Royal fans go wild over family resemblance of Cynthia Spencer to Diana
Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer shares a portrait of his grandmother Cynthia in 1919 – and fans go wild for the family resemblance to his late sister
- Charles Spencer shared portrait of his grandmother Cynthia on Instagram
- Royal fans were blown away by the pictures resemblance to Princess Diana
- With large eyes and fair wavy bob, the women appear almost identical
- One stunned follower commented: ‘At first glance I thought it is Lady D’
Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer has unveiled a rare portrait of their grandmother – 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 picture of Cynthia Spencer yesterday, with many saying she is the ‘double’ of Princess Diana.
Posting the image on Instagram, he said the picture was a charcoal drawing done in 1919, the year she married Albert Spencer, writing: ‘A very well-liked and respected figure locally, her presence is still felt: the local hospice is named ‘Cynthia Spencer Hospice’ in her memory. She died in 1972.’
Royal fans were wowed by the image, with many saying Cynthia, who passed away in 1972, aged 75, appeared the double of the late Princess.
Princess Diana ‘s brother Earl Spencer has unveiled a rare portrait of their grandmother Cynthia Spencer – and fans have gone wild for the family resemblance to the late royal
With their large blue eyes and wavy blonde bob, the grandmother and Princess Diana appear near identical
One commented: ‘Your sisters carry her resemblance.’
Another wrote: ‘I see Lady Diana,’ while a third commented: ‘At first glance I thought it is Lady D.’
‘Nice portrait,’ another wrote, ‘Princess Diana is very similar to your grandmother.’
In the portrait shared today, Cynthia can be seen gazing out at the sketcher John Singer Sargent, who was an American expatriate artist, considered the ‘leading portrait painter of his generation’ for his evocations of Edwardian-era luxury.
Royal fans were stunned by the painting, with many saying Cynthia, who passed away in 1972, aged 75, appeared the double of the late Princess
A picture of Cynthia dating back to 1923 can be seen at the National Portrait Gallery in London and captures her with her toddler daughter Anne, then three, with her husband Albert Spencer.
She was a British peeress and Cynthia Hamilton married Viscount Althorp on 26 February 1919 at St James’s Church, Piccadilly, London.
They had two children, Lady Anne Spencer, who died last year at the age of 100, and Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, who was father to Princess Diana and Charles.
Countess Spencer was appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth in 1937. She continued in the role after Elizabeth became Queen Mother in 1952, and remained in post until her death.
Lady Spencer died at the Spencers’ ancestral home, Althorp House in 1972 of a brain tumour, aged 75.
Pictured, 1st January 1923: Lady Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Spencer with Lady Annaly, at the Pytchley Hounds meet at Althorp Park
Cynthia is the paternal grandmother of Princess Diana (pictured, with her husband Albert and their son Edward at Eton College, 4th June 1937. John would grow up to father Diana Spencer, the Princess of Wales)
She was little known outside court and local circles until, twenty years after her death, when Andrew Morton wrote that the Princess of Wales ‘believes that her grandmother looks after her in the spirit world.’
The Cynthia Spencer Hospice mentioned by Charles was set up in 1972 to provide cancer relief in Northamptonshire and to raise funds for continuing care.
The 7th Earl Spencer agreed to be Patron of the committee, and Cynthia Spencer House (as it was then called) was named after his late wife Lady Cynthia.
The Cynthia Spencer House Trust was set up to provide continued support for the unit, and in the next decade it led to a fundraising campaign to build a day unit which was opened by the late Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1985
Andrew Morton wrote that the Princess of Wales ‘believes that her grandmother looks after her in the spirit world’ (pictured, Lady Diana Spencer in Coleherne Court, Kensington, London in 1980)
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