Newbe Question alert: Okay to wear other tartan?

[Sir Robert]

Royal Stewart tartan is kinda the property of HRH Elizabeth II by default, she says that this is a universal tartan so anyone can wear it. There is a IIRC Balmoral tartan that you can't buy that is effectively restricted to the Royals. Any tartan that you can buy is fair game but some clans do act like you are the worst sort of sinner to wear "their" tartan.

There are dozens and dozens of tartans that are "Universal" and only drunk guys at Highland games will give you greif for wearing them because they will mistake them for their own tartan. But this happens no mater what so be happy wear a kilt in the tartan of YOUR choice.

[Monkey@Arms]

There's no law against it. Just wear them with respect and a little knowledge of their history and background. Take a look at this thread-

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...7&page=1&pp=10

Damn you, Southern Breeze. I had never seen that thread before and had to stay up till 1:30 am to make it all the way through to the end.

Best regards,

Jake

[Don Patrick]

Newbe Question alert: Okay to wear other tartan? Can I wear a Stewart tartan or any other for that matter? Do I have to be affiliated with the Clan?


Thanks
Kevin

There do seem to be some rules governing tartans. They are:

"Definition of Clans, Septs & Family Associations Tartans

There are no strict rules on who has the right to wear a particular tartan. People normally wear only the tartan (if any) of their surname, or a "district tartan" connected with where they live or where their family come from.

Wearing a particular clan tartan indicates that the wearer bears an allegiance to the chief of that clan. A tartan which uses the name of a clan may only do so if the chief of that clan has given his approval to the particular design.

There is no official register of tartan. Records of designs are maintained by the Scottish Tartans Authority, Fraser House, 25 Commissioner Street, Crieff, Perthshire, PH7 3A Y."

This comes from The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs http://www.clanchiefs.org/clans_tartan.html

A list on the site indicates quite a number of the Scottish Chiefs are a members of this council.

[Kilted-Marine]

The Royal Stewart Tartan is the tartan of the royal House of Stewart, and is also the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II. It is said to be appropriate for all subjects of Elizabeth II to wear the Royal Stewart tartan, much in the same way that clansmen may wear the tartan of their clan chief. Officially, the tartan is worn by numerous military groups, and a select few civilian groups. The 5th Potters Bar Scout Group wear the scarf officially, with permission from the Queen.

[macwilkin]

The Royal Stewart Tartan is the tartan of the royal House of Stewart, and is also the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II. It is said to be appropriate for all subjects of Elizabeth II to wear the Royal Stewart tartan, much in the same way that clansmen may wear the tartan of their clan chief. Officially, the tartan is worn by numerous military groups, and a select few civilian groups. The 5th Potters Bar Scout Group wear the scarf officially, with permission from the Queen.

This is a bit of a "sticky wicket"; yes, the Royal Stewart tartan is a de facto "universal" tartan in the simple fact that it is everywhere you turn around -- but I have yet to see anything official that says that any subject of HM Queen Elizabeth may wear it.

Technically, permission to wear the tartan was given by the sovereign; for example, pipers of the Black Watch, the Royal Scots and the KOSB were given permission to wear it.

An article on the British Monarchy's web site has this to say:

During The Queen's stay on her private estate in Scotland, the Balmoral Tartan is worn. The Royal Stewart and Balmoral Tartans are recognised as 'royal' tartans, The Royal Stewart is considered the tartan of the Royal House of Stewart (or Stuart).

-- http://www.royal.gov.uk/OutPut/Page3370.asp

Personally, I won't wear it -- but that's just me.

Todd

[Don Patrick]

Todd,

I agree with you, but in doing so you've reminded me of something I've been over looking. One of my Gray ancesters was crowned Queen of Enland for two weeks. Unfortuneately it was a short reign, she was beheaded at the tower.

That would mean that the Grays would be entitled to wear the Stewart - or not? Not that I plan to rush out and buy a Stewart, but I could always think about it.

Unfortuneately we have no clan chief. The clan chief of the Campbells is a barrel-named (double-named) Chief. He would also be Chief of the Grays. Even with both names he is prohibited from being officially recognized to be the chief of both. I'm told he chose to be chief of the Campbells.

[McClef]

Lady Jane Grey was not descended from the Stewarts, her mother was Frances Brandon, the daughter of Henry VIII's sister Mary. Another sister of Henry VIII, Margaret, did marry into the Stewarts however. Henry's will had excluded her from the succession although she, being older, would have had the better claim.

Jane therefore was only related to the Stewarts through her great aunt.

Jane refused the crown but was told to try it on by her parents and did so out of a sense of filial duty, but she never had a proper coronation.

[Don Patrick]

McClef,

You certainly know the Grays! I didn't realize how well known that fact was - since it's said she was Queen of England for only nine days in 1553. I had understood it was her father that caused the problem.

I put Campbell in my previous post, but began having some mild doubts about that - now I can't seem to find my notes on the matter.

Guess I can forget about the Stewart Tartan.

[cacunn]

I thought that if you wore another clans tartan you had to wear it with the pleats in front to indicated you were backing into the privilege.



Bad pun

[McClef]

Don,

Jane is well-known over here in the UK, one of those facts that "every schoolboy knows"

But I did a lot of reading up on the Tudors and the Stewarts for my own interest anyway.

Wiki is quite good on Jane http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Jane_Grey

And if you like movies I can recommend Lady Jane starring Helena Bonham-Carter and Cary Elwes with Patrick Stewart playing Jane's father.

That's the only real Stewart connection

But the Stewart tartans are considered universal anyway so don't let the Grey unrelatedness put you off.