Questions on wearing Stewart tartans

[Phil]

Wikipedia is an interesting source -- very helpful but often not very authoritative. According to an article stub on the Royal Stewart tartan, it says that the Royal Stewart is the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II.

The red Stuart tartan has always been regarded as the one that can be worn if you have no affiliation to any other tartan. In recent years, however, there has been an explosion of district,corporate, association, Irish, Welsh, Uncle Tom Cobley and all tartans so the choice is now much wider (and more confusing). Take it from me there is no reason whatsoever why anyone cannot wear this tartan and, if you are Scottish, there is no such person as Queen Elizabeth II. The English had a Queen Elizabeth I a few hundred years ago when our Queen was Mary, Queen of Scots.

[McClef]

Take it from me there is no reason whatsoever why anyone cannot wear this tartan and, if you are Scottish, there is no such person as Queen Elizabeth II. The English had a Queen Elizabeth I a few hundred years ago when our Queen was Mary, Queen of Scots.

Whilst recognising that the Queen is the first Elizabeth to reign in Scotland there has been a policy since the Act of Union regarding regnal numbering that the highest number takes precedence where a name has been used in both Scotland or England.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...itish_monarchs

So, for example, another James would be James VIII as the Scottish usage is higher than the English.

[Phil]

I see they don't reckon Charley boy wants to call himself Charles III. Maybe he's afraid of going the way of his namesake!

[macwilkin]

Steady gents...back on the Stewart tartan now, if you please.

Todd

[Phil]

Apologies for the deviation. Why would anyone wish to wear the Stuart tartan anyway when there are so many much nicer tartans about?

[macwilkin]

Apologies for the deviation. Why would anyone wish to wear the Stuart tartan anyway when there are so many much nicer tartans about?

No worries, Phil.

T.

[McClef]

I see they don't reckon Charley boy wants to call himself Charles III. Maybe he's afraid of going the way of his namesake!

Charles is a kilt wearer but I don't see him wearing Stewart tartans that often and the amount of Stewart blood in the Windsors is now running rather thin.

Choice of name at accession is a personal choice of the monarch and it needn't be their first name or we would have had Queen Alexandrina instead of Victoria and two king Alberts instead of Edward VII and George VI.

The various cited authorities regarding Royal Stewart all seem to say different things which is bound to lead to confusion. Look at a packet of shortbread and chances are they will all sport the Royal Stewart!