Gray Tartan

[Archangel]

Any "rules" about wearing a particular tartan are artificial. There are some courtesies but no "rules". The Romantic ideals are nice but they don't pertain to Scottish (or Celtic) Heraldry.

A lot of people confuse Scottish heraldry with English type heraldry. It's completely different, bloodlines play only a small part in it. Think more of it as an alliance structure, it's much more tribal. Heck, for the ancient Irish clans, a good singing voice was more important than blood when selecting a chief.

If you wish to identify with the Royal family, go for it. A lot of other people have. Nobody is going to confuse a wearer of a "Royal" tartan as a claimant to the throne. Especially if its a rather tenuous link to less than a fortnight's confusion that happened over 450 years ago.

So, was Lady Jane actually Queen for that time period? Yes, England is never without a monarch. That's why there is that strange phrase, "the King is dead, long live the King." There is always an ascendancy, the formality follows that. You can argue that she was the "Wrongful Queen" until the "Rightful Queen" was recognized a week or two later but she was still Queen. Again, don't confuse the structures of Monarch with democracy, there's a reason people wanted to get away from Monarchies.

I know this sounds harsh, and I really mean no offense, but the tartan is not legislated. It's your call what you want to wear. Courtesy and sense suggest that you should be aware of the identification and Her Majesty should appreciate you choosing to ally with her. I hope she accepts.

I like it when I see the various McGregor tartans being worn. I like it when I see the Maple Leaf tartan being worn. But that's all, no one has the "right" to forbid any more than the "right" to expect help in a fight (although, McMurdo, pitch right in, ha).

Quick disclaimer: some tartans are proprietary: the owners control the buying and selling. I don't know if they can control the wearing of them.

[McClef]

Didn't Jane Grey, queen or not, die without issue?

Yes she did.