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Royal butler shares reason you'll rarely see William and Harry in shorts - but there's an exception

A former royal butler has explained the Royal Family's summer dress code, revealing why Prince William and Prince Harry are rarely seen in shorts during Britain's hottest days

[William will occasionally don shorts at a sailing regatta, such as this one at Montagu Bay in the Bahamas in 2022]

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People will rarely see royals wearing shorts(Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

The Royal Family's summer dress code has been laid bare as Britain swelters through a late spring heatwave - including the reason why King Charles refuses to ditch his suit in favour of chinos.

While the royals do make certain concessions to the warmer weather, longstanding traditions surrounding attire continue to play a significant part in their daily lives throughout the summer months.

Speaking to Heart Bingo Online, former royal butler Grant Harrold offered a fascinating glimpse into how the royals adapt when temperatures begin to soar. This includes expectations regarding formal dress, and why the King still "overdresses" and remains "extremely smart" even during periods of intense heat.

Grant revealed: "The King goes for linen. He still wears his cotton but he wears a lot of linen in the summer. He does have a summer wardrobe. He wears these lighter options for overseas tours to hotter climates, but also when the sun comes out in the UK.

"The King, even in the summer in the garden, will also still wear a suit. So he still overdresses. He won't go and change into a pair of old chinos, an old shirt and an old jacket in between meetings. He always wants to look extremely smart," reports the Scottish Daily Express.

[Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (back left) on Bondi Beach in Australia, both wearing long trousers and a shirt]

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (back left) on Bondi Beach in Australia during their 'quasi-royal' visit in April 2026, both wearing long trousers and a shirt(Image: Jonathan Brady-Pool/Getty Images)

Grant served the King from 2004 to 2011, during his time as the Prince of Wales, and also attended to Prince William and Princess Catherine during their stays at the Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire. "Princes William and Harry are different," he said.

"I remember they would wear the same shoes and polo shirts as soon as the weather got warm. They're not going to stand around in chinos. Although William is a full-time working royal, he's more likely to go and just put the shorts on when he's on his own in private. The King may have worn shorts when he was younger but not so much now."

Grant explained that while there are no formal regulations dictating the royals' summer attire, the men are never seen publicly in short trousers even during overseas visits to nations with sweltering climates. This protocol continues to apply to Harry, despite him stepping back from royal duties.

[Shorts-wearing European royalty on King Juan Carlos of Spain's motor cruiser during a family holiday in Palma de Mallorca, August 1990. (L-R) Queen Anne Marie of Greece, Prince Philippos of Greece, ex-King Constantine of Greece with Princess Theodora, Princess Diana, Prince Charles (as he was then), King Juan Carlos of Spain with Prince William, Queen Sophia of Spain with Prince Harry, Princess Cristina of Spain and Princess Elena of Spain]

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Shorts-wearing European royalty on King Juan Carlos of Spain's motor cruiser during a family holiday in Palma de Mallorca, August 1990(Image: Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty)

"I do remember the dress codes of the day," he said. "You get the royal schedule and it's timed as to what they're doing. William would sometimes quiz whether he would need to put on a suit for that day.

"It's a bit like preparing for an interview. But no, there aren't any strict rules but in public they're going to be slightly more overdressed than underdressed."

Nevertheless, there are certain circumstances where it's considered appropriate for the royals to don shorts such as at sailing regattas. William was photographed wearing shorts at The Bahamas Platinum Jubilee Sailing Regatta in Nassau during March 2022.

[A barefoot Prince Harry in shorts and T-shirt in South Africa in 2015]

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A barefoot Prince Harry in shorts and T-shirt in South Africa in 2015

The royal knees were similarly on display when he and Catherine hosted the inaugural Kings Cup regatta at Cowes on the Isle of Wight in August 2019.

Elsewhere, Harry was photographed wearing shorts while participating in a rugby match with youngsters at The Sharks rugby club at Kings Park Park Stadium, during an official trip to South Africa in December 2015.

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