THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WAS PRESENTED WITH THE ULTIMATE ITEM OF TROPICAL CLOTHING RECENTLY, A PAIR OF BERMUDA SHORTS. WORN BY JUDGES, TOURISTS AND EVEN GROOMS ON THEIR WEDDING DAY, THEY ARE POPULAR NOT JUST ON THE ATLANTIC PARADISE ISLANDS BUT ACROSS THE WORLD. THE DUKE WAS GIVEN A PAIR OF BRIGHT GREEN SHORTS, WHICH ARE TRADITIONALLY WORN WITH KNEE LENGTH SOCKS, AND TEAMED WITH A JACKET AND TIE, A COMBINATION KNOWN AS A 'BERMUDA RIG'. DAVID HAMSHERE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE ENGLISH SPORTS SHOP, A CLOTHING SHOP REMINISCENT OF AN OLD FASHIONED MEN'S OUTFITTERS, MADE THE PRESENTATION WHEN THE QUEEN AND DUKE VISITED BERMUDA'S FORMER NAVAL DOCKYARD. THE DUKE GREETED THE GIFT, WHICH INCLUDED A PAIR OF BLUE SOCKS AND A BRIGHTLY COLOURED 'BERMUDA' TIE, WITH MUTED DELIGHT AND SAID HE WOULD NOT BE PUTTING THE SHORTS ON STRAIGHT AWAY. HAMSHERE, WHOSE OUTLET IS IN THE CAPITAL OF HAMILTON, TOLD HIM: 'YOU'LL DEFINITELY LOOK VERY ELEGANT IN THEM.' THE SHORTS WERE ORIGINALLY WORN BY THE BRITISH MILITARY TO KEEP COOL ON THE HOT AND HUMID ATLANTIC ISLANDS THAT ARE WARMED BY THE GULF STREAM, BUT WERE SOON ADOPTED AND ADAPTED BY THE LOCALS. HAMSHERE, WHO WAS BORN IN BOURNEMOUTH BUT EMIGRATED TO BERMUDA AS A YOUNG MAN, SAID LATER: 'BERMUDAN MEN ARE PEACOCKS AND ARE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKINS AND ARE HAPPY IN THE BRIGHT COLOURS.' HIS BUSINESS SELLS AROUND 16,000 PAIRS OF SHORTS A YEAR FOR 55 BERMUDAN DOLLARS (£30), AND HAS THE MADE IN ARGENTINA FROM A LINEN AND SYNTHETIC FIBER MIX.
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