Royal fans were struck by how much Prince William looked like his mother Princess Diana as he joined his brother and cousins for the vigil yesterday.

The Prince of Wales was photographed smiling slightly as he left Westminster Hall in the back of a car following the 15-minute ceremony.

The photograph led to comparisons between the prince, 40, and his mother Diana at an engagement shortly before her death in 1997.

+8

+8

Royal fans were struck by how much Prince William looked like his mother Princess Diana as he joined his brother and cousins for the vigil yesterday, pictured

One tweeted: ‘Prince of Wales leaving Westminster Hall after standing guard at Queen’s coffin for 15 minutes. William’s facial so similar to his late mother, Princess Diana.’

Another posted: ‘Prince William looks so much alike his mom Princess Diana. The resemblance is uncanny. She must be so proud of him indeed.’

A third wrote: ‘He really looks like Diana but also previous kings.’

+8

People rushed to Twitter with one posting that Prince William looks so much like his mom Princess Diana

+8

The Queen’s eight grandchildren – including a sombre looking Prince William in his military uniform – stood by her coffin in her honour as she lay in state in Westminster Hall

+8

Princess Diana looked sombre as she attended a gala dinner at the Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary, in 1990

The Queen’s eight grandchildren – including Prince Harry in his military uniform – stood by her coffin in her honour as she lay in state in Westminster Hall as weeping mourners filed past.

The Prince of Wales, at the head of the coffin, with his brother the Duke of Sussex at the foot, both in the Blues and Royals No 1 uniform, stood with their heads bowed in her honour in sombre silence in the vast Westminster Hall.

Future king William was flanked at the corners by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Philips.

Harry was between Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with 18-year-old Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn – the Queen’s youngest grandchild who is just 14 – at the middle on either side of the coffin.

+8

Princess Diana accompanied her son Prince William on his first official engagement in Cardiff, Wales in 1991

The grandchildren, invited by the King, had wanted to pay their respects as their parents had done the evening before.

It comes as King Charles III met the rebellious Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda at Buckingham Palace today just days after he threatened to hold a republican referendum to ditch The Crown and remove Britain’s monarch as the Commonwealth country’s head of state – ahead of the ‘reception of the century’ for 1,000 VIPs including world leaders and foreign royals tonight.

The new sovereign smiled and waved at well-wishers who cheered him as he was driven through the palace gates in the state Rolls-Royce this afternoon.

After meeting Prime Minister Liz Truss in the 1844 Room at 12.15pm, Charles shook hands with Gaston Browne, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, who has renewed efforts to stage a referendum on the country becoming a republic within three years of the Queen’s death.

The King and Queen Consort Camilla will tonight host hundreds of dignitaries, from world leaders including US President Joe Biden, New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian premier Justin Trudeau to senior members of the British royal family, ambassadors from almost all nations, and foreign royals including Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and the Kings and Queens from Holland, Norway and Spain.

The Prince of Wales, at the head of the coffin, with his brother the Duke of Sussex at the foot, both in the Blues and Royals No 1 uniform, stood with their heads bowed in her honour in sombre silence in the vast Westminster Hall

+8

Harry was between Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with 18-year-old Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn – the Queen’s youngest grandchild who is just 14 – at the middle on either side of the coffin

Most dignitaries are also expected to view the Queen’s coffin in the ancient heart of Parliament after being given a VIP timeslot – raising the prospect that mourners who have queued through the night will pay their respects with leaders of the free world.

However, guests asked to wear lounge suits and morning dress rather than ball gowns and white tie as would be expected at a usual state event at the King’s London home. They will arrive at 6pm for drinks and canapes in the Buckingham Palace picture gallery and state apartments.

And reports suggest that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were ‘uninvited’ to a state reception for world leaders and foreign royals this evening.

Mr Biden, who flew in late last night, said that the Queen ‘defined an era’ after she reigned for a record-breaking 70 years. Australia’s anti-monarchy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who viewed the lying-in-state and met Charles yesterday, told Sky News Australia that the Queen was ‘a constant reassuring presence’. There was also a private audience at Buckingham Palace for Ms Ardern, which like Australia and 12 other Commonwealth realms now counts Charles as its sovereign.