multiple tartans

[rondo]

In an often posted photo of the Royal family at a white tie state affair, the Duke of Edinburgh can be seen wearing a 3 button Balmoral tartan vest with (I think) a Stewart tartan kilt. His hose, while not tartan coordinate in color with the Balmoral tartan. Other than a few of the McLeay paintings showing mixed tartans I haven't seen this anywhere else.

Does anyone have photos showing this in practice? Or, failing that, knowledge of this mixing and rules or protocols that apply to this practice?

This is purely to satisfy my own curiosity, I do not plan on mixing tartans myself. Thanks.

Rondo
P.S. I tried searching for the photo but it is late and my search-fu has failed me.

[Jock Scot]

I do not recall any pictures showing the Duke doing this, but he is renowned for "ploughing his own furrow" when he gets the chance. I suspect there are many reasons why he might have done this and I suspect they would all be based around "it was a good idea at the time".

Actually, he is perfectly correct to mix the Balmoral tartan, an Estate(his wife's) tartan, and a Clan tartan. Not usual, I grant you, but then the Duke's circumstance is hardly run ofthe mill, when all said and done. Does he do this often? No idea. It is the mixing of the tartans of different Clans that is best avoided.

[Nathan]

I think this is the pic to which Rondo is referring:



Jock is right that mixing clan tartans is best avoided but the Prince is not doing that in this case. Both tartans are for Royal use. The Royal Stewart tartan is the monarch's tartan. The reason it is considered a universal tartan that is open to everyone is that Her Majesty is the chief of everyone in the Commonwealth.

As Jock points out, the Balmoral tartan is an estate tartan so HRH isn't mixing clan tartans.

I have even seen people with a Regimental history of wearing the government sett, wear a Black Watch waistcoat with a clan tartan kilt. This is a more thorny choice due to the clans that claim the government sett as a clan tartan.

Pipers mix Royal Stewart and Black Watch in some regiments, having a plaid of one tartan and a kilt of the other. Since both of these tartans belong to Her Majesty, she can wrap her troops in them as she sees fit.

All that aside, I don't like the practice of people wearing their father's tartan and mother's tartan at the same time. You can't serve two masters and be loyal to two chiefs.

And, as has been written in other threads on this matter, if your mom and dad come from rival clans, you could inadvertently end up salting old wounds. As Jock has written, many of the clans have long ago buried the hatchet in a peat bog somewhere. It's best to leave it there.

[sailortats]

I notice in the above picture that both HRH Prince Philip and HRH Prince Charles have a black band at the top of their hose on the left leg only. What does this represent?

[creagdhubh]

I notice in the above picture that both HRH Prince Philip and HRH Prince Charles have a black band at the top of their hose on the left leg only. What does this represent?

The Order of the Garter.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/monarchUK/ho...thegarter.aspx

[artificer]

I notice in the above picture that both HRH Prince Philip and HRH Prince Charles have a black band at the top of their hose on the left leg only. What does this represent?

Kyle beat me to the answer, but one other bit of info- that garter is actually "Garter Blue", not black.

ith:

[creagdhubh]

Kyle beat me to the answer, but one other bit of info- that garter is actually "Garter Blue", not black.

ith:

Quite right, Scott. It's difficult to see this in the photo, but it is indeed "Garter Blue."

[creagdhubh]

I think this is the pic to which Rondo is referring:



Jock is right that mixing clan tartans is best avoided but the Prince is not doing that in this case. Both tartans are for Royal use. The Royal Stewart tartan is the monarch's tartan. The reason it is considered a universal tartan that is open to everyone is that Her Majesty is the chief of everyone in the Commonwealth.

As Jock points out, the Balmoral tartan is an estate tartan so HRH isn't mixing clan tartans.

I have even seen people with a Regimental history of wearing the government sett, wear a Black Watch waistcoat with a tartan kilt. This is a more thorny choice due to the clans that claim the government sett as a clan tartan.

Pipers mix Royal Stewart and Black Watch in some regiments, having a plaid of one tartan and a kilt of the other. Since both of these tartans belong to Her Majesty, she can wrap her troops in them as she sees fit.

All that aside, I don't like the practice of people wearing their father's tartan and mother's tartan at the same time. You can't serve two masters and be loyal to two chiefs.

And, as has been written in other threads on this matter, if your mom and dad come from rival clans, you could inadvertently end up salting old wounds. As Jock has written, many of the clans have long ago buried the hatchet in a peat bog somewhere. It's best to leave it there.

Well put, Nathan. I've always been a fan of this cracking photo. I think the wearing of the tartan waistcoat in the restricted Balmoral tartan works rather well with HRH the Duke of Edinburgh's white tie attire. Especially when he balances it out with 'Argyll' style hose in the same colours as the Balmoral tartan.

[Liam]

Well put, Nathan. I've always been a fan of this cracking photo. I think the wearing of the tartan waistcoat in the restricted Balmoral tartan works rather well with HRH the Duke of Edinburgh's white tie attire. Especially when he balances it out with 'Argyll' style hose in the same colours as the Balmoral tartan.

If a "commoner" chose to do this some here would thing it was "matchy-matchy" hahaha.