The real reason behind Prince Louis's choice of Christmas attire has been revealed - and the tradition dates back centuries. Prince Louis is often spotted wearing shorts during royal engagements, leaving royal fans puzzled as to why the youngster wears them in the chilly December temperatures while his brother Prince George wears trousers.
Last Christmas, five-year-old Louis was spotted wearing burgundy shorts as he walked into St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham for their Christmas Day church service - and he's expected to wear shorts again today as the royals attend the annual morning church service. Mesh Shorts
But it turns out there is a reason behind the unusual attire, with Prince William and Princess Kate following a very upper class tradition that dates back centuries.
Etiquette expert William Hanson has previously told Harper's Bazaar that royal boys are normally dressed in shorts for formal occasions until their eighth birthday.
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He explained: "Trousers are for older boys and men, whereas shorts on young boys is one of those silent class markers that we have in England.
"Although times are (slowly) changing, a pair of trousers on a young boy is considered quite middle class – quite suburban. And no self-respecting aristo or royal would want to be considered suburban."
While George, 10, now wears trousers on outings, he wore shorts to pretty much every royal engagement for the first few years of his life. Prince William and Harry also wore them as boys, with pictures showing times William wore trousers while Harry was dressed in shorts, representative of their different ages at the time.
The family are expected to make an appearance at the Christmas Day service later on today, along with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Mr Hanson explained that Prince Louis will likely wear shorts until he is around age seven, when "young boys usually transition into trousers".
He added another reason is to "try and keep their offspring looking as cute and innocent for as long as possible".
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