- The real William, depicted as strict, has always had his mother's sense of fun
He is often seen as the more serious of the princely brothers – a somewhat awkward combination of formality and duty.
And that's certainly how William is portrayed in the latest and final series of The Crown.
But if there had ever been a small element of truth in the caricature, that hardly holds true today, when it is younger brother Harry who is more likely to frown.
At the age of 41, the king of the court, William has grown into his role as the brilliant face of the monarchy, willing not only to embrace the audiences he meets during his engagements, but also to laugh along with them in an uproarious laughter – as viewers of this week's Royal Variety Performance see…
Royal Variety Performance compere Bradley Walsh complains about his lack of gongs – and promptly makes the Waleses laugh helplessly
Viewers of the show, which aired on ITV this weekend, praised William for being a 'good sport'. It looks like Kate was happy to join in on the fun too
Prince William reacts as he plays a guessing game with 22-year-old Sherihan Sharis during his visit to a Centrepoint hostel in London on January 10, 2017. Some say you can see a resemblance to his mother when he smiles
William laughs with PJ and Abdul, the Centrepoint homelessness charity in Northolt in 2017
Prince William laughs with the crowd at JCB's headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, to mark the production of the company's 750,000th machine
Prince William appears to be in hysterics as he watches Peter Crouch Peter perform his now famous goal celebration – the 'robot' – while the rest of England's World Cup squad also laughs, during a training session at Manchester United's Carrington training ground in 2006
Prince William leads the laughs with his father and uncle at the 'party at the palace' to mark the late Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002
Prince William shares a joke with one of his fellow venturers during his Raleigh International Expedition in southern Chile in 2000
Prince William was seen messing around with his cousins at a charity polo match in 2003
Prince William laughs at the Beaufort Polo Club in 2000
PS do you remember anyone..?
You can see Prince William's true resemblance to his mother when he smiles…