King Charles Shares Throwback Photo From the '70s — Finally Settles Debate Which Son Looks Like Him
King Charles recently shared a black and white photo from his younger days during a speech, and it finally proves which son is his spitting image.
Back in the '70s, King Charles wasn’t just known because he was the heir to the throne; he also made headlines for his swoonworthy charm and dapper looks. Recently, on June 28, the monarch shared a rare black-and-white throwback snap from the '70s, which featured him delivering a speech on plastic pollution. While his English looks stood out, it was the fact that one of his sons looked like his spitting image that amused royal fans. While Prince Harry inherited his mom, late Princess Diana’s ginger hair, and piercing blue eyes, it was Prince William who looked like a dead ringer for his father in the throwback photo.
Charles shared the photo on the royal family's official Instagram account, citing how he first addressed plastic pollution in 1970, when he was just 21. As per The List, the picture highlighted several of the King's distinct features, such as his prominent ears, broad smile, tapered nose, and sleek jawline, all of which William inherited. A montage shared by a royal fan page on Instagram, featuring images of William as a teen, further highlights the striking resemblance. The Prince of Wales looked even more similar to his father when he grew his facial hair.
William first debuted his beard while congratulating Team GB after the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also grew his facial hair during his trip to Cape Town for the Earthshot Prize Awards last November, and most recently, at Trooping the Color on June 14. As per Hello! magazine, a young Prince Charles bore a striking resemblance to William back in April 1976, when he sported a smart naval beard at the Badminton Horse Trials. A 'naval beard' refers to the full facial hair style permitted in the Royal Navy.
While William bears a striking resemblance to his father, Harry has inherited Diana’s Spencer smile and ginger hair. Harry’s two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have also taken after him, with their signature ginger hair and blue eyes. The Duke himself referenced this in an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2023. As reported by People magazine, he said, "The Spencer gene is very, very strong. I actually really, genuinely thought at the beginning of my relationship [with Meghan] that should this go the distance and we have kids that there's no way the ginger gene will stand up to my wife's genes, but I was wrong!"
Coming back to Charles and William, it’s not just their striking looks that they share; both father and son are also passionate advocates for environmental causes. Charles' commitment to sustainability reflects on his many speeches on climate change and his eco-friendly living in Highgrove estate, which features solar panels, wildlife sanctuaries, and organic gardens. Meanwhile, William champions similar values through his charity, the Earthshot Prize, awarding £1 million annually to five global innovators tackling key environmental challenges.
