While we admit that we’ve never actually thought about it before, now that the fact that little George has only ever been spotted wearing shorts has come to our attention, we simply MUST know why!
When we think about it, it makes sense that we’ve never really noticed his strict dress code before now.
We’ve probably always been too distracted by his playful antics, adorable smile and hilarious new habit of rejecting high-fives.
But it turns out that Wills and Kate’s decision to eschew pants, jeans and trousers actually comes down – not to mere sartorial preferences – but to old school aristocratic traditions.
His royal cuteness seems to have a uniform going on!
Etiquette expert William Hanson revealed to Harper’s Bazaar UK, that it would be considered “suburban” to dress children of the upper class in anything but shorts.
“It’s a very English thing to dress a young boy in shorts,” 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. Even the Duchess of Cambridge.”
While The Duchess is no doubt considered a modern mummy in the royal family, she loves to uphold tradition in their dress.
The etiquette guru also went on to explain that we can expect not to see our favourite cheeky Prince don pants for a little while… five years if we’re being exact.
“The usual custom is that a boy graduates to trousers around eight years old,” William said.
Looking back on vintage photos of Prince Harry and Prince William in their childhoods, it’s clear to see that this tradition has stayed well and truly alive within in the British Royal Family.
On each of their sweet outings, the brothers can be seen donning above-the-knee numbers, no doubt picked out by their ever stylish mother, Princess Diana.
A young William and Harry pictured with their late mother in 1985.
Prince Harry never was one for following the rules…
In terms of Georgie’s signature look, William Hanson has a theory that rather than a class comment about suburban vs. aristocratic, Kate’s decision to eschew trousers is probably much more to do with tradition.
“The modern habit of upper class families choosing to dress their boys in shorts will deliberately hark back to a bygone age,” he told Harper’s
“The British upper set are always keen to hold on to tradition, and this one also silently marks them out from ‘the rest.'”
WATCH: Rare footage of The Queen with her grandkids Prince William and Prince Harry at Balmoral.
