'New' kilt - MASSIVE DILEMA! - Help!

[A Robertson]

Dear Rabble - Moderators, Newbies and everyone in between.

I have thought many times how to write this post, and find it very difficult to do so. I will try and make it as simple as possible - I need your advice!

I bought me a new kilt, I don't like the colour - it is a green colour. I cannot think when or where I will have occasion to wear it. I bought it off Ebay UK, at a price more than I could really afford. It is a Royal tartan, King George VI. It was hand made, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1981. It is 100% wool. It was made to measure (not for me, but fits me perfect).
It is not my clan tartan, so I wrote to the clan chief (Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II) asking for permission to wear it.

Today, I received a reply from Buckingham Palace, informing me that I MAY NOT wear it.

Conjecture:
1981 - Royal wedding.
Royal Tartan - only made with permission from Her Majesty The Queen
Kilt: Cannot be made without permission from Her Majesty The Queen.
Kilt: Cannot be worn without permission from Her Majesty The Queen

Pour yourself a BIG whisky, read this in bed, think about it, take your time.

What do I do?
Wear it in the house?
Wear it at private/family functions?
Give it to a museum?
Auction it - along with all correspondence?

I am 'gobsmacked' - 'stunned'!

ANY advice would truely be appreciated.
Many Thanks.

Ps. - unrelated - I just got me a Sheriffmuir - used once at the sellers wedding, great fit, great condition - for £50 ($75)!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Today - I am a VERY happy guy!)

[RogerWS76]

Hmmm.

Several thoughts!

You may want to ask Buckingham Palace to buy back the offending kilt from you and explain as to how in the world they let it out of their sight in the first place.

If you live in the United States, you may also want to consider that since 1776, the constraints of Buckingham Palace do not apply to you.

You may choose to comply with their wishes out of your own grace (which will cost you the price of the kilt).

If it truly IS one worn in the Royal Wedding of 1981, there is surely a collector who will now (accompanied by your denial letter which adds credibilty) surely take it off of your hands for a handsome profit.

You might donate it to a museum and realize the tax benefits!

You have several choices!

Personally, in my own Rebel-infested Spirit, I would at LEAST wear it out to your favorite pub and have a dram for the Queen!

[creagdhubh]

Dear Rabble - Moderators, Newbies and everyone in between.

I have thought many times how to write this post, and find it very difficult to do so. I will try and make it as simple as possible - I need your advice!

I bought me a new kilt, I don't like the colour - it is a green colour. I cannot think when or where I will have occasion to wear it. I bought it off Ebay UK, at a price more than I could really afford. It is a Royal tartan, King George VI. It was hand made, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1981. It is 100% wool. It was made to measure (not for me, but fits me perfect).
It is not my clan tartan, so I wrote to the clan chief (Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II) asking for permission to wear it.

Today, I received a reply from Buckingham Palace, informing me that I MAY NOT wear it.

Conjecture:
1981 - Royal wedding.
Royal Tartan - only made with permission from Her Majesty The Queen
Kilt: Cannot be made without permission from Her Majesty The Queen.
Kilt: Cannot be worn without permission from Her Majesty The Queen

Pour yourself a BIG whisky, read this in bed, think about it, take your time.

What do I do?
Wear it in the house?
Wear it at private/family functions?
Give it to a museum?
Auction it - along with all correspondence?

I am 'gobsmacked' - 'stunned'!

ANY advice would truely be appreciated.
Many Thanks.

Ps. - unrelated - I just got me a Sheriffmuir - used once at the sellers wedding, great fit, great condition - for £50 ($75)!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Today - I am a VERY happy guy!)

I am confused as to precisely which tartan we are talking about here. Forgive me, but I've never heard of the Royal tartan, King George VI before. Is this the Hunting Stewart tartan (you mentioned green)? The only restricted Royal tartan that I am aware of is the Balmoral.

Is this it?

[creagdhubh]

Well, I learn something new everyday on here. You are indeed correct. It is a restricted tartan. See below:

http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...eorge-vi-royal

[John_Carrick]

I would not want to offend Her Maj. and love her at least as much as most other Brits but the flashing blue lights are not going to screech to a halt outside the house and cart you off to the Tower if you wear it but at them same time you don't actually like it.
Maybe a valuable antique/heirloom/investment. As you suggest a gift to a museum is an option.
John

[Jock Scot]

Well you did ask! I am a firm believer that the age of courtesy is still alive. You did the right thing and asked and I am afraid now that you have an answer from an impeccable source then really, in my view, you should comply with the answer given.

In truth, I doubt many would recognise the tartan in question, but rest assured the Royal Family will!

[John_Carrick]

I am confused as to precisely which tartan we are talking about here. Forgive me, but I've never heard of the Royal tartan, King George VI before. Is this the Hunting Stewart tartan (you mentioned green)? The only restricted Royal tartan that I am aware of is the Balmoral.

Is this it?

If the kilt cops arrest you, claim you thought it was The Irish National tartan

[Manxstralian]

I'm pretty sure you know the answer you'll get here, you shouldn't wear it.

From the STA: "Like the Balmoral, it is expected that weavers in the United Kingdom - and hopefully, further afield - will respect the fact that this tartan is exclusively for the use of the British Royal family."

I would be interested to know how the previous owner managed to get a hold of it, and who it was made for though... and if I was in your situation I would be running through the same options, but in the end if you do wear it you know you aren't "supposed" to, so it won't be the most comfortable experience.

I would resell with the correspondence, there's going to be a collector somewhere who would want it, and with the letter from the palace, you probably will get more than your money back.
Good luck,

Cameron

[thecompaqguy]

I am shocked :o

I thought this was a wind-up

[ShaunMaxwell]

Interesting. A quick Google image search reveals that D.C. Dalgliesh and Scotweb both list it for sale on their websites...