It’s no secret that the Spencer gene pool is very strong.
The late Princess Diana passed many of these traits to her two children, Prince Harry and Prince William.
Harry once joked that he thought Meghan Markle would cancel out his ginger gene when they had children.
But the Sussexes’ two children, Archie and Lilibet, both have striking red hair.
While Diana herself was not a redhead, her brother, Charles Spencer, had ginger hair in his youth.
In comparison, Prince William‘s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are thought to exhibit more traits from their great-grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, and their mother, Kate Middleton.
But over recent years people have began to notice similarities between George, heir to the throne, and his great-uncle, Earl Spencer.
As Diana’s baby brother celebrates his 61st birthday today, we take a look at the traits he shares with his 11-year-old great nephew.
Over recent years people have began to notice similarities between Prince George, heir to the throne, and his great-uncle, Earl Charles Spencer
The two relatives share similar facial features and expressions, which have been captured on camera
The similarity between the two relatives was particularly pronounced during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Prince George, who was eight years old at the time, was lauded for his cheeky smile and facial expressions which mirrored his great-uncle.
In public the young royal can sometimes come across as a serious little boy, who has already developed a clear wariness of the cameras that are part and parcel of his royal life.
But friends of the family say that while he is definitely more cautious and sensitive in nature than his younger sister Charlotte, the little prince is actually a bundle of fun.
Fans flooded social media with their thoughts, with one posting: ‘Definitely a Spencer, just like his papa.’
Another added: ‘George is Spencer, Charlotte is Windsor and Louis is Middleton…all kind.’
Another commented: ‘Since he was very little, the resemblance was remarkable.’
Unlike the young prince the Earl did not grow up with a royal title but he does hold a peerage title, which is a hereditary title in the British nobility system.
One royal observer said of George: ‘Since he was very little, the resemblance was remarkable’
Unlike the young prince the Earl did not grow up with a royal title but he does hold a peerage title, which is a hereditary title in the British nobility system
Charles Spencer was one of four children born to John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, and Frances Shand Kydd.
Despite having a childhoods marked by incredible wealth, his upbringing was troubled.
The family lived at Althorp, the ancestral home of the Spencers, and was just three years old when his parents divorced.
He attended Maidwell Hall, where he later alleged he was sexually abused by a female staff member, beginning when he was 11 years old.
Royal observers have also commented on how George is the ‘spitting image’ of the Earl’s father.
Last October the Earl posted two sepia pictures from between 1940 and 1941 of his grandfather and father outside Althorp in military uniform.
In his caption he wrote: ‘My grandfather had fought as a cavalry officer and had been wounded, in the First World War.
‘He had an honorary army rank at the time of this portrait with his dog. That’s my grandmother in the distance.
Royal fans rushed to point out the resemblance between Prince George and his great-grandfather after a photograph of the late John, 8th Earl Spencer was shared online
Royal observers have also commented on how George is the ‘spitting image’ of the Earl’s father
‘My father was in the Corps at Eton College – he became an officer cadet there, before serving with the Royal Scots Greys in Normandy.’
One commenter wrote: ‘Prince George is the spitting image of your father,’ while a second penned: ‘I see his father in William also.’
A third wrote: ‘I see you and Diana in your father’s face! Wonderful photos, thanks, for sharing,’ and a fourth chimed in: ‘Such lovely photos of your father & grandfather! You resemble your father so much!’
Even after Diana’s marriage and life as a princess, they maintained a close and loving relationship.
The Earl felt a strong need to protect her, even intervening when a journalist wrote a negative article about her.
Following Diana’s tragic death, the Earl delivered a powerful eulogy at her funeral, expressing his love and commitment to carry on her legacy.
Previously royal followers pointed out that William had the ‘Spencer stare’, referring to when he stares intently with lowered eyebrows, usually with a dignified facial expression.
Prince William inherited the sharp, intense stare that is enough to make anyone crumble from his mother
George’s younger sister, Charlotte, has been likened to her late grandmother Diana
One of the most famous pictures of the future king sporting the stare dates back to when the then-15-year-old was attending his mother’s funeral in September 1997. Seen alongside his uncle, Earl Spencer, the teenager stared into the distance during the tragic event.
Many have commented on the mother-son likeness, with one noting that the similar looks have spread further: one supporter of the Royal Family noted on a TikTok that ‘William, Charlotte and Diana all have the same eye shape, William even has Diana’s eye colour too‘.
George’s younger sister, Charlotte, has been likened to her late grandmother Diana.
When attending the May 2023 coronation, Charlotte, aged nine at the time, donned a strikingly similar flower crown tiara to Catherine, the Princess of Wales, looking like a mini-me of her mother as well as sharing some of William’s traits.
The young princess wore a dress and cape made from ivory silk crepe with ivory stitch embroidery featuring rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock motifs, to signify the four nations.
With the world’s eyes on her, Charlotte stood proud and tall, and played the doting big sister by guiding her brothers into Westminster Abbey.
Snaps of Charlotte show her staring into the distance with her large green eyes. As she took it all in, many saw glimpses of Diana in her.
One fan wrote: ‘She looks so much like Diana.’
Another said: ‘That’s fantastic that Princess Charlotte is following her late grandmother Diana!’
Earl Spencer continues to be a strong defender of Diana’s memory and causes. The two are pictured at the Birthright Ball
William and his son George – pictured in May 2025 – display many of the Spencer traits
As William and Harry’s children exhibit, traits of those we have lost can live on in the younger generation. Charlotte, George and Louis are pictured in May 2025
As the Earl celebrates his birthday today, he will be reminded of times he celebrated with big sister as a child.
He recently said: ‘I don’t share my childhood with anyone anymore. That’s a great loss that you can never really put right.
‘You grow up with these people, they are your flesh and blood, they’re with you forever – and then they’re gone.’
He continues to be a strong defender of her memory and causes.
As William and Harry’s children exhibit, traits of those we have lost can live on in the younger generation.
For Harry and William, their children serve as a reminder of their beloved mother.
