As Prince William is pictured with his arm around Prince George’s shoulders, he reminds us how much he resembles his trailblazing mother, Princess Diana.

Seeing Prince William with a protective arm around George might seem unremarkable by today’s standards.

Why wouldn’t a father hold his son in a strange rugby dressing room, surrounded by giant athletes after they’d just lost the Rugby World Cup quarter-final to Argentina?

But this is the royal family we’re talking about, where outward gestures of warmth had not been significantly encouraged over the years.

Until that is, the arrival of William’s mother, Lady Diana Spencer.

Diana, the late Princess of Wales, and her son Prince William outside Wetherby School in London after deposing Prince Harry in September 1991

‘I live for my sons. Without them I would be lost,” Diana once said. Not a sentiment associated with Queen Elizabeth II – let alone her formidable grandmother, Queen Mary.

In November 1985, Diana had said: ‘Most importantly: [my role is] being a mother and wife. That’s what I’m trying to achieve; Whether I do that is another matter, but I’ll try.’

While others prioritized their duties, Diana made it a point to be a – literally – hands-on parent. Nowadays it seems as if her son, the Prince of Wales, is following her example.

George – a future Prince of Wales – had attended the Wales-Argentina match with his father, who is a patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, while his mother watched the corresponding England match.

He was dressed like a mini-me of William, both wearing matching navy blue suits and red ties – the latter seemingly a patriotic nod to the Welsh side.

The father and son duo then met up with some Welsh rugby players to mourn their loss.

Trooping the Color has produced a series of echoes over the years, with William’s body language often seeming to be reminiscent of that of his late mother.

Whether in the public eye or in private, Princess Diana was often pictured holding Prince Harry when Prince William was still young.

And while William may not hug his children in public as often as the late Princess of Wales, he will never miss the opportunity to comfort his children.

Prince Harry, Princess Diana, the Queen Mother and Prince William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London in June 1989

Prince William appears to be repeating his own mother’s gesture in June 2022

The Princess of Wales with her sons after their arrival at Aberdeen Airport in August 1989

The Prince of Wales and his two eldest children, George and Charlotte, visit Cardiff Castle in June 2022

Then-Prince Charles passed a young Prince Harry to Diana during the 1985 Trooping of the Color ceremony on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Diana’s informality was a stark contrast when she arrived in the royal family

Prince Louis checks in with his father, Prince William, as Princess Charlotte waves to the crowd below during Trooping The Color in 2019

Diana and Prince William watched Prince Charles play polo at Smith’s Law in May 1987

William and Prince George attend the traditional Easter Sunday church service at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle in April 2022

The love between Diana and her sons was evident in photographs, as seen in a snapshot of the late Princess of Wales and William at a polo match in May 1987.

The young royal is pictured holding his mother’s hand tightly as she places her hand on his forehead.

George, second in line to the throne, stayed close to his father, who rested his hands on George’s shoulders during the traditional Easter Sunday church service at St Georges Chapel in April last year.

With the fast-paced nature of royal life, the support of their parents is essential.

Prince William and Prince Harry greet their mother, Diana, on the deck of the royal yacht ‘Britannia’ in Toronto, Canada, in October 1991

Prince William comforts his daughter Princess Charlotte as the royals attend hockey at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in August 2022

Diana with Prince Harry on holiday in Mallorca, Spain, in August 1987

Prince William hugs Prince George at a children’s party for military families during the Royal Tour of Canada in September 2016 in Victoria, Canada