Charles Spencer Posts Rare Portrait of Grandmother and the Resemblance to Sister Princess Diana Is Uncanny

Family resemblances are nothing new. Maybe a daughter inherits her dad’s nose or a son has his mom’s eyes—you get the idea. But every once in a while, there’s a family resemblance so strong, it stops you in your tracks. That’s exactly what’s happening with a newly shared portrait of Princess Diana’s grandmother, Cynthia Spencer.

On July 8, Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, posted a series of black-and-white charcoal portraits to Instagram, writing, “Close ups of charcoal portraits of my paternal grandparents, Cynthia and Jack Spencer.” According to the caption, the portraits were drawn in 1919, shortly after the couple married. Charles simply credited the artist as “Sargent,” and while he didn’t confirm it outright, many assume it could be the John Singer Sargent, the celebrated portraitist of the time.

The standout image in the post is a close-up of their grandmother Cynthia—and the resemblance to Princess Diana is uncanny. From her soft, short hairstyle to her delicate features and expressive eyes, Cynthia could easily pass as Diana’s twin. One scroll through the comments and you’ll see the internet agrees.

“I can see Diana in your grandmother. So beautiful,” one person wrote. Another added, “Your grandmother looks just like Diana, gorgeous,” while a third chimed in, “Wow. Can see where your sisters get their looks from!”

But the connection goes deeper than appearances. Charles’s caption reflected on Cynthia’s character, writing, “Sargent captures the soft kindness that I will always remember as the essence of my grandmother: though she died when I was 8, she left an indelible impression on me.”