Prince Louis Just Made His Trooping the Colour Debut Wearing Uncle Harry’s Hand-Me-Downs

Royals… they’re just like us! OK, so maybe not entirely. But Prince Louis made his royal public debut at Trooping the Colour wearing vintage hand-me-downs, so we know the royal family occasionally re-uses old clothes like us commoners. Here’s the oh-so-sweet kicker, though — Louis’ outfit for Saturday’s royal celebration of Queen Elizabeth was worn by Prince Harry during an appearance at Trooping the Colour way back in 1986. Prince Louis in Uncle Harry’s old ensemble? Be still, heart.

As pointed out by People, throwback photos show young Harry looking pretty darn adorable wearing the distinctive smocked white-and-blue outfit at the circa ’86 event. He smiles at the crowd as Princess Anne holds him up and Princess Diana looks on. At this year’s Trooping the Colour, Prince Louis stole the spotlight wearing the same outfit but a decidedly different expression — the internet can’t stop gushing over the tot’s curmudgeonly-but-cute grimace.

In fact, little Louis’ grumpy face made a cameo before his vintage duds did. Photos taken before the royals assembled on the Buckingham Palace balcony show the young boy glaring out the window beside big sis Princess Charlotte. But it didn’t take long for Louis to loosen up, and before long he was smiling and waving to the crowd. Ah, shades of Uncle Harry, indeed.

For #TroopingtheColour, Prince Louis donned his uncle Prince Harry's hand-me-downs from 1986. https://t.co/4AgBIQMxQDpic.twitter.com/2iTYscgonM

— Yahoo Life UK (@YahooLifeUK) June 8, 2019

To be clear, this isn’t Louis’ first time being photographed with his famous family. In addition to a photo opp on the steps of the hospital shortly after his birth, Louis was captured on camera at his christening and, more recently, playing in the Chelsea Flower garden with his siblings. His parents also sometimes share photos of Louis on the royal family’s various social media feeds. However, this year’s Trooping the Colour marks the youngest Cambridge’s first official public royal appearance. And he wasn’t alone in checking a royal first off, either — Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle made her first official public post-baby appearance following the birth of her one-month-old son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.

An annual event, the Trooping of the Colour celebration is held in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s birthday. Although her real birthday is April 21 (she was born in 1926), the royal matriarch’s official birthday is recognized in June each year with this family custom. Per Marie Claire, the double birthday tradition dates back more than 250 years ago to King George II.