Scottish Highland Royal Court Dress Code

One of our clients at the coronation of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Saturday, 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey.

We have frequently engaged in discussions over the years regarding the historical context of civilian court dress (distinguishing it from court or military uniforms). Most recently, this topic resurfaced through a client email, prompting us to consider the opportune moment for a detailed blog post on this particular subject.

Court uniform and dress were required to be worn by those in attendance at the royal Court in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Court dress, is a stylized form of clothing deriving from fashionable eighteenth-century wear, which was directed to be worn at Court by those not entitled to a court uniform.

In 1898, a special dress with sword and dirk was allowed for Chiefs and petty Chiefs as a military uniform at court. By 1908, this was extended to Highland gentlemen, and comprised: kilt, sporran, doublet of cloth or velvet, Highland belts, claymore, dirk, long plaid.

Scottish Royal Court Dress Code 1912 changes, the qualification was absent and the description was more detailed. It was to comprise:

black silk velvet full dress doublet
set of silver Celtic or crested buttons
superfine tartan full dress kilt
short trews (if desired)
full dress tartan hose
full dress-length shoulder plaid
full dress white hair sporran, silver-mounted and tassels
dirk with knife and fork
sgian dubh (sock knife)
patent leather shoulder belt, silver-mounted
waist belt with silver clasp
silver mounted shoulder brooch
silver kilt pin
lace jabot
one pair buckles for instep of shoes
one pair small ankle buckles for shoes
full dress brogues
Highland claymore.
Glengarry or Balmoral, crest or ornament
Cross belt of leather (or metal mounted) for carrying the sword worn over the right shoulder.

By 1937, the shoulder plaid became shoulder plaid or belted plaid. Dress sporran could be hair, fur, or skin, any pattern. Footwear was dress shoes and brogues. Highland Bonnet, feather or feathers if entitled. Highland pistols and powder horn may be worn.

Dress Doublet- of velvet, cloth or tartan. Waistcoat ( if doublet is intended to be worn unbuttoned) - velvet, cloth, tartan; dress kilt; dress hose; plaid either shoulder or belted; shoulder brooch for plaid; dress sporran and strap or chain (sealskin, silver furnished top)- can be hair, fur, skin; Highland basket-hilt sword, black leather or metal mounted scabbard; sgian dubh (sock knife); dirk; kilt pin; jabot, lace (lace, silk, satin or lawn stock); cuffs, lace; Ghillie Brogue shoes (leather uppers, soles and tassels) or Dress shoes (with buckle); Highland Bonnet; belt and buckle ( leather and lined ); flashes; Highland pistols and powder horn may be worn; gloves are not worn.

One question that also came up is was there a Lowland version of court dress ( i.e trews etc ) The answer there is no. Lowland gentlemen dress like any other gentleman at Court. Highland gentlemen have that option too.