Balmoral Tartan at Balmoral. 1

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 25th July 12, 03:55 AM

Alex,

That doesn't seem to be the Balmoral tartan Arthur is wearing in your pic. Hard to tell -- it could just be the smaller sett size that is throwing me, but the pattern does not look the same. Could it possibly be the City of Edinburgh tartan (not the popular blue one, there is a black, white & red one)?

Steve is correct in the fact that it has only been since 1932 that the Royal Family has chosen to restrict sale and usage of this tartan. Prior to that it was sold quite commonly as a fashion tartan, similar, I suppose, to the way the Princess Diana tartan is sold today.

**Jock Scot** · 25th July 12, 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Steve is correct in the fact that it has only been since 1932 that the Royal Family has chosen to restrict sale and usage of this tartan. Prior to that it was sold quite commonly as a fashion tartan, similar, I suppose, to the way the Princess Diana tartan is sold today.

Well, I have to admit that I did not know that.

**artificer** · 25th July 12, 04:07 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Alex,

That doesn't seem to be the Balmoral tartan Arthur is wearing in your pic. Hard to tell -- it could just be the smaller sett size that is throwing me, but the pattern does not look the same. Could it possibly be the City of Edinburgh tartan (not the popular blue one, there is a black, white & red one)?

Steve is correct in the fact that it has only been since 1932 that the Royal Family has chosen to restrict sale and usage of this tartan. Prior to that it was sold quite commonly as a fashion tartan, similar, I suppose, to the way the Princess Diana tartan is sold today.

Matt,

As I understand it, the Earl of St. Andrews tartan was also restricted tartan for rather a long time, yes?

**figheadair** · 25th July 12, 04:15 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Steve is correct in the fact that it has only been since 1932 that the Royal Family has chosen to restrict sale and usage of this tartan. Prior to that it was sold quite commonly as a fashion tartan, similar, I suppose, to the way the Princess Diana tartan is sold today.

It's also worth pointing out that this restriction is in essence a gentlemen's agreement and in deference to the Royal Family's wishes. The design is well out of copyright and there is technically nothing to prevent anyone from weaving or selling the pattern either as tartan or in the original tweed version.

**cessna152towser** · 25th July 12, 04:25 AM

Alex,

That doesn't seem to be the Balmoral tartan Arthur is wearing in your pic. Hard to tell -- it could just be the smaller sett size that is throwing me, but the pattern does not look the same. Could it possibly be the City of Edinburgh tartan (not the popular blue one, there is a black, white & red one)?

Yes indeed Matt, I can only go on what the late Mr. Squair told people when they asked him about his tartan.

A search of Balmoral in the Scottish Tartans Register brings up about half a dozen tartans of that name, only one of which is the Balmoral (Royal).

**Jock Scot** · 25th July 12, 04:27 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

It's also worth pointing out that this restriction is in essence a gentlemen's agreement and in deference to the Royal Family's wishes. The design is well out of copyright and there is technically nothing to prevent anyone from weaving or selling the pattern either as tartan or in the original tweed version.

Those thoughts were running through my mind after digesting what Steve and Matt had being saying. Nice to know that there are still some gentlemen about to be able to agree with!

**JSFMACLJR** · 25th July 12, 08:17 AM

And here is a photo of a relatively recent Queen's Piper:

**CMcG** · 25th July 12, 08:33 AM

This is very informative and interesting. Thanks for the pics, all!

**davidlpope** · 25th July 12, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

And here is a photo of a relatively recent Queen's Piper:

It would appear that his hose were knitted too short, judging by the gap between the diamond on the turnover and the next adjacent diamond on the leg...

**Jock Scot** · 25th July 12, 09:18 PM

I was just looking at the first pictures again and a thought came to me, that we are looking at a kilt that is over 100 years old, so a question for the kiltmaking experts.

I know that we are looking at not very good pictures and we are not able to study the kilt in close detail and knowing that experts--yes you are----can see things that us mere mortals do not see, so are there things different on this kilt to todays kilt, build ,pleats, that sort of thing?