‘Her twin’: Princess Catherine sparks frenzy with childhood throwback photo

The Princess of Wales has stunned fans with her resemblance to another royal after posting an adorable photo of herself as a toddler.

The Princess of Wales has stunned royal fans with her uncanny resemblance to her youngest child Prince Louis after posting an adorable throwback photo of herself as a toddler.

In the touching Instagram post, Princess Catherine shared a previously unseen picture taken during Christmas celebrations in 1983, when she was nearing the age of two.

The picture, published to create awareness for her Shaping Us early childhood campaign, shows a tiny Catherine wearing a cardigan and collared dress as she sits at the Middleton family’s dinner table during the festive season.

Catherine, Princess of Wales during a family Christmas in 1983. Picture: The Middleton Family/Kensington Palace via Getty Images

Fans have been left stunned by Prince Louis’ resemblance to his mother. Picture: Kensington Palace/YouTube

Prince Louis, centre with his brother and sister, has been described as his mother’s “mini me”. Picture: AFP

“Sharing some festive memories this Christmas because #ShapingUs is all about the vital importance of our early years and the role played by those around us in shaping the rest of our lives,” Catherine captioned the post.

Royal fans were quick to point out the stunning resemblance between the mum-of-three and Prince Louis, with one fan calling him his mother’s “twin”.

“I thought it was a picture of Prince Louis at first,” one fan commented. “He is her mini me.”

The Princess of Wales with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during the Royal Carols – Together At Christmas service at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Getty Images

“Okay, this is Louis. Louis is Catherine,” another fans remarked.

Another said: “That’s literally Prince Louis if he was a girl.”

“He definitely looks like the Middleton side,” said one royal fan.

Another pointed out: “Wow you can really see where Prince Louis gets those cheeky looks from.”

QUEEN’S VALUABLE LESSON FOR KATE

It comes as a royal expert claimed that Catherine inherited a valuable lesson in royal life from the late Queen.

Since Her Majesty’s death, the princess has kept her memory alive by wearing pieces of the Queen’s jewellery at public engagements.

But that isn’t the only way Catherine has been honouring the Queen.

According to one expert, Prince William’s loyal wife has inherited his grandmother’s grace under fire.

A royal expert says Princess Catherine took lessons from the late monarch. Picture: AFP Photo

PR expert Denise Palmer-Davies told The Sun: “We know that Kate looked up to the Queen and learned a lot from her. There are so many similarities between the two of them, but it’s now really only since the Queen has passed that we’ve started to notice them.”

Following the release of his controversial new book, Endgame, Omid Scobie said: “The Queen put an invisibility shield around the royals – no one wanted to disrespect her or question her dedication to duty.”

And ironically, it’s this imaginary shield that has helped the Princess of Wales through a difficult few weeks after she was named in a Dutch version of Scobie’s book as one of two royals who allegedly questioned the colour of Prince Archie’s skin tone.

The Princess of Wales was close to the late Queen. Picture: PA Wire

“The Queen was a strong, powerful woman who was respected globally,” Palmer-Davies said. “And we now see Kate emerging as this Queen in waiting, who is just as strong and powerful.

“Her dedication to duty and work with charities has not only made her hugely popular with the public, but respected too. And I think it’s this level of respect and class – similar to what the Queen had – that is getting the royal family through these allegations of racism.

“Kate is following the Queen’s key rule of ‘never complain, never explain’ and is carrying on with her daily duties. We have seen her out and about, at important engagements, smiling, and showing the world she is strong – and that’s the shield. It’s a shield of strength and stoicism really.”

Princess Catherine has adopted the Queen’s ‘never complain, never explain’ approach. Picture: Getty Images

In the 2017 royal documentary, Kate Middleton: Working Class to Windsor, it was claimed that Catherine took lessons on how to be a ‘royal wife’ ahead of her wedding to Prince William.

The Sun reported the Queen also guided Catherine on royal protocol, including what to wear as a royal, and even how to stand or sit, with royal expert Jennie Bond saying the younger royal was appreciative of these lessons.

“Catherine got on very well with the late Queen and will have drawn many lessons from watching her at work,” Bond said.

“Kate has this natural charm, an unstuffiness about her and a genuine interest in people that is beguiling. She’s also a have a go sort of girl – sporty, competitive, and always willing to join in rather than stand on the sidelines and watch.

“She really is the perfect image of a Queen.”

The Princess of Wales launched a Christmas Baby Banks initiative with her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Maidenhead. Picture: Kensington Palace/YouTube

The Princess of Wales launching Christmas Baby Banks with Prince Louis helping out. Picture: Kensington Palace/YouTube

KATE’S ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS ‘POWER MOVE’

While King Charles will do his second King’s speech on Christmas Day, Catherine once again has the prime Christmas Eve slot for her festive Carol service.

Earlier this month PR and marketing guru Andrew Bloch told The Sun, this is “evidence of her appeal” and also shows she is “positioning herself as a key royal family member and future Queen”.

While the service was recorded on December 8, it will air in Britain on December 24.

Bloch said: “What Kate has done brilliantly is elevating her status and position within the broader royal family brand.

“Having a slot on Christmas Eve, it’s evidence of her appeal.”

“Not necessarily consciously a power move, but she is positioning herself as a key member of the royal family and developing a brand in her own right.”

Bloch claims that appearances like the Christmas Eve service will go in Catherine’s favour, saying: “No doubt having this audience is going to lead to an increase in popularity and everything she does elevates her brand, but it’s done in a very natural way, it isn’t forced. “She’s genuinely empathetic and authentic and I think people are getting to know her better and they like it.”

Originally published as ‘Her twin’: Princess Catherine sparks frenzy with childhood throwback photo