The 3-year-old may look adorable in his shorts-and-socks combo, but that's not the reason he wears them.
The royal family may have just wrapped up their Canadian tour, but we’re still gushing about their amazing style -- in particular, Prince George's shorts and socks combo.
While the 3-year-old looks absolutely adorable in his preppy outfits, wanting to kill us with cuteness is not the reason he dresses that way. In fact, the style has a lot to do with class and tradition.
WATCH: Prince George and Princess Charlotte Wave Goodbye as the Royals End Their Canadian Trip
"It's a very English thing to dress a young boy in shorts," etiquette expert William Hanson tells Harper's 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."
According to Hanson, the class marker is so strong that, rain or shine, little George will be dressed in shorts -- even in Canada.
"Although times are (slowly) changing, a pair of trousers on a young boy is considered quite middle class -- quite suburban," he adds. "And no self-respecting aristo or royal would want to be considered suburban. Even the Duchess of Cambridge."
WATCH: Prince George and Princess Charlotte Attend Children's Party in Canada
As for how long George will be subjected to such attire? Hanson says his closet will be stocked with shorts for a few more years.
"The usual custom is that a boy graduates to trousers around eight years old," he explains.
And though Hanson admits that times have changed since George's dad rocked the same look, there's nothing royals value more than tradition.
WATCH: Prince George's First Day of Nursery School Makes Our Hearts Explode
"The modern habit of upper class families choosing to dress their boys in shorts will deliberately hark back to a bygone age," Hanson says. "The British upper set are always keen to hold on to tradition, and this one also silently marks them out from 'the rest.'"
Relive some of George's most adorable moments in the video below.
