The Princess of Wales' younger brother took to Instagram on Friday to pay tribute to their mother Carole Middleton as she celebrated her 70th birthday - and the photo he shared has got royal fans talking.
James Middleton, 37, posted a never-before-seen photo of a young Carole holding him as a baby, captioned: "Happy 70th Birthday to my darling Mother. My Hero."
© Instagram / @jmidyThe photo appeared to have been taken on a summer holiday as his mother wore a halterneck top and the background appeared to be a hot location.
However, aside from the sweet tribute to his mother, fans' attention turned to how much James looked like his royal sister as a baby.
"What a beautiful picture! You looked exactly like your sister Catherine as a baby," wrote one follower, while another added: "Happy birthday Carol, you are a wonderful mom and grandma. Baby James looks so much like Louis."
© GettyThe likeness between baby James and his sister but also her six-year-old son Prince Louis, as royal fans pointed out, was uncanny.
A royal likeness
Royal fans remember seeing an adorable Prince Louis out on engagements as a baby but there are fewer photos of a young Kate in public domain. A rare baby photo of Prince William's wife from 1982 was shared in 2023 as she launched her Shaping Us campaign.
© Kensington RoyalThe royal penned: "Faces are a baby's best toy", captioning the photo of her child self with her hands held up to the face of her father Michael Middleton.
© Carole MiddletonMeanwhile, a likeness between Kate and her brother was also apparent in the photo shared ahead of her 'Together at Christmas' carol concert in 2023. It showed Kate as a toddler sitting at the Middleton's dinner table at Christmas time.
Kate and James' childhood
© GettyKate and James, along with their sister Pippa, 41, grew up in Berkshire. The Middleton siblings lived in several homes during their childhood before their parents settled in Bucklebury Manor in 2012.
© GettyIn 2020, the princess gave Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast host Giovanna Fletcher an insight into her early years: "I had a very happy childhood. It was great fun, and I'm very lucky I come from a very strong family.
© WPA Pool"My parents were hugely dedicated. I really appreciate now, as a parent, how much they sacrificed for us. They came to every sports match, they'd be the ones on the sideline shouting, and we'd always have our family holidays together."
© InstagramDISCOVER: James Middleton melts hearts with rare pictures of son Inigo from family holiday
Kate, Pippa, and James now have seven children between them. While Kate shares Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis with her royal husband, Pippa is a mother to Arthur, five, Grace, three, and Rose, one, with her husband James Matthews, and James is a father to baby Inigo with his wife Alizee Thevenet.
