Figure 1.--Albert Victor and his brother George wear their kilts with Eton collars and bowties. This became a classic costume. George's children were photographed in virtually identical outfits nearly 30 years later. The boy's father who was the first royal prince to wear the kilt also wore it with what looks like a detachable white collar, but I'm not sure it was an Eton collar. He did not wear a bowtie with it. He has a black military-styled jacket. The portrit is undated, but he looks to be about 14 years old which would mean about 1878. A reder thinks he my be little younger. Notice what look to be stremers laying over hus kilt (under his arm). They seem to come from the headwear he seems to be holding, but we are not sure just wht kind of headear it is.

Thanks to photography we know a great deal about how Prince Albert Victor was dressed as a boy. Royasls, especially those in line for the hrone often had paingings doine of them. But photograpohy meant many more images are available. The convention of younger boys wearing dresses was still quite strong. Eddy was attired in dresses until about 5 or 6 years. There are pictures of him in knee-length dresses which he wore with lacy. Boys still in dresses had once wore long pantalletts to cover their bare legs which even for children was thought to be immodest. Unlike America, long stockings were not as common. After breeching, Eddy and his brother were dressed in the sailor suits to whicvh Queen Victoria was partial. Evetually the girls also had sailor outfits--but thet were not worn as much as the boys' sailor suits. hetndard three-strpe traditinal nstyle had not yet bcome standard. We are not sure to what extent the Queen influenced the boys clothing. Or do I know if Edward and Alexandra had thoughts of their own on the matter which varrried from the Queen. Their father had always wore long pants with his sailor suits. By the 1870s knee pants were becoming increasingly popular. Thus the Prince of Wales sons wore sailor suits with the new knee pants style. Albert Victor like his father also wore kilts. This was another favorite of the Queen's. I'm not sure what the boys themselves thought of kilts. Albert Victor and his brother George wear their kilts with Eton collars and bowties. This became a classic costume. George's children were photographed in virtually identical outfits nearly 30 years later. The boy's father who was the first royal prince to wear the kilt also wore it with a wide white collar, but I'm not sure it was an Eton collar. He did not wear a bowtie with it. Albert Victor was enrolled as a naval cadet training and wore the cadet uniform. He did not do well and could not comperte with the other boys. Prince George in contrast did quite well.

Dresses

The convention of younger boys wearing dresses was still quite strong. Eddy was attired in dresses until about 5 or 6 years. There are pictures of him in knee-length dresses which he wore with lacy. Boys still in dresses had once wore long pantalletts to cover their bare legs which even for children was thought to be immodest. Unlike America, long stockings were not as common. By the 1860s, pantaletts were worn that just showed at the hem of the boys dress. We have no details on Albert Victor's breeching. We do not know if his parents or nanny made an "even" of it, or if it occurred all at one time.

Sailor Suits

After breeching, Eddy and his brother were dressed in the sailor suits to which Queen Victoria was partial. Thy wore sailor suits into their early teens. The standard three-strpe traditional style had not yet bcome established, although by the time they were teenagers we see it emerging. We are not sure to what extent the Queen influenced the boys clothing. Or do I know if Edward and Alexandra had thoughts of their own on the matter which varrried from the Queen. Their father had always wore long pants with his sailor suits. By the 1870s knee pants were becoming increasingly popular. Thus the Prince of Wales sons ay yonger boys wore sailor suits with the new knee pants style--rather long and wide knee pants. As older boys they wore long dark pants. His sisters also wore sailor outfits--sailor dresses, albeit not as commonly. The sailor suit worn by Albert Victor's father was a small edition of a real British seaman's uniform. The sailor suit worn by Albert Victor, however, appears to differ from that of a authentic sailor suit. Not only does he wear knee pants, but there are colored strips on the sides of the pants. The middy blouse does not appear to have the classic three stripes at the cuffs or collar.

Kilts

Albert Victor like his father also wore kilts. This was another favorite of the Queen's. I'm not sure what the boys themselves thought of kilts. Albert Victor and his brother George wear their kilts with Eton collars and bowties. This became a classic costume. George's children were photographed in virtually identical outfits nearly 30 years later. The boy's father who was the first royal prince to wear the kilt also wore it with what looks like a detachable white collar, but I'm not sure it was an Eton collar. He did not wear a bowtie with it. He has a black military-styled jacket. We also note Albeet Victor and George waring light-colored collar-buttoning jackets wihout military styling. Albert Victor and George wore their kilts with patterned knee socks. This was common in the 19th Century. The Argyle pattern he wears were often quite loud. It became more common in the 20th Century to wear solid colored knee socks. Albert Victor and George for dress occasions wore their kilts with patent leather strap shoes. This is one of the few differences with the Highland kilt outfits worn by George's sons. Patent leather pumps are still worn with kilts for formal occasions. Such pumps, however, do not have the strap worn by Albert Victor and George.

Suits

We see Albert Victor as a teenafer wearing suit jackets and long trousers. The images, however, are not clear enough to make out the jacket style. We see both mstching sduits and jackets and pants in contrsasting colors.

Uniforms

Albert Victor was enrolled for naval cadet training and wore the cadet uniform. He did not do well and could not compete with the other boys. Prince George in contrast did quite well as a cadet.

Created: 7:29 PM 8/3/2022
Last updated: 7:29 PM 8/3/2022