Mirror Images: Prince William and Kate Middleton Keep Channeling Charles and Diana

It is hard to ignore the striking similarities between photos of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and snaps taken of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

In 1983, Charles and Diana became the first royal couple to take their 9-month-old son, Prince William, on a tour abroad of Australia and New Zealand. Royals previously left their children at home during official visits for the monarchy. But the trendsetting couple – who sadly split years later prior to Diana's tragic death – were simply setting the precedent for their son and his future bride.

When Kate and Will struck out on their first royal tour with their 9-month-old son Prince George, it became apparent that the duo is borrowing the playbook from Will's parents, from their itineraries to their outfits.

Thirty years later, Kate and Will are showing their respect for their elders and also putting their own modern stamp on the monarchy.

The Royal Arrival:

Look familiar? When Kate and Will touched down in New Zealand on April 7, it was all about honoring Will's parents. The Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to Diana's stunning style and donned a red coat and dress by Catherine Walker, one of her late mother-in-law's favorite designers. Like Diana, she teamed her fetching dress with a pillbox hat and black pumps, and carried her son, Prince George. Meanwhile, the gents went for a classic navy suit with a burgundy tie.

Photo Opp in the Outback:

Standing in front of the famous Uluru Rock, formerly known as Ayers Rock, is quickly becoming a royal tradition. On Tuesday, as the sun set in the Australian outback, Kate and Will happily struck a pose side by side in front of the stunning natural land mass, just as Di and Charles on their own tour. The only difference? Cool Kate somehow traversed the red dirt terrain in a set of white, wedge heels while Diana opted for a more practical set of flats. Will also modernized his Dad's outfit and wore tan jeans and a linen shirt. But otherwise, the couples look quite alike, right down to how they held their hands.

Boys With Their Toys:

Like father, like son. Prince George was the spitting image of his pop Prince Will during his first official play date in New Zealand on Thursday. On the left, a young William was spotted playing with an airplane during his own first official visit Down Under. This seems to be foreshadowing since William served as a RAF pilot later in life.

Lifeguards and Ladies:

Is it just us, or were the Aussie lifeguards slightly more attractive in the late 1980s? In 1988, The Princess of Wales returned to Australia and greeted several hunky lifesavers at Terrigal Beach in Sydney. She wore a summery white and yellow frock paired with a pair of white pumps for the appearance. Kate, who also opted for a light, cotton dress and heels for her day in the Sydney sun, was all smiles as she checked out a lifesaving competition at Manly Beach on Friday.

Stunning in Silk:

It is hard not to notice the striking parallels between the royal ladies, who share a timeless sense of style. Kate wore a powder blue silk dress with centered buttons and a headscarf during her visit to Kuala Lumpur, which mimicked Diana's ensemble from her 1996 visit to Pakistan. Both women look gorgeous in the face-framing ensembles.

Newborn Princes and Polka Dots:

Long before her royal tour, Kate turned to Diana for fashion inspiration. When the Duchess gave birth to Prince George on July 22, 2013, the world looked on as the glowing new mom carried out her son and donned a blue polka dot dress that closely resembled Diana's attire as she introduced Prince Will to royal onlookers. Both women gently cradled their sons in delicate white knit blankets and had smiles that looked as though they would last for days.


Hard Hat Hotties:

Rocking a blue hard hat certainly isn't an easy accessory to look good in, but somehow both royal couples manage to make the most of the bulky headgear. Charles and Diana sported a light blue version during a visit to the New Parliament Building in Canberra, Australia, in 1983, while Kate and Will inspected the UNICEF emergency supply center in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Nov. 2, 2011. While their outfits aren't the same, it is hard to miss the stunning sapphire and diamond engagement ring on both Diana and Kate's fingers.

It’s a Cowboy Life:

Giddy up. In 1977, before Prince Charles married Diana in 1981, he headed out on a Canadian royal tour with his brother Prince Andrew and customarily donned the Northern Territories' signature attire – a cowboy hat – to attend the world-famous Calgary Stampede. In 2011, Will took Kate on her first official tour as a member of their elite family and showed her a boot stompin' good time. The cute duo headed – hats and all – to the same cattle show in Canada.