Portrait of Princess Diana’s mother Frances Shand Kydd shared online

Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer shares a portrait of his mother Frances Shand Kydd – and fans go wild for the family resemblance to the late royal

  • Charles Spencer shared portrait of his mother Frances Shand Kydd online
  • Royal fans were blown away by the paintings resemblance to Princess Diana
  • With large blue eyes and wavy blonde bob, the women appear near identical
  • One follower said: ‘Beautiful, I can see where Diana got her stunning looks from’ 

Princess Diana‘s brother Earl Spencer has unveiled a rare painting of their mother – and fans have gone wild for the family resemblance to the late royal.

Charles Spencer, 56, who lives at Althorp House, stunned royal fans after sharing a portrait of his mother Frances Shand Kydd to mark her birthday yesterday, with many saying she is the ‘double’ of Princess Diana.

Posting the image on Instagram, he said the image was hung in the library at his home, explaining: ‘My mother – on this, her 85th birthday. She was born in Sandringham, Norfolk, on the very same day that King George V died – in the same parish.’ 

Royal fans were stunned  by the painting, with many saying Frances, who passed away in 2004, aged 68, appeared the double of the late Princess.

Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer, 56, who lives in Althorp House, has unveiled a rare painting of their mother – and fans have gone wild for the family resemblance

With their large blue eyes and wavy blonde bob, the mother and daughter appear near identical

With their large blue eyes and wavy blonde bob, the mother and daughter appear near identical

The portrait captures Frances as a young woman, as she gazes out of the frame to the left. 

Continuing his caption, Charles wrote: ‘She died 3 days after the 50th anniversary of her marriage to my father. 

‘This portrait is to be found in the Library at @althorphouse.’

The Earl’s social media followers were keen to point out the family resemblance between Princess Diana and Frances. 

The Earl's social media followers were keen to point out the family resemblance between Princess Diana and Frances  (pictured, together)

The Earl’s social media followers were keen to point out the family resemblance between Princess Diana and Frances  (pictured, together) 

One commented: ‘Who Princess Diana inherited her fine bonded beauty from, you can see the resemblance. Gorgeous lady.’ 

Another wrote: ‘Beautiful, I can see where Diana got her stunning looks from.’

A third added: ‘Beautiful…just like Diana!’

‘Such a beauty,’ another commented, ‘Very resembled to Diana.’  

Many Instagram followers went wild over the resemblance between the women, with some calling Frances 'stunning' in the painting

Many Instagram followers went wild over the resemblance between the women, with some calling Frances ‘stunning’ in the painting

Frances, then 18, and the 8th Earl Spencer Johnnie, 30, married in 1954 before divorcing in 1969. 

In 1968, Frances lost a custody battle for Diana, Charles and their sisters Jane and Sarah and tried again in 1971 to regain custody of Johnnie Spencer, but lost once again. 

The mother of Diana went to live with her new husband in Scotland after losing her first custody battle for her children, in which she was dubbed ‘the bolter’. 

Princess Diana died at the age of 36 when the car she was travelling in crashed in a Paris tunnel on August 31, 1997, with this year marking the 23rd anniversary of her death. 

Diana and her mother had a rocky relationship and weren’t on speaking terms before her death in 1997.