Why Prince Louis nearly always wears shorts – royal expert reveals the reason
PRINCE Louis has once again stolen the show at Trooping the Colour, and has been seen waving to the crowds alongside his siblings.
Royal fans were quick to comment on his adorable outfit, and point out that he’s once again dressed in smart shorts.
One said: “Prince Louis’ wee red shorts! Stop it. I can’t handle the cute!”
It turns out that there is a reason behind five-year-old Prince Louis nearly always being dressed in shorts.
Etiquette expert William Hanson explained that trousers are considered too “middle class and suburban” for the elite.
He told the SunOnline: “Not only does the Duchess of Cambridge have to worry about dressing herself but she has to dress her own children appropriately.
“She has to find a balance between royal tradition, heritage and more proletariat customs, such as the ‘suburban’ habit of making young boys wear trousers.”
William said the dress code harks back to historic traditions that state “shorts are for little boys, trousers are for men”.
The etiquette expert advised that young royal males typically start wearing trousers at around “seven or eight years old”.
We have seen Prince Louis wearing trousers at King Charles’ coronation in May, but it is a rare occurrence.
The Wales family were seen waving to crowds at King Charles’ first Trooping the Colour parade – and eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot the hidden message in their outfits.
Prince George and Prince Louis looked dapper in their matching navy suits and red ties.
Cheeky Princess Charlotte sat next to them wearing a cute white dress with a red trim and neck scarf.
Meanwhile, mum Kate stunned in an emerald green Andrew Gn dress and matching hat – along with the late Princess Diana’s earrings.
One fan took to Twitter saying: “I just adore the attention to detail, the Wales family are wearing green white and red, colours of the Welsh Flag.”
The Princess of Wales wearing green is also a nod to her new role as Colonel of the Irish Guards.
The title was previously held by her husband Prince William, and Kate has already taken part in colonel duties this year, including commemorating the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day parade.
Trooping the Colour commemorates King Charles’ official – but not actual – birthday.
The ceremonial event takes place every year and dates back to Charles II in the 17th century when regiment colours trooped in front of soldiers so they could recognise their unit in battle.
At the start of it, the monarch is greeted by a Royal salute and the National Anthem.
The parade then commences and concludes with a second Royal salute.
His Majesty and other members of the Royal Family gather on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force.
This year Kate and Wills will join The King and Queen Camilla on the balcony as the planes roar overhead this afternoon.
It’s understood Harry and Meghan will not be attending.
The first recorded royal balcony appearance was made by Queen Victoria in 1851, during the opening celebrations of the Great Exhibition.
It has since become an established tradition and a rare opportunity to see the Royal Family together in one place.
The King traditionally has two birthdays, his actual birthday on November 14 and an official birthday marked every summer by the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
The “official” celebration takes place in June despite monarchs originally celebrating their birthday on the second Thursday in June, but the date was changed to the second Saturday in June in 1959.
The reason this odd tradition began is typically British: namely, the UK’s temperamental weather.
It was started by George II back in 1748 – because the weather was too bad to hold his Birthday Parade on the actual date in November.