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

[Lallans]

I've seen photos where Prince Charles is wearing the following tartans:

Royal Stewart
Hunting Stewart
Stewart Old Sett
Dress Stewart
George VI
Balmoral
Rothesay
Lord Of the Isles
Gordon

The movie seems to be quite a surprise sleeper and is packing them in, in theatres I mean. But speaking of Lords of the Isles, what happened with them vis a vis the Royals? I occasionally catch passing references to the fact that the Royal Family has assumed authority over that clan- or something like that? Can anyone tell me?

[Biathlonman]

I haven't run to my history books or Wikipedia before writing this, so someone will surely improve on this answer - but the title Lord of the Isles was I believe one held by the MacDonalds - and was an outright challenge to the authority of the Scottish King in Edinburgh. With galleys and clansmen, you could effectively rule over Scotland's western isles. In those days Gael and Viking descendents were pretty much intertwined. Ethnically they were also different from the Stuart kings and those around him, who spoke Scots - rather than Gaelic.

At some time in the late Middle Ages the Stuarts became strong enough to depose the Macdonalds, and take the title for themselves - which is passed on today to the present heir to the throne.

[Biathlonman]

FYI - A Glasgow journalist is looking into this issue as a possible media story there - he's read our thread and will try to get info on the mystery tartan direct from the production company.

I won't reveal his name and embarrass him if the story is never published, (many such story ideas never fly with an editor) but it isn't just enthusiasts who are curious about this. The King's Speech isn't just any movie, but an Oscar contender. Could also be nominated for costume design. That makes this question pretty newsworthy.

[Lallans]

I haven't run to my history books or Wikipedia before writing this, so someone will surely improve on this answer - but the title Lord of the Isles was I believe one held by the MacDonalds - and was an outright challenge to the authority of the Scottish King in Edinburgh. With galleys and clansmen, you could effectively rule over Scotland's western isles. In those days Gael and Viking descendents were pretty much intertwined. Ethnically they were also different from the Stuart kings and those around him, who spoke Scots - rather than Gaelic.

At some time in the late Middle Ages the Stuarts became strong enough to depose the Macdonalds, and take the title for themselves - which is passed on today to the present heir to the throne.

Something I certainly should have known... but didn't. Merci!

[xman]

I haven't run to my history books or Wikipedia before writing this, so someone will surely improve on this answer ...

Why not ...

Good John of Islay, sided with England during their War of the Roses and for this treachery to the Scottish crown, was stripped of the title Lord of the Isles. For his failure he was usurped and was driven out.

From Wikipedia:

The Lordship had always depended on territorial expansion to give life to its warrior values; but now that it was contracting all of the latent tensions came forth, finding expression in the person of Angus Óg. Angus, according to Hugh Macdonald, ejected John both from the leadership of the clan and from his own home, forcing him to seek shelter under an old boat. Afterwards John managed to gain some support. His fleet of galleys met those of Angus sometime in the early 1480s-we cannot be more precise than that-off the coast of Mull to the north-west of the present town of Tobermory, an area ever afterwards to be known as Bloody Bay. The Battle of Bloody Bay was a complete victory for Angus[citation needed], who continued to dominate the affairs of Clan Donald up to his murder in 1490.

[BoldHighlander]

But speaking of Lords of the Isles, what happened with them vis a vis the Royals? I occasionally catch passing references to the fact that the Royal Family has assumed authority over that clan- or something like that? Can anyone tell me?

For an even more in depth look at the struggles between the Macdonalds & the Stuarts, I'd highly recommend going to The History of Scotland thread and viewing episode 4.

[ForresterModern]

As to the tartan, definitely not standard Douglas as the white stripes are too close and there is no intervening double azure between. I though maybe Mackenzie hunting but from the earlier close up it does not seem to fit either. The guess at County Kerry seems like the closest so far.

By the way there is a rare/reproduction sett of Douglas that does have brown in it, namely Douglas Brown (WR2523) from original MacBean & Bishop listing.



Cannot imagine the movie going for a custom/rare sett like that when there are so many others more readily available and likely more appropriate.

Also, Weathered Douglas also has a faint brown in it.

[Duke of Delrio]

I really have no idea which tartan was used in the film. It would be
nice, I suppose, to know.

But I pose this question about which tartan "should" have been
used in order to preserve authenticity. Would not HRH The Duke
of York have had every right to have worn any unrestricted tartan?
And similarly, would he not have had the right to wear an unregistered
tartan?

As I understand the scene, the journey was to Balmoral, the private
estate of the Royal Family, and not to a public venue. Could he not have
worn nearly any tartan that pleased him?

[JSFMACLJR]

I really have no idea which tartan was used in the film. It would be
nice, I suppose, to know.

But I pose this question about which tartan "should" have been
used in order to preserve authenticity. Would not HRH The Duke
of York have had every right to have worn any unrestricted tartan?
And similarly, would he not have had the right to wear an unregistered
tartan?

As I understand the scene, the journey was to Balmoral, the private
estate of the Royal Family, and not to a public venue. Could he not have
worn nearly any tartan that pleased him?

Of course he could, just like you or I could wear any tartan ( with very few exceptions ) we wish to...but good taste and convention put the brakes on that. The Duke of York would have worn a kilt made of a tartan to which he has a direct association. Why? Because it's just done that way.

As to what was worn in the movie, I highly doubt it was a tartan worn by the Royal Family. But who cares?

[davidlpope]

Jeannie and I saw this movie yesterday afternoon and it was wonderful. I was really taken by Colin Firth's ability to play someone who stammers so convincingly. He and Geoffery Rush had a convincing on-screen friendship and other roles, such as Helena Bonham Carter's and the actress portraying Wallis Simpson, were well done.

I took special note during the Balmoral scenes and am convinced that the tartan that Colin Firth is wearing is County Kerry. He also appears to be wearing a basic Charcoal tweed kilt jacket/waistcoat, a modern seal dress sporran, dark kilt hose (black?) and ghillie brogues. The rest of the costuming, though, seemed to be very well thought out and Guy Pierce's tweed suit during these scenes looks very much like that the the Duke of Windsor wore.