Prince Louis was among the royals who attended the traditional Christmas Day church service on Christmas Day. The four-year-old was wearing shorts and long socks as he joined his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as brother Prince George, nine, and his sister Princess Charlotte, seven.
They were among the group of royals who walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church. On Twitter, some fans spoke out about Prince Louis' outfit. One tweeted: "Nothing says "we're a modern monarchy" like little boys wearing formal shorts until they're a certain age." Another wrote: "Someone asked did they travel in from 1948?"
Some liked the outfit choice. One user said: "Prince Louis's shorts matching princess Charlotte's coat. Love this."
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Other were critical, as Birmingham Live reports. Inge wrote: "Parents who care about their kids wellbeing(&don’t do outdated aristocratic nonsense) vs parents dressing warmer than their children(shorts for Louis, overcoat for William but not for George) #goodkingharry #abolishthemonarchy".
Karen said: "That poor boy is so old before his time. Dressed so formally like a William mini-me. Let him be a "child" And Louis in shorts." And Wanda moaned: "WTH with having Louis in shorts? It's winter time."
“I don’t know why Prince Louis had to wear those silly daft short trousers for church at Sandringham on Christmas Day," said C. “I know it’s a tradition in the royal family for little boys to wear short trousers.” Aimee said: “It is a kind of tradition that boys in the royal family wear short pants until the age of 7 or 8? At least that’s what I think.”
“It’s a very English thing to dress a young boy in shorts,” British etiquette expert William Hanson told Bazaar. “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.”
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