Trending 5th October 2016 by Victoria Stokes
Did You Notice? Here’s Why Prince George Is ALWAYS Wearing Shorts
But what does he do when it's chilly?
If you’ve been keeping up to date on the royal tour of Canada, you may have noticed one very important thing.
No, it’s not Kate’s amazing outfits (though they certainly deserve an article all of their own) or Prince George hilariously snubbing Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.
It’s actually the fact that the little prince always wears shorts. Like, literally always, whether he’s being pictured at home or on a royal outing.
And apparently this fashion statement isn’t merely a coincidence, there’s actual a very specific reason behind it.
Speaking to Harpers Bazaar, etiquette expert William Hanson, says it’s a very traditional thing that the aristocracy use to avoid looking “suburban.”
“It’s a very English thing to dress a young boy in shorts,” Hanson explains. “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. Even the Duchess of Cambridge.”
A look back in history reveals that William and Harry were often seen wearing shorts in their younger years too.
“The usual custom is that a boy graduates to trousers around eight-years-old,” Hanson adds. “This is, historically, perhaps due to the practice of ‘breeching’, which dates back to the sixteenth century. A newborn boy would be dressed in a gown for their first year or two and then he was ‘breeched’ and wore articles of clothing that more resembled shorts or trousers than dresses.”
Hanson continues “The British upper set are always keen to hold on to tradition, and this one also silently marks them out from ‘the rest’.”