Royal fans are convinced Princess Charlotte paid a subtle tribute to her mother the Princess of Wales in a heartwarming new photo celebrating Father’s Day.
The ten-year-old was all smiles as she posed alongside Prince William and her brothers Prince George, 11, and Prince Louis, seven, in the sweet snap, which was shared on social media over the weekend.
But it wasn’t just the family’s coordinated looks that caught fans’ attention, as eagle-eyed royal watchers soon spotted a very familiar accessory.
Peeking out from her khaki jumper, Princess Charlotte appeared to be wearing a green and navy tartan scarf that looks strikingly similar to one previously worn by her mother Kate.
On Christmas Day, the Princess of Wales was seen sporting the Kiltane cashmere check scarf when she joined her husband and three children for the traditional church service on the Sandringham estate.
Kate teamed the cosy tartan wrap with a structured forest green Alexander McQueen coat, dazzling blue topaz and diamond earrings by Robinson Pelham, and a sleek black Grace Han handbag.
And it appears she may have let her daughter borrow the beloved item, as a very similar pattern can be made out in the bottom left corner of the Father’s Day portrait.
The photo, taken by photographer Josh Shinner, was captioned with a handwritten message from the royal siblings: ‘Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L.’
Royal watchers believe Princess Charlotte wore one of her mother’s favourite accessories, a tartan scarf, in a Father’s Day post shared on social media
The Princess of Wales was last seen sporting what appears to be the same Kiltane cashmere check scarf on Christmas Day, 2024, in Sandringham
One royal fan soon spotted the similarities, writing: ‘Is Charlotte wearing this scarf? Or is it just a similar one?’
A second added: ‘I think Princess Charlotte is wearing a scarf that belongs to her mother, Catherine, Princess of Wales!’
However, other fans were more sceptical and pointed out that the textures and colours of the scarf’s fabric seemed to be slightly different – and theorised Charlotte had just taken inspiration from Kate’s wardrobe instead.
Charlotte, who wore a sweet denim skirt for the portrait, has often echoed her mother’s signature style, and their coordinated fashion choices continue to delight fans.
Just last week, the mother-daughter duo shared a twinning moment at Trooping the Colour, where Kate made her much-anticipated return to royal duties.
The Princess of Wales stunned in a bespoke aquamarine coat dress by Catherine Walker, complete with crisp white detailing at the collar and cuffs.
She paired the look with Gianvito Rossi suede pumps and a matching Juliette Millinery hat, adding a regal flourish to the ensemble.
Charlotte looked equally polished in a dress in the same soft blue hue, accented by a white band and teamed with white Mary Janes and a sweet horseshoe-shaped brooch.
Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven, cuddled up to their dad as they posed for photos with Prince William. Charlotte can also be seen wearing the scarf here
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024
Charlotte took after her mother as they wore matching blue dresses, with Kate picking a blue coat dress from Catherine Walker for Trooping the Colour last week
It was a look that nodded to Kate’s outfit while allowing Charlotte’s personality to shine, something the duo have perfected over the years.
The Father’s Day snap itself symbolised an uncharacteristic break from tradition by the royal family as keen photographer Kate chose not to capture the image to commemorate the special celebration.
In one of the images shared on Instagram, the royal children – all sporting dusky green ensembles – beamed as they faced the camera as William affectionately placed his hands on his children’s shoulders.
In a second, more candid snap, the youngsters tackled their father with hugs, laughing as they played in a patch of grass.
Last Father’s Day, Kate left royal fans in tears over her ‘perfect’ Father’s Day photo of Prince William with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Shared on Instagram and X, the picture was posted alongside a personally signed social media post from the three children, declaring ‘We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day.’
Kensington Palace said Kate’s picture of William, George, Charlotte, and Prince Louis, was taken on the Norfolk coast in May last year.
The post was the first time a message from the three children featured on the family’s social media accounts – and some fans couldn’t cope after seeing the ‘sweetest’ photo and caption.
‘My leaky eyes are leaking again! Beautiful photo. Thank you,’ wrote one person in the comment section of the post.
Last year’s Father’s Day image, taken by Kate, showed the trio on a beach trip alongside their father, posing with their backs to the camera as they looked out to sea
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Another said: ‘What a beautiful photo, thank you for sharing,’ while a third added: ‘This photo and their message… just perfect.’
‘So heartwarming! A beautiful Father’s Day tribute from the little royals,’ another person said. A fifth wrote: ‘This is the sweetest picture.’
In a break from tradition, the portrait was taken by Josh Shinner instead of Kate – who has a known interest in amateur photography and will often take photos of her children for their birthdays and special occasions.
Just hours after the Prince and Princess of Wales’s Father’s Day photo, Meghan Markle shared her own tribute to her husband Prince Harry.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, described the father of her children as ‘the best’, adding: ‘Happy Father’s Day to our favorite guy.’
She shared a heartwarming snap showing a Happy Father’s Day banner hanging from their garden in Montecito, California, where Harry could be seen clutching his two children tightly on his lap.
In a series of clips, with Jason Mraz’s Have it All playing in the background, the duke is also seen cuddling his children when they were newborns and playing with them on the beach, in a waterfall and on a swing.
The duke is also filmed teaching Archie how to ride a bike as the Sussexes gave an unprecedented glimpse into their lives since leaving Britain for California when they stepped down as working royals in 2020.
Meghan shared the snap with her 3.8million followers on Sunday, at which time she had not posted any tribute to her own father Thomas Markle, 80, whom she has been estranged from for a number of years.
While just months ago, the couple had rarely shared a glimpse of their two children online, Meghan has increasingly uploaded photos of the pair to her Instagram account in recent weeks.
