of water runs in the family. William surfed while studying at St Andrews, while Kate loved swimming in cold water.
It is unknown which beach the royal family visited, but the Prince of Wales inherited the vast Duchy of Cornwall land estate and the title of Duke of Cornwall when he becomes heir to the throne in 2022.
Prince Louis Arthur Charles was born at 11.01am on 23 April 2018 at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, and was first photographed outside the Lindo Wing with William, now 43, and Kate, now 44.
William attending his first official engagement in Cardiff in 1991, pictured left. Pictured right, Louis attends Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on 25 December 2024
Prince William points to the balcony of Buckingham Place in 1985, pictured left. Pictured at right is Prince Louis during the 2022 Joining of the Colors celebrations
Prince William was pictured in a casual outfit in 1990, left, while Prince Louis wore a similar outfit in 2024, pictured right
Last year, royal fans drew similarities between the future King of England and his son when a birthday portrait of young Louis was published.
This isn’t the first time royal fans have noticed the striking resemblance between Prince William and his mischievous son, who is a favorite with the British public for his cheeky attitude and funny expressions.
The statement made by Kensington Palace at that time included the following statements: ‘Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth safely to her son at 11:01 am.
‘The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz. The Duke of Cambridge was also present at the birth. His Majesty and his child are doing well.’
She has since become known for her talent in front of the camera and has previously delighted royal fans with her impressive performances at events.
At Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Louis, then four, was the center of attention as the Royal Family appeared on the balcony.
Alarmed by the noise made by the Red Arrows circling above him, he covered his ears and grimaced.
Similarly, the teenager mesmerized audiences worldwide with his antics at the concert held in honor of ‘Gan Gan’ and his 70-year reign.
