Royal fans reflected on the Princess of Wales’ life to date as she celebrated her 43rd birthday on Thursday.

When an old photograph of Prince William’s wife as a baby was discovered again, royal fans were shocked to see how much Catherine resembled her nine-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte.

Catherine’s mother, Carole Middleton, wearing a black jumper over a white shirt, held a young Catherine in a cute blue knitted cardigan. The mother and daughter appeared to be at their Berkshire home, in the baby’s nursery.

A Striking Resemblance

When William and Catherine left St. Mary’s Hospital for the customary royal photocall, Princess Charlotte was only a few hours old.

Wearing a matching bonnet and a crochet blanket, the new royal family member was held by the devoted mother, who looked stunning in a yellow floral mid-length dress.

The similarity between Catherine and her daughter has been a recurring theme among royal fans. More recently, on Christmas Day 2024, the royal mother-daughter pair went out together while sporting matching forest green ensembles.

Charlotte has also inherited Catherine’s long hair with a natural ‘bronde’ hue. For the festive occasion, the young royal even wore a bow – her mother’s go-to accessory of 2024.

Catherine’s Childhood

Before the Middletons moved to Oak Acre, a five-bedroom house in Bucklebury, Berkshire, when the princess was thirteen, she was raised in a two-bedroom cottage in Bradfield Southend.

When Catherine was a student at the University of St. Andrews with her then-boyfriend Prince William, she spent the holidays at this property.

In addition, Catherine lived in Jordan for two years between 1984 and 1986 because her father, Michael Middleton, was employed by British Airways.

The Middletons relocated from Oak Acre to the much larger Bucklebury Manor in 2012. Growing up, Catherine was a diligent student who loved sports, especially swimming. Her former Brownie pack leader has characterized her as “quite easygoing” since she joined the local Brownies in 1990 with her sister Pippa.

“I had a very happy childhood. It was great fun and I’m very lucky I come from a very strong family,” Catherine told Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast host Giovanna Fletcher in 2020.

“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.”