Body Language Expert Reveals Why Prince Edward Is the Double of His Father Prince Philip: From His Stance to His Personality – Compare the Photos

There is a moment, caught on camera, where you have to look twice.

On 21st April 2026, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, arrived at the British Museum in London to view the final design for the national memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth II — a deeply poignant occasion marking what would have been Her Majesty's 100th birthday.

Edward cut a smart, composed figure in a dark pinstripe suit and a bold red tie, walking with his hands clasped behind his back as he and Sophie made their way up the museum's grand steps.

And that posture — quiet, upright, hands laced behind the body — stopped royal fans in their tracks. To many, it was unmistakably familiar: the very same stance that Edward's late father, Prince Philip, had struck so many times before him.

Celebrity psychic and body language expert Inbaal Honigman has weighed in, offering a compelling explanation for why the likeness feels so uncanny. According to Inbaal, much of it traces back to childhood.

Children, she explains, naturally mirror their parents — copying their movements, their postures, and even the way they hold themselves when they want to appear attentive or composed.

Over time, those learned behaviours become instinctive, carrying through into adulthood without the person even realising it. But there is also something more structural at play.

"As the late Prince Phillip and his son Edward are both tall and slim, they'd naturally gravitate towards the same types of moves and poses, which makes their resemblance even more striking. And, of course, there's the matter of personality and characteristics," Inbaal noted.

Look at the side-by-side photographs and it becomes difficult to argue otherwise. The same lean frame, the same composed gaze, the same instinct to stand with hands clasped at the back — a posture that Inbaal reads with particular interest.

"Edward's hands, which are laced behind his back, are formal yet candid. When the arms are behind the body, as is the case with Edward and Phillip, this is the body language of an honest, candid individual," she said.

According to Inbaal, holding the hands behind the body — rather than letting the arms dangle loosely at the sides — signals restraint, a comfort with formality, and an ease with tradition. It is a pose that projects dignity without rigidity.

She also noted that Edward's slight forward lean in photographs reads as sociable and warm — an eagerness to connect, rather than a desire to keep distance.

"This jovial, candid, yet slightly formal body language suits Edward's character, and also Philip's," Inbaal concluded.

Sophie, for her part, was radiant beside her husband — dressed in a flowing cream Gabriela Hearst equestrian print dress that many royal fans saw as a touching nod to the late Queen's love of equestrianism.

The couple were at the British Museum to see the chosen design for the Queen Elizabeth II national memorial, a visit that carried obvious emotional weight for Edward, who was his mother's youngest child.

The visit was a reminder of how much Edward has stepped into his own in recent years — quietly, steadily, and, as it turns out, very much in the image of his father.

And it seems the Philip genes don't end with Edward. Edwad's son James is growing into his own striking resemblance — and royal watchers have taken notice.

Once shielded from the spotlight, the newly titled Earl of Wessex has officially come of age — and fans are swooning over his transformation from royal toddler to polished young gentleman. See his evolution through the years below.

He was once dubbed the "Hidden Prince" — a quiet, unassuming royal raised far from the flashing cameras and media frenzy that so often consume the Firm.

But now, James Mountbatten-Windsor, the only son of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has officially stepped into the royal spotlight. The young royal turned 18 on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, sparking a flurry of fanfare, fawning comments, and curiosity about what's next.

The milestone birthday arrives just months after James inherited his father's secondary title, Earl of Wessex, following Edward's elevation to Duke of Edinburgh — a title previously held by the late Prince Philip, James's grandfather.

The couple "put on a brave face" while doctors conducted a full round of 24-hour tests.

Born by caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital in 2007, James entered the world with the full name James Alexander Philip Theo — a touching nod to his royal grandfather.

At the time, a very happy Edward described his newborn son as "very cute and very cuddly." But the family's happiness was soon marred by a frightening health scare — one that brought back painful memories for Sophie.

Before James, the Duchess had endured an ectopic pregnancy and a traumatic birth with her first child, Lady Louise, who arrived prematurely and required specialist care after being whisked away moments after her birth. Sophie herself was just "15 minutes from death".

So when baby James fell ill just five weeks after birth, the worry was immediate — and overwhelming.

According to royal author Sean Smith, Sophie and Edward were "very concerned" when James became unwell and was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

In his book "Sophie: Saving The Royal Family", Smith described how the couple "put on a brave face" while doctors conducted a full round of 24-hour tests.

The result? A surprisingly simple — but still serious — diagnosis: a nasty allergic reaction due to lactose intolerance.

"Fortunately, because he had been taken to hospital so quickly, there were no lasting effects," Smith wrote.

After the ordeal, James made a full recovery and went on to enjoy a quiet, healthy childhood, largely kept out of the public eye along with his sister Louise.

Now, with a title, a new level of visibility, and a subtle air of mystery, James has suddenly become the Royal Family's newest fascination. And royal watchers haven't held back.

"James is certainly very handsome and seems a little reserved/quiet right now, but it'd be interesting to see how he'll turn out," one commenter mused.

Another gushed, "I'd love to see him become a full-time working royal [...] James is very handsome, appears to have an appreciation of dignity and protocol, and has a glorious smile 🙂 [...] I think he has the potential to be a great asset to the family."

A third swooned, "He is definitely an asset and special gem. He is a perfect balance of his parents. Brilliant!"

And the compliments just kept coming.

“The next heartbreaker royal,” one fan predicted. "James. The soon-to-be heartthrob," another wrote. "He is handsome and quiet, nothing wrong with taking after his dad," a third echoed.

But perhaps the most striking praise came from those reflecting on James's quiet rise through the royal ranks.

"James was called the Hidden Royal (Hidden Prince) for so long, the mystery makes him more appealing," one person observed. "Like the late Prince William cousin of the Late Queen Elizabeth II […] a heartrob kind of vibe for the current teens [sic]."

Now 18, the Earl of Wessex is at a crossroads. While he's inherited his father's title and appears every bit the polished young royal, questions remain about whether he'll take on a full-time public role — or continue to walk the line between duty and discretion.

But one thing's for certain: James is no longer hidden. And the world is watching.

Take a look at his remarkable transformation through the years — from royal toddler to dashing young Earl.

2007

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2009

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2012

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2013

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2014

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2016

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2019

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2022

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2025

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