Royal watchers have long delighted in the antics of Prince Louis, the youngest child of Prince William and Kate Middleton, whose expressive faces at public events have become a staple of British tabloid coverage. Now, a new comparison is making waves: Louis’s second cousin, Lena Tindall, daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall, appears to be his pint-sized doppelganger when it comes to pulling cheeky expressions during formal royal outings. Both seven years old, the pair have been spotted mirroring each other’s wide-eyed surprise, toothy grins, and playful pouts at high-profile gatherings, from jubilees to Christmas services, sparking speculation about a shared “naughty gene” in the Windsor family tree.

The similarities were first highlighted in a recent Daily Mail feature, which compiled side-by-side photos of the two children at various events, noting how Lena “perfectly mirrors” Louis’s trademark looks. Outlets like Marie Claire and Yahoo quickly picked up the story, dubbing Lena as Louis’s “royal doppelganger” known for the “very same cheeky expressions.” Social media has amplified the buzz, with videos on YouTube and TikTok garnering millions of views, and fans on X (formerly Twitter) sharing memes under hashtags like #RoyalCheekyTwins. One viral post on Facebook from a royal fan page exclaimed, “How Prince Louis and Lena Tindall, both seven, perfectly mirror each other’s cheeky expressions during royal outings,” accompanied by a collage of their funniest moments.

Prince Louis Arthur Charles, born on April 23, 2018, at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, is the third child of the Prince and Princess of Wales. As the fifth in line to the throne, Louis has grown up in the public eye, residing primarily at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor with his siblings, Prince George, 12, and Princess Charlotte, 10. His early appearances showcased a spirited personality; at Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, the then-4-year-old stole the show during the Trooping the Colour parade by covering his ears during the flypast, dancing wildly to the music, and pulling exaggerated faces that ranged from mock horror to gleeful mischief. These antics continued at events like the 2023 Coronation of King Charles III, where Louis yawned dramatically during the ceremony at Westminster Abbey and later waved enthusiastically from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Lena Elizabeth Tindall, born on June 18, 2018, at Stroud Maternity Unit in Gloucestershire, is the second child of Zara Tindall—Princess Anne’s daughter and King Charles’s niece—and her husband, former England rugby player Mike Tindall. Lena, who shares her middle name with her late great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, lives a relatively low-key life on the Gatcombe Park estate with siblings Mia, 11, and Lucas, 4. Unlike Louis, Lena doesn’t hold a royal title, as Zara opted not to bestow one upon her children, reflecting her own non-titled status despite being 21st in line to the throne. However, Lena has made memorable appearances at family events, often displaying the same unfiltered joy and cheekiness as her cousin.

The cousins’ parallel expressions were notably evident during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, Lena’s first major public outing. At the Pageant outside Buckingham Palace, Lena was photographed with a wide-eyed, open-mouthed look of surprise while interacting with Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi—a pose strikingly similar to Louis’s frequent “shocked” face seen at the same event and others. Another instance came during the Christmas Day walkabout at Sandringham in December 2025, where both children were captured clutching their jackets with mouths agape in exaggerated astonishment, as if sharing an inside joke amid the formal procession. At the 2023 Trooping the Colour, Louis saluted dramatically from the carriage while making funny gestures, echoing Lena’s playful antics at a polo match earlier that year, where she bared her teeth in a cheeky grin while roughhousing with her brother Lucas.

Family connections run deep between the two. Louis and Lena are second cousins, linked through their grandparents: King Charles for Louis and Princess Anne for Lena. Zara Tindall, an Olympic equestrian silver medalist, and Mike, a Rugby World Cup winner, maintain close ties with William and Kate. The families often mingle at events like the Badminton Horse Trials or Christmas at Sandringham, where the children play together. Insiders have described Louis and Lena as “best friends,” with their similar ages fostering a bond evident in their shared mischief. Mike Tindall has joked about the kids’ energy on his podcast “The Good, the Bad & the Rugby,” noting how Lucas, Lena’s brother, channels the same playful spirit as Louis, even comparing him to the prince in family photos.

Public reactions to these mirrored moments have been overwhelmingly positive, with fans celebrating the children’s authenticity in an otherwise scripted royal world. A YouTube video titled “Royal Doppelgängers: Prince Louis & Lena Tindall’s Identical Cheeky Expressions Explained” has racked up views by dissecting their similarities, from teeth-baring grins to wide-eyed stares. On Threads, a post from the Daily Mail garnered comments like “They’re the royal family’s comic relief!” while a Facebook group dedicated to the Wales family shared a photo compilation, calling it “precious royals in action.” Even royal experts have weighed in; Hilary Fordwich told Fox News that such expressions humanize the monarchy, drawing parallels to a young Prince William’s own cheeky childhood photos.

Not all outings are without minor drama. At the 2022 Jubilee, Louis’s boisterous behavior prompted Kate to give him a stern look, while Lena once had a candy-related spat with her cousin Savannah Phillips at a similar event, leading to giggles all around. These incidents highlight the challenges of raising royals in the spotlight, but they also endear the children to the public. Body language expert Judi James analyzed their expressions for the Daily Mail, suggesting the wide-eyed look is a “playful defense mechanism” in overwhelming settings, allowing them to engage without fully conforming.

The Tindall family’s sporty, down-to-earth vibe contrasts with the Waleses’ more formal duties, yet it fosters the cousins’ shared playfulness. Zara, who competed in the 2012 Olympics, often brings her kids to equestrian events, where Lena’s expressions mirror Louis’s at balcony appearances. Mike, known for his humor, has shared anecdotes about family gatherings, including how the kids “run wild” at Gatcombe Park, away from cameras.

As both turn eight in 2026—Louis in April and Lena in June—their public roles may evolve. Louis attends Lambrook School in Berkshire, where he’s said to be energetic in sports like rugby, much like Mike Tindall’s influence on Lena. Royal watchers speculate they’ll continue stealing scenes, perhaps at upcoming events like Trooping the Colour or the King’s birthday parade.

In a family marked by tradition, Louis and Lena’s cheeky synergy offers a refreshing glimpse of normalcy. As one fan on Instagram put it, “Our favorite little cheeky royal, Prince Louis!”—a sentiment that now extends to his cousin. Their mirrored mischief not only entertains but reminds us that even in crowns and carriages, kids will be kids.