A long-standing royal tradition dating back to the 19th century could come to an end when Prince William takes the throne.
King Charles has long favoured traditional Scottish attire since spending his childhood summers in Scotland. He's been seen wearing kilts in an array of tartan patterns each year while holidaying at the royal family's Balmoral Castle estate in Aberdeenshire and attending Scottish ceremonial events.
The monarch was recently seen grinning from ear to ear when he visited the Scottish Highlands last week ahead of his retreat to Balmoral for the summer break. While meeting with locals in Dingwall on 7 August, the royal was pictured wearing a traditional kilt with a green, blue and red tartan pattern, complete with a sporran. Days earlier, Charles oversaw the Mey Highland Games in Caithness in a Balmoral royal tartan.
© Getty ImagesThough there's no official obligation for the royals to wear kilts, Charles' eldest son has not inherited the same personal preference for traditional Highland attire. While he holds the Scottish titles of Duke of Rothesay and Lord of the Isles, William has broken the royal norm by not publicly wearing the traditional Scottish garment as an adult, instead keeping to conventional formalwear for his engagements.
The last time William was pictured in the garment was alongside his brother Prince Harry when they were children in official family portraits. William has not publicly addressed his aversion to kilts but has notably opted not to wear one for his visits to Scotland and on milestones like his graduation from the University of St Andrews.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetRoyal history with the kilt
Before William, male members of the royal family have long dressed in kilts while carrying out engagements across Scotland and visiting their royal residences. They even have their own traditional tartan, called the Balmoral tartan, which is a grey, black and red design created by Prince Albert in 1857.
Charles has been wearing the Balmoral tartan since he was a child. He was adorably dressed in a kilt in an official portrait released by the palace in 1955 and was pictured in tartan while spending time with his sons by the River Dee on the Balmoral Castle Estate in 1997.
© Getty ImagesCharles' late father, Prince Philip, was regularly kilted throughout his decades in public. While attending the annual Braemar Highland Gathering in 2005 with his grandson Prince William, Philip opted for a red tartan while William kept to a suit jacket and trousers.
While traditionally worn by men, Queen Camilla honoured the traditional dress of Scotland earlier in the summer while visiting Edinburgh with the King. Camilla stepped out in a vibrant red kilt to open the Scottish Parliament alongside her husband, who was also clad in tartan.
