Who Was Prince Charlie Anyway?

[Jock Scot]

The Prince Charlie is a very similar cut to the type of mess jackets worn by the military and is probably a "civilianised" version. Officers would wear their full dress uniforms to social events and civilians would want something similar to look as good and impress the ladies - it just didn't have the big epaulettes and silver or gold braid. The double breasted Montrose is also known as a military doublet and no doubt has similar origins. There does not appear to be any equestrian link though. The type of jacket worn by the hunting fraternity (the unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible) was generally bright red (pink they call it) and a longer jacket but without any of the embellishments such as cuff details, epaulettes, silver buttons, tashes etc.

I have seen many hunting pictures,of the 1800's period,where the huntsmen are wearing a jacket with short tails very much like a PC.My old hunting jacket,cut more like a long sports coat, was yellow(lemon we call it) with silver crested buttons,green collar with a silver bullion fox on either side of the collar.

[Phil]

I have seen many hunting pictures,of the 1800's period,where the huntsmen are wearing a jacket with short tails very much like a PC.My old hunting jacket,cut more like a long sports coat, was yellow(lemon we call it) with silver crested buttons,green collar with a silver bullion fox on either side of the collar.

I looked but couldn't find any of the jackets you describe. Here is what is mostly worn nowadays -



and a couple of older Victorian prints and they are pretty well the same -



.

I suppose, like everything else, there would be regional variations though.