Who Was Prince Charlie Anyway?

**Farlander** · 5th February 08, 05:11 PM

I am curious about the history of the Prince Charlie jacket. Does anyone know approximately when it was first used? Would it be an appropriate garment to wear to a Dickens Fair (Victorian era event)?

**Woodsheal** · 5th February 08, 05:16 PM

I believe it's named after the "Bonnie Prince" himself - Charles Edward Stewart. Not that they wore jackets like that in his day...!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_Prince_Charlie

**ccga3359** · 5th February 08, 05:18 PM

A PC is akin to a tux. No Idon't think it appropriate. I think a tweed kilt jacket would be a better idea. Oh, and a deerstalker hat.

Edit: Downplay the kilt pin to a simple pin as it was Queen Victoria herself that invented (?) the kilt pin by using a hat pin on a soldiers wayward kilt one windy day.

**Panache** · 5th February 08, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

... Downplay the kilt pin to a simple pin as it was Queen Victoria herself that invented (?) the kilt pin by using a hat pin on a soldiers wayward kilt one windy day.

We are eternally grateful that is was some dashing young Scot who predicament caught the Queen's eye, and whose modesty was saved by one of her own brooches. Had it been Grant, more than likely she would have just used a staple gun...

Cheers

Jamie

**ccga3359** · 5th February 08, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Panache

Had it been Grant, more than likely she would have just used a staple gun...

Cheers

Jamie

And I would bloody well count that as a kilt check!!!

**gilmore** · 5th February 08, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

...Edit: Downplay the kilt pin to a simple pin as it was Queen Victoria herself that invented (?) the kilt pin by using a hat pin on a soldiers wayward kilt one windy day.

This story has been going around for decades, and is as factual as the one about the Prince Albert: not at all.

**Panache** · 5th February 08, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by gilmore

This story has been going around for decades, and is as factual as the one about the Prince Albert: not at all.

It is a rather charming story though.

Cheers

Jamie

**ccga3359** · 5th February 08, 05:45 PM

A fictitious kilt check is still a kilt check

! So when did the kilt pin make an appearance? We are looking to get Farlander kited up for the mid to late 1800 Scotland.

Here is a pic of Queen Vic's favourite Scot; John Brown.

**beloitpiper** · 5th February 08, 05:17 PM

I think it has a somewhat Victorian cut. But something more Victorian might be an a Sheriffmuir or Montrose doublet or anything thing with Inverness flaps.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 5th February 08, 05:42 PM

The Prince Charlie coatee dates pretty much from sometime after 1935. I have heard it stated that it was invented to coincide with the bi-centennial of the 1745 Jacobite rising (hence the name), but there is some evidence to suggest it was available before 1939. What is known is that it was invented to provide a lower cost evening wear jacket, and to possibly use up a backlog of "off the peg" tails coats. Because of it's ease of manufacture it gained wide popularity after WWII, and by the mid-60s had pretty much supplanted other styles of jackets for highland evening wear. Part of this was due, I believe, to it's popularity with country dancers. The cut of a Prince Charlie coatee shows a good deal of tartan while being at once less costly and more comfortable to move in than other formal jackets.