Kilt on Colin Firth in movie "The King's Speech"

**macwilkin** · 18th January 11, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Bigkahuna

Sorry for butting in so late but wasn't Czar Nicholas the C-i-C of the Scots Greys at one point and the donor of their white Bearskin for their bass drummer/kettltdrummer?

Correct on both counts. Wilhelm II was also a C-i-C of a regiment (the KRRC comes to mind, but don't quote me) until 1914, when he was stripped of that honour.

T.

**Biathlonman** · 18th January 11, 06:55 AM

MacMillan of Rathdown's info should not go without comment - he seems better informed than any of us and what he's written sounds pretty credible.

**theborderer** · 19th January 11, 12:32 PM

Prince Charles has also wore the Welch National tartan recently. As Prince of Wales its about time

**McClef** · 19th January 11, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by theborderer

Prince Charles has also wore the Welch National tartan recently. As Prince of Wales its about time

Darn and I missed it!

(BTW Welsh is the normal term rather than Welch unless it's talking about the Royal Welch Fusiliers)

**macwilkin** · 19th January 11, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by McClef

Darn and I missed it!

(BTW Welsh is the normal term rather than Welch unless it's talking about the Royal Welch Fusiliers)

I seem to remember Robert Graves discussing the RWF's use of the "Welch" spelling as a way to associate the regiment with North Wales, where that spelling was more common. I believe he mentions this in Goodbye to All That.

T.

**MacGuffin** · 19th January 11, 06:01 PM

In one scene of the King's Speech, (when the family is moving to the palace) the Princesses Elizabeth and Margret seem to be sporting skirts in the Balmoral tartan or a similar looking set.

**Arlen** · 20th January 11, 11:43 AM

Has anyone thought of contacting someone to ask what tartan they used and why?

I've had plenty of luck asking questions of production teams before and usually they work hard to be accurate and only choose not to
be when it would be very difficult to film with an accurate item.

**millykilts** · 21st January 11, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by Arlen

Has anyone thought of contacting someone to ask what tartan they used and why?

I've had plenty of luck asking questions of production teams before and usually they work hard to be accurate and only choose not to
be when it would be very difficult to film with an accurate item.

Now this answer i am 100% on the reason the movie makers have got Colin Firth not wearing Balmoral tartan is that you cannot purchase this tartan without direct permission from the Royal households secretary.And righlty so this tartan is for members of the Royal familly one exception is the the Queens piper has to wear it.The reason i am 100% as i had to work on Queens Piper Jimmy Stout ex Queens Own Highlander with which i was the Master stitch, i had to get permission from her secretary to be given some yardage to do the task at hand.It was made quite clear that if any off cuttings or any form of this tartan appeared anywhere i would be looking for a new job and all offcuts were returned to Kinloch Anderson for disposal.I find it hardly unlikely that the film industry would be even considered for approval.

**figheadair** · 21st January 11, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by Arlen

Has anyone thought of contacting someone to ask what tartan they used and why?

I've had plenty of luck asking questions of production teams before and usually they work hard to be accurate and only choose not to
be when it would be very difficult to film with an accurate item.

I've been trying to contact them, in fact the costume designer, all week without success. Hope to get reply soon.

**figheadair** · 21st January 11, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by millykilts

Now this answer i am 100% on the reason the movie makers have got Colin Firth not wearing Balmoral tartan is that you cannot purchase this tartan without direct permission from the Royal households secretary.And righlty so this tartan is for members of the Royal familly one exception is the the Queens piper has to wear it.The reason i am 100% as i had to work on Queens Piper Jimmy Stout ex Queens Own Highlander with which i was the Master stitch, i had to get permission from her secretary to be given some yardage to do the task at hand.It was made quite clear that if any off cuttings or any form of this tartan appeared anywhere i would be looking for a new job and all offcuts were returned to Kinloch Anderson for disposal.I find it hardly unlikely that the film industry would be even considered for approval.

That's the case now but it wasn't always so. In the 1930s several manufacturers wove and sold the Balmoral commercially. As a result several different versions arose. The original was in fact technically a tweed and not tartan.