Prince William likened to mother Princess Diana in uncanny then and now photos


The Prince of Wales paid a visit to Saudi Arabia in the second week of February, and fans couldn't help but draw comparisons to his mother, the late Princess Diana


Prince William Princess Diana© Getty Images
Josh Osman
Josh OsmanJunior Lifestyle Writer
February 17, 2026
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Prince William, with his devotion to his duty, calm demeanor and warm personality, always has been compared to his late mother, Princess Diana, who was known and revered as the 'People's Princess'.

In the second week of February, the Prince of Wales conducted a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, touring the capital of Riyadh and the historic desert city of Al Ula, where he was learning about the country's drive towards becoming a more diversified and sustainable economy.

Prince William during a tour with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on day one of his first official visit to Saudi Arabia at UNESCO World Heritage site At-Turaif on February 09, 2026© Getty Images
Prince William during a tour with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on day one of his first official visit to Saudi Arabia at UNESCO World Heritage site At-Turaif on February 09, 2026

 

However, during his diplomatic trip, fans of the British royal family couldn't help but draw comparisons to his mother once more, especially to the similarity in their demeanor, highlighting pictures from her first visit to the country in 1986.

She also visited Riyadh, as part of a six-day official visit across the Gulf States with her then-husband Prince Charles. Together, they toured Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Princess Diana attending a traditional Arab coffee ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hosted by Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in November 1986© Getty Images
Princess Diana attending a traditional Arab coffee ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hosted by Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in November 1986

Though the comparisons between the two never stop, we couldn't help but notice how Prince William was the spitting image of his mother, right down to the warm, approachable body language.

Prince William's visit to Saudi Arabia

The Prince of Wales was hosted by the country’s leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who gave him a traditional welcome with Arabic coffee and dates, before the engagements began.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia gave the 43-year-old a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site, At-Turaif, in Riyadh, where they posed together for some photographs.

William was formally welcomed by the Deputy Governor of Riyadh, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Pala
Prince William was formally welcomed by the Deputy Governor of Riyadh, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz

A Najdi mud-brick city that is also home to the Salwa Palace, the seat of power during the first Saudi state, the area became a protected UNESCO site in 2010. 

Prince William and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will both serve as monarchs in their respective countries, likely for many decades to come, and this trip is a key part of strengthening the diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia for the future. Some sources have said that this was the Government's "number one ask" of King Charles' son for 2026.

He discussed his visit with his father, who had made 12 official visits to Saudi Arabia over the years. Other major moments in Prince William's trip included a visit to MISK Sports City, where he met with women footballers, and Boulevard City, where he attended an e-sports tournament and even had a go at a game of Rocket League, a popular video game in the e-sports circuit.

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