# Prince Charles in a Kilt. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 15, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135 "2007-05-15T02:14:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/1 "2007-05-15T02:14:31Z")
Why does Prince Charles of England sometimes appear in a kilt? He is English isn’t he? So why does he sometimes wear a kilt? Thank you in advance to all who reply 🙂🙂🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/2 "2007-05-15T02:19:50Z")
I would imagine it’s because he’s the Prince of Wales, and some Welsh wear kilts for formal occasions. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/3 "2007-05-15T02:22:35Z")
He is also the Duke of Rothesay - heir apparent to the throne of Scotland. [wiki linki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Rothesay) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/4 "2007-05-15T02:26:57Z")
I think the male Royals always wear kilts when they’re in Scotland. Whenever you see them at Balmoral they’ve always got skirts on. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/5 "2007-05-15T02:29:28Z")
Sorry, hamsters ate my edit: Clarification: his title in Scotland is Duke of Rothesay - the role of which _used to be_ the heir, but Scotland doesn’t have an independent crown anymore. Still, he has a ceremonial connection as Scotland’s future leader, and will wear a kilt to emphasize his Scottish connections at times. Plus, have you worn a kilt? Damn comfy, I hear. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/6 "2007-05-15T03:48:41Z")
Which tartan does he use? Do the Windsors have their own or does he use Stuart? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/7 "2007-05-15T05:19:12Z")
Sources I found online say Prince Charles wears the tartan of the Black Watch. [http://www.clangrant-us.org/images/ancient-black-watch.jpg](http://www.clangrant-us.org/images/ancient-black-watch.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/8 "2007-05-15T05:48:42Z")
As others have noted, Charles _is_ heir to the throne that includes Scotland. Besides, the Scottish Clan tartans were invented by 19th century Englishmen anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/9 "2007-05-15T06:04:00Z")
Prince Charles can wear all sorts of tartans. As Duke of Rothesay, he can wear either the [hunting tartan](http://www.scottishlion.com/dukofrothunm.html) or the [regular one](http://www.scottishlion.com/dukofrottar.html). He might slip into something in a [Lord od the Isles](http://www.houseoftartan.co.uk/scottish/itempg.asp?itemid=645319895&pc=451&TartanID=0618&Subcatid=9453) design. He could wear the family tartan which is Stewart also available in a hunting variety (both of these are also worn by the [Black Watch](http://www.army.mod.uk/royalscots/rhq/badges/index.htm). I’m sure there are others he wears as the occasion demands. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/10 "2007-05-15T09:44:22Z")
[QUOTE=Jim B.] Why does Prince Charles of England sometimes appear in a kilt? He is English isn’t he? So why does he sometimes wear a kilt? [/QUOTE] He’s English, but he’s not a prince of England just as the Queen is not Queen of England, but of the UK. England (with Wales) has not been a separate state since the union with Scotland 300 years ago. The Royals spend a lot of time in Scotland, anyway. They seem to enjoy all the opportunities there are to shoot things there. ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/11 "2007-05-15T10:33:41Z")
For some time kilts, or rather tartans were banned in Scotland, in Victorian times they were revived and sort of formalized. It is partly courtesy, but partly because for some odd reason English males like wearing kilts. Charles is of course entitled to. I wonder, there is a business opportunity here, an English woad tartan … ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/12 "2007-05-15T12:01:44Z")
[QUOTE=Cerowyn] As others have noted, Charles _is_ heir to the throne that includes Scotland. Besides, the Scottish Clan tartans were invented by 19th century Englishmen anyway. [/QUOTE] Huh? [Here](http://www.clangregor.org/article-ourtartans.html) is an article written by my Clan Chief about tartans. Having posted that particular link, I must say it’s quite unlikely Prince Charles would ever wear a Clan Gregor Tartan. If anyone has a (non-photoshopped) picture of him doing so, please post it here. ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-charles-in-a-kilt/404135/13 "2007-05-15T14:47:38Z")
Depends on your definition of “English” - his maternal grandmother was Scottish ([cite](http://www.royalty.nu/Europe/England/Windsor/QueenMother.html) ).