Figure 1.-- Here we see David as a boy of 7 years of age with his younger brother Albert, later George VI, who was a year younger (1895-1952). The photo was taken at Cowes in the Isle of Wight in 1901. One of the royal estates, Osborne House (a favorite of his great grandmother, Queen Victoria), is located near by. The boys are in their swimming costumes. These one-piece striped swimming suits that button down the front like union suits were typical of what upper-class boys of the period wore.

David and Bertie were commonly dressed alike and their swimsuits were no excecption. David and his brother Berie wore the same one-piece striped swim suits as boy. Here we see David as a boy of 7 years of age with his younger brother Albert, later George VI, who was a year younger (1895-1952). The photo was taken at Cowes in the Isle of Wight in 1901. One of the royal estates, Osborne House (a favorite of his great grandmother, Queen Victoria), is located near by. The boys are in their swimming costumes. These one-piece striped swimming suits that button down the front like union suits were typical of what upper-class boys of the period wore. This is a style that was quite cimmon at the time. I'm not sure why stripes were so popular as swimwear. This was the same type of suit worn by adults. The legs came down to their knees. Bertie apparently had knock knees and his father insisted that he wear braces at night which were painful. Compare the bathing costumes in the film, "Death in Venice."

Created: 5:32 AM 10/11/2004
Last updated: 5:32 AM 10/11/2004