Prince Louis Breaks an Age-Old Royal Tradition During Christmas Day Service
Prince William has time and again made it clear that he plans to change and modernize several outdated royal protocols once he takes over the throne, and it seems it starts with his children. Recently, during the famous Christmas walkabout, Prince Louis broke an age-old royal tradition with his choice of outfit.
As the entire royal family, minus a few members, rang in Christmas at Sandringham, Princess Kate, William, and their children were all smiles as they attended the Christmas morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church, dressed impeccably. Kate donned a beautiful brown striped long coat, paired with matching heeled boots and a hat. She wore her hair in soft curls and kept her makeup minimal.
Princess Charlotte followed her mother’s lead, wearing a beige-hued coat with darker brown details, accessorized with stockings and a half-up, half-down hairstyle. The princes, meanwhile, twinned with their father in long black coats, ties, and tailored trousers. William added a scarf, looping it around his neck to ward off the chill. Still, all eyes were on Louis’ outfit. The young Prince wore a full-length pair of trousers, something royal children don't wear until the age of eight.
Louis, who is only 7, also broke the royal dressing protocol last year and this year during Easter services. So, no, it's not just over the weather at Norfolk or his desire to dress the same as his father and elder brother. The Prince and Princess of Wales indeed are eradicating outdated customs and letting their kids dress how they like, as reported by The Express.
"Trousers are for older boys and men, whereas shorts on young boys are one of those silent class markers that we have in England," said author William Hanson to Harper's Bazaar. He explained, “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.”
Louis' take on the royal dressing protocol is a telling of how times are changing and the younger generations are moulding the rules and defying norms. Prince George is also known to have requested King Charles to wear trousers over tights for his coronation in 2023. While some rules are changing, others are still being followed, like their yearly morning church service. After the walk, the Waleses headed back to celebrate Christmas again with Kate's parents, Michael Middleton and Carole Middleton.