Royal Baby Abroad! Prince George Evokes Memories of Prince William as a Tot

The 8-month-old Prince George, currently on a three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand with parents Kate Middleton and Prince William, deplaned an Australian Air Force jet in Sydney on Wednesday and promptly created a fashion frenzy since his powder blue embroidered cotton Annafie romper evoked nostalgia for a baby Prince William, who wore a similar outfit in 1983. The romper has reportedly already sold out on the retailer's website. But matching clothes aren't where the similarities end — check out these father-son comparisons in baby photos

Mama’s boys

On Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Sydney Harbor to throngs of screaming fans. Kate wore a bright yellow Roksanda Illincic dress that reminded her husband of fruit (“William said I look like a banana,” the duchess told someone in the crowd), while carrying Prince George. And in a similar mother-son moment, Princess Diana enjoyed a cuddle session with baby Prince William at Kensington Palace in 1983, which was also captured in a photo forever. 

It's playtime!

While attending a playgroup (his first!) at the Government House on April 9 in Wellington, New Zealand, Prince George tested his social skills. According to ABC News, the little guy stole the spotlight, banging on a tambourine and grabbing his mother’s hair. One parent in attendance remarked, “He went into the middle of the circle of toys. He hunted out the biggest toy [and] propped himself up. He owned the place basically.” The experience evoked memories of his father’s “royal crawl” 31 years ago, when Prince William amused himself with toys while visiting New Zealand. 

Who can refuse a royal gift?

On Wednesday, Australia's Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove presented Prince George with a giant plush wombat, a marsupial native to the country. In a sweet coincidence, "Wombat" was Prince William's nickname given to him by his mother, Prince Harry revealed in a 2007 interview with NBC's Matt Lauer. Prince William (not pictured) was equally spoiled when it came to stuffed animals — mom Diana received a stuffed rabbit from a fan in Perth, Australia, in 1983. 

Mini fashionistas

Prince William (left) may not have wielded such fashion influence at the time, but his outfit was equally sweet back in February 1983. The nearly 1-year-old posed for a photo with mother Princess Diana at Kensington Palace while wearing a white-and-blue embroidered romper. And of course, that 8-karat sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring (worn first by Princess Diana and now by Kate Middleton) is present in both pics.

Nanny duty, calls!

Barbara Barnes (aka “Baba”), Prince William’s nanny of four-and-a-half years, carried the little prince down the steps of an airplane that landed in Auckland, New Zealand, on April 17, 1983. According to a story published by People magazine, Princess Diana was notoriously at odds with Barnes, whom she felt wasn’t strict enough. Fast-forward to 2014 and Prince George’s nanny, Maria Borrallo — a Spanish-speaking, tae kwon-do expert. She seems like a good choice!

Like father, like son

Father-son bonding at its best: As they arrived at Sydney Airport on Wednesday, Prince William kept his son close to his chest with a firm grasp on his leg. More than 30 years ago, Prince Charles strolled the grounds of the Government House in Wellington, New Zealand, while carting son William.