Prince Louis made his way to church on Christmas Day wearing a smart pair of tartan trousers – and eagle-eyed royal fans believe they could have once belonged to older brother Prince George, who wore them in a memorable photo at the same age
King and Queen arrive at a Christmas Day service in Sandringham
Prince Louis rocked smart tartan trousers as he marked Christmas Day by attending the traditional festive church service on the King’s Sandringham estate.
The then five-year-old clutched dad Prince William’s hand as he joined the rest of the Royal Family on the walk to church before he joined his mum the Princess of Wales to greet wellwishers afterwards. After seeing his smart, festive outfit, many eagle-eyed royal fans were convinced they had seen his trousers before. And many believed they once belonged to older brother Prince George, 10, who memorably wore them in a landmark photo several years ago, which was said to have ‘upset’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
In the photo, released at the start of 2020, George, then aged six, stands proudly alongside William, his grandfather King Charles, who was still then Prince of Wales, and the late Queen. Taken in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, not only was it a snap for the family album, but it also clearly laid out the future of the British Monarchy.
However, according to his unauthorised biography, Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, author Andrew Morton claims the photo made Harry and Meghan question their position in The Firm. He writes: “The royal couple suspected that the entire institution was conspiring against them. As they saw it, the evidence was all around them.
“The unspoken code was straightforward: the future of the monarchy was assured, with or without Meghan and Harry.” Just days after the photo was released, Meghan and Harry shocked the world by sharing a status on social media saying they were stepping back from their senior roles.
Earlier today, William and Kate also released a photo of their three children and sent Christmas wishes. George, Charlotte and Louis appear without their parents in the black-and-white photograph. Charlotte sits smiling between her two brothers, with her arms around each of them. They are wearing white shirts, with Charlotte and George in trousers and Louis in shorts. The photo was posted on social media with the caption: “Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, from our family to yours! W & C.”
After the morning trip to St Mary Magdalene Church and the greeting of well-wishers, the Royal Family are expected to tuck into a lunch of turkey and all the trimmings. Afterwards, traditionally members of the royal family sit down to watch the monarch’s televised address when it airs after lunch at 3pm on December 25.
Charles’ second Christmas message as monarch was recorded in the Centre Room in Buckingham Palace which leads on to the royal residence’s iconic balcony. The room is decorated with a living Christmas tree which will be replanted after the broadcast. From its branches hang natural and sustainable decorations including hand-turned wood, dried oranges, glass baubles, pine cones and paper. Charles, like Queen Elizabeth II, writes his Christmas broadcasts and last year he followed his mother’s well-established template, a personal reflection on the year, touching on current issues and with a Christian framework.
