Clan Chiefs Pleating Preferences

[Jock Scot]

Doesn't Struan Robertson have a chief's kilt with a white stripe added to Robertson red?

I did not know that,thank you. Any more?

[raibeart_dubh]

I did not know that,thank you. Any more?

It looks like MacNab may have one as well:

http://www.macnabclanuk.org/tartan.html

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Along the same lines of questioning-- I vaguely recall something about the size of the sett being different for chiefs... another raisin in the Victorian pudding, or is there some latent truth to this?

Sounds like another myth to me, though I wouldn't be surprised if someone somewhere could dig up an instance of a chief who wished his personal version of the tartan to be a different set size. Most myths have a kernal of truth to them, but I have never personally encountered such a case.

It would be hard to regulate in any case as sett size typically will differ not only from mill to mill, but also from the same mill over time, and from the same mill in different fabric weights.

[Ryan Ross]

Sounds like another myth to me, though I wouldn't be surprised if someone somewhere could dig up an instance of a chief who wished his personal version of the tartan to be a different set size. Most myths have a kernal of truth to them, but I have never personally encountered such a case.

The first thing that popped to my mind, after reading your post, was that kilt that the MacGregor sometimes wears.

Remember the one? Rob Roy tartan("Mac Gregor Red&Black"), with squares that are 2 or so inches to a side.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I remember years ago that the then Chief of Clan MacMillan went to the trouble of having kilts made in MacMillan Hunting, Ancient Colours, at a time when nobody had ever seen that take on the tartan. The idea was that this would be the "official" tartan of the Chief and his family... What can I say. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and at the next clan gathering virtually everybody was wearing the Chief's tartan...

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I believe that the law regarding names and signatures has been amended, or perhaps superseded is a better term, and it is now lawful in the United Kingdom for one to sign their name in any manner they please.

That bit of trivia aside, many peers continue to use their courtesy title after they accede to the superior title, simply to avoid social/official confusion. Virtually all peers use their title as their "last name"-- Merlin Erroll, for example, who's family name is Hay-- so His Grace is merely following social custom when he introduces himself as "Richard Buccleuth".