In his latest birthday portrait, Prince Louis is a mirror image of his father, Prince William, a resemblance that has become a delightful hallmark of their family. This isn’t the first time the uncanny likeness between the two has captured public attention, especially when comparing photos of William at a similar age.

The Prince and Princess of Wales marked their youngest son’s eighth birthday by sharing a charming new photograph, accompanied by a video showcasing the young royal’s adventurous spirit. The video features Louis diving into the sea, playing cricket on a sandy beach, and enthusiastically digging in the sand.

Captured earlier this month during the family’s Easter getaway to Cornwall, the portrait shows a cheerful Louis aboard a boat. With his arms confidently folded and leaning against the boat’s metal railing, he beams with the ocean as his scenic backdrop.

Royal enthusiasts quickly pointed out the striking resemblance between young Louis and his father William, now 43. This similarity echoes back to a family vacation in Mallorca, Spain, in 1990, when William was eight.

In a nostalgic photo from that trip, the future King is seen clutching the handlebar of the yacht Fortuna, enjoying a sunlit holiday with his parents, Princess Diana and King Charles, and his younger brother Prince Harry, then five years old.

Both father and son share the same joyful grin, with their brown hair cascading just above their eyes. The squint in William’s eyes, caused by the bright summer sun, is mirrored in Louis’s expression, cementing their likeness.

In both of the photos, both William and Louis are dressed in smart-casual outfits, though the future king in more of a summer look with a white T-shirt, while Louis’s navy jumper is indicative of the slightly cooler British spring weather. 

But it’s not the only moment when Louis has looked remarkably like his father. The young royal has shared several matching moments with throwback photos of a young Prince William throughout the years.

Prince Louis, right, proved he’s the spitting image of Prince William, now 43, when the heir to the throne was on a family holiday to Mallorca, Spain, in 1990, pictured in his birthday portrait (pictured left)

For instance, Louis’s appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at Trooping The Colour last June in a smart double-breasted suit with a red tie was similar to Prince William’s outing at the traditional royal event in 1990.

Standing beside the late Queen and her husband Prince Philip, William, then around eight years old, also looked sophisticated in a black suit and red tie.  

Another twinning moment came when Louis attended Christmas at Sandringham in 2024. Dressed in a navy coat and smart tie, the young royal looked remarkably grown up.

Holding gifts from well-wishers, the youngster bore a resemblance to his father at a similar age, when William attended his first official engagement in Cardiff in 1991.

The heir to the throne wore a smart navy blazer and tie whilst on a walkabout with his mother, the late Princess Diana.

Meanwhile, photos of a young William show exactly where Prince Louis picked up his animated mannerisms from.

The Prince of Wales regularly pointed at the crowds of well-wishers from the Buckingham Palace balcony or waved with a similar facial expression often worn by his son nowadays.

The father-son duo also wore similar clothes when younger, with Louis more than once sporting clothes resembling outfits worn by his father when he was a child. 

William at Trooping the Colour in 1990, pictured left, and pictured right, Prince Louis at the same event in 2025

Prince William in 1990, pictured left, and pictured right, Prince Louis in his birthday video

Prince William as a child, attending a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, pictured left. Pictured right, Louis attending the Easter Matins Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 2026

Yesterday, Kate and William shared a rare glimpse into their family life with a heartwarming video to thank supporters for sending ‘birthday wishes’ for Louis. 

The young royal was filmed playing in the sand, enjoying a game of cricket and running along the beach during his Easter break.

Proving he’s just as adventurous as he is cheeky, the fearless young royal was also captured eagerly diving into the sea from a height. 

The sweet clip was posted on Kensington Palace’s social media accounts with the message: ‘Thank you for all the birthday wishes for Prince Louis. 8 is great!’

Photographer Matt Porteous, to whom the Waleses often turn to mark family occasions, captured the footage.

A love of the water runs in the family. William used to surf while studying in St Andrews, while Kate is a fan of cold water swimming. 

It is not known which beach the royals visited, but the Prince of Wales inherited the vast Duchy of Cornwall landed estate and the title the Duke of Cornwall when he became heir to the throne in 2022.

Prince Louis Arthur Charles was born at 11.01am on April 23, 2018, at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, and was first photographed with William, now 43, and Kate, now 44, outside the Lindo Wing. 

William attending his first official engagement in Cardiff in 1991, pictured left. Pictured right, Louis attends the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024

Prince William points from the balcony of Buckingham Place in 1985, pictured left. Pictured right, Prince Louis during 2022 Trooping the Colour celebrations

Prince William pictured left in a casual ensemble in 1990, while Prince Louis wore similar in 2024, pictured right

 Last year, royal fans also drew similarities between Britain’s future King and his son when young Louis’ birthday portrait was released

This isn’t the first time royal fans have noticed the striking resemblance between Prince William and his mischievous son, who is a favourite of the British public for his cheeky attitude and hilarious expressions

A statement from Kensington Palace at the time read: ‘Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs. 

‘The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.’

Since then, he’s become known for his flair in front of the camera and has previously delighted royal fans with his expressive performances at events.

At Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Louis, then four, took centre stage as the Royal Family appeared on the balcony.

Alarmed by the noise caused by the Red Arrows circling overhead, he covered his ears and winced.

Similarly, the youngster charmed audiences around the world with his antics at the concert held in honour of his ‘Gan Gan’ and her 70-year reign.