Mrs. Brown

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

A historical note; Queen Victoria commissioned the Brown (family) tartan especially for John Brown. The Brown (family)tartan is primarily red and black and is a beautiful tartan.

She loved Scotland and all things Scottish.

Actually, I thought it was commissioned specifically for Mr. Brown, and no one else. If so, than in effect it was his "private" tartan in much the same way that Balmoral tartan is the private tartan of the Royal Family. I think calling it "Brown Family Tartan" is quite a reach... quite a reach, indeed.

Still, it is a good motion picture.

[Zardoz]

Actually, I thought it was commissioned specifically for Mr. Brown, and no one else. If effect it was his "private" tartan in much the same way that Balmoral tartan is the private tartan of the Royal Family. I think calling it "Brown Family Tartan" is quite a reach... quite a reach, indeed.

Still, it is a good motion picture.

Like many things related to Highland lore, the Queen Victoria origin tale of the the Brown tartan in question is likely more legend than fact. Mrs. Z has done a bit of research in this area due to her Brown family line, and we have found this Brown tartan listed in books dated prior to 1850. I'm not sure when Victoria and John Brown first met, but I reason it was not much prior to the purchase of Balmoral in around 1851. Her (in)famous close relationship with Brown did not really start till after Prince Albert's death in 1861, so if she commisioned a tartan for him, I think it was not the Brown tartan we are looking at here.