Family ties between the Stuart and Brunswick royal houses were close throughout the seventeenth century – the father of these two sitters was brother-in-law to James I. Such family connections contributed to similar styles of clothing worn across geographically disparate royal courts and the clothing seen here is similar to that worn in England at around the same date. Prince Christian’s breeches are heavily padded, completely distorting the shape of his lower body, in dramatic contrast to his doublet cut tight to the torso.