‘It’s plain to see where Diana’s beauty came from’: Princess’ brother Charles Spencer delights royal fans by sharing a portrait of their late mother Frances Shand Kydd to mark her birthday
Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer has unveiled a stunning portrait of his mother Frances Shand Kydd – and royal fans have gone wild for the family resemblance to the late royal.
Charles Spencer, 58, who lives at Althorp House in Northamptonshire, took to Instagram on Friday to share a painting of his late mother to mark her 87th birthday.
He explained in the caption that the image stands in his home’s library, surrounded by pictures of four of her children, adding: ‘My mother was born 87 years ago today, in Park House, Sandringham.
‘On that very same day – 20 January 1936 – a few hundred yards away, at Sandringham House, King George V died. My mother died in 2004, when 68. Too young.’
Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer has unveiled a stunning portrait of his mother Frances Shand Kydd (pictured) – and royal fans have gone wild for the family resemblance to the late royal
Royal fans were stunned by the portrait, with many saying Frances appeared the double of Princess Diana.
One person wrote: ‘Very sad, too young. However, it’s plain to see where Diana’s beauty came from. She too was way to young.’
Another social media user said: ‘Wow. Diana obviously got her beauty from your mother. This is a lovely portrait.’
A third added: ‘She’s so beautiful. Diana definitely looks similar to her.’ A fourth wrote: ‘Diana’s beauty shows through your mum.’
Charles Spencer , 58, who lives at Althorp House in Northamptonshire, took to Instagram on Friday to share a painting of his late mother to mark her 87th birthday
Princess Diana at the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom film premiere in 1984 in London
Reaction: Royal fans were stunned by the portrait, with many saying Frances appeared the double of Princess Diana
Diana and her mother (pictured together) had a rocky relationship and weren’t on speaking terms before her death in 1997
The portrait captures Frances as a young woman, as she gazes out of the frame to the left.
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 in 1971 to regain custody from 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 traveling in crashed in a Paris tunnel on August 31, 1997.
Diana and her mother had a rocky relationship and weren’t on speaking terms before her death in 1997.