Prince Charles Duke of Rothesay in kilt photos

[ThistleDown]

JSFMACLJR and you both made some very insightful and helpful comments. Thank you.

First off, I may have been mistaken about the brass buttons. On closer inspection, they may all be a light colored bone. but they look like falt, brushed brass, and I think that might look pretty good.

Is there any place one can actually buy the jackets without the epaulets, cuffs, etc. off the rack? I've not seen them, and the overall look is very conservative. I think Kinlock Anderson might have such, but theirs are all pretty pricey.

I didn't know that fact about the bonnets. It's good to know, and I've never heard that before. I suppose a bonnet becomes a sign of the non-gentry.

I have slowly worked through many different sporrans and other items, but I have also slowly settled on certain standard pieces which are pretty conservative. I am in the process of commissioning a sporran similar to HRH's from Janet Eagleton because I want a standard, traditional look in a sporran that my grandson will still be wearing when my carcus has long since stopped being worm's meat. I intend to wear it for the rest of my life.

Again, I appreciate the comments.

You are welcome, Jim. Thank you for claifying the brass buttons, the Duke does certainly have bone and horn buttons on some of his jackets, so that may well be what you were seeing. As you say though, brushed brass and bronze would be interesting and certainly in keeping with livery styles if one were not trying to portray the laird of glenloude or some such. (edit: that was not as it came across in a re-read. Sheesh! Just to say that brass and bronze smacks of 19C livery buttons -- good, but with caution).

Most manufacturers of Highland jackets will be pleased to provide you with the less military style of today. Have a word with any of the sponsors here.

As for the Balmoral bonnet, all I meant to say was that those who wear it must do so in order to display their feathers; the Duke or Rothesay needs no such device to be recognised. Most men in the Highlands today do not wear the Balmoral and I've not seen a Glengarry worn by a "native" in years. No flatcaps, fedoras, Stetsons or ballcaps, for sure, but the odd deerstalker will be seen worn by a kilted gentleman during the day hours.

Prince Charles has many kilts, jackets and sporrans in his wardrobe -- and he does not wear Highland dress as his daily attire. Those of us who do wear the kilt most every day may be permitted to assemble an array not unlike those who have jeans, casual slacks, dress trousers, sport coats, suits, tuxedos, shorts and all and all in their own closets and chests. Regardless of the size and extent of our dressing rooms we still have our favourites, just as does the Duke of Rothesay (and his valet).

Preferences change as we change. I inherited a wonderful old wildcat sporran that is not politically correct to wear today, given that the Highland wildcat is now an endngered species; HRH has a superb sealskin he no longer wears even thought the seal is certainly not endangered and his wee pelt was taken years and years ago. That's how over the generations these collections come to be.

Oh yes, and we have to keep the HIghland outfitter economy alive and well, too