He's been a somewhat controversial figure of late but that didn't stop one mum from dressing her son as Prince Harry for World Book Day.
With three-year-old Ellis Wright not wanting a traditional costume for the day, which sees kids dress as their favourite book characters, mum Melissa suggested he go as the Duke of Sussex, who recently published his memoir Spare.
The 36-year-old set to work, creating a costume that parents have hailed a 'masterpiece', reports The Mirror.
Read more: World Book Day 2023 is here so send us photos of your amazing costumes
Using children's hair spray and face paint, she transformed Ellis into the Prince, complete with ginger hair and a beard, which her son picked as his favourite part of the outfit.
"I was a bit worried because I guess it is a controversial topic because everybody does have quite a big opinion," said Melissa, from Surrey.
![](https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article26369392.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_harry_costume_3jpeg.jpg)
"Essentially, it is just fun," she added and most people have agreed the idea is 'quite harmless and funny' so she's not received any negative feedback.
The single mum also stressed it was a 'tongue in cheek' choice made to delight her little prince, who has not read Spare but shares similarities with its author, according to her.
Melissa explained: "As he's only three, I was giving him some suggestions; the typical sort of Julia Donaldson characters or things three year olds would like to be read. Then, he was like, 'no, no I don't want that one.'
"As a family, we do quite love the royal family. He loved the Jubilee. My mum threw a huge party and he still talks about that now.
"He is a bit obsessed with being a prince as well so I thought it would be perfect."
Melissa, who is the director of an office refurbishment company and works as a make-up artist at weekends, is known for creating epic costumes for his big sister, Xanthe, nine.
![](https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article26369407.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_harry_costume_1jpeg.jpg)
Together, the mum and daughter duo love to make the most of Melissa's skills, but they swap her usual classic bridal makeup for more creative designs. As such, World Book Day has become something of a tradition for the pair.
"It is basically mine and my daughter's favourite day of the year, other than Halloween," Melissa explained.
Whether or not this is the reason her son loves dressing up, Melissa is not sure, but she's happy so long as he is.
"There are some boys in his class that are refusing to dress up but Ellis is not that boy. He really loves it," she added. "If he didn't love it, I would never have done it. He just wouldn't have done it - he's three. Don't mess with three-year-olds."
As to what Prince Harry might think of the costume, she's not sure, but hopes Ellis would get the royal seal of approval.
"I hope he would find it funny. I guess in a way it is promoting his book. I hope he would really like it. I hope they all would."
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
The indoor play named best in region with pirate ships, dinosaurs and indoor beaches
Parents' rights over taking time off work as school strikes begin
'I followed Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis' advice and cut bill for everyday appliance in half'
Shoppers say they 'won't buy Heinz ever again' after trying supermarket's 57p soup
Prime drink ranked - we rate every flavour from KSI and Logan Paul