King Charles III and Queen Camilla were at Edinburgh Castle to attend the celebrations for the 900th anniversary of the Scottish capital. On this occasion, the monarch naturally donned his finest kilts. Indeed, as Gala reports, this is one of the royal traditions of this part of the country.
Moreover, all the men of the British royal family wear kilts or tartan skirts for official events in Scotland. King Charles III and his late father, Prince Philip, have been seen in such attire before, and this was also the case long before them.
While the men of the royal family often wear this traditional attire to please the Scottish people, this isn't the case for everyone. Prince William, in particular, seems rather reluctant to embrace this tradition, as he has never appeared in a kilt. The same is true for his brother, Prince Harry.
While they have never explained why, it may even date back to their childhood. Indeed, in a photograph from 1997, King Charles III (then a prince) can be seen visiting Scotland with his two sons. While he is wearing a kilt, William and Harry are not, wearing trousers. Prince William also studied at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. At his graduation ceremony, he too opted for a more conventional outfit rather than the traditional kilt.
According to Richard Kay, a journalist for the Daily Mail, they can't be blamed, as this tradition is actually more of an "internal family rule" than a protocol. Wearing a kilt is therefore not a real obligation. However, the royal family has always complied, to please the Scots. "The men wear kilts not only for official outings and duties, but also during their leisure time," explains the journalist. "Even Princess Diana, who didn't like the Scottish style, used to make an effort, like wearing a tam o' shanter (a traditional Scottish beret), much to the delight of the Celtic community."
Could Prince William change his mind and end up wearing a kilt, or is it a tradition he will end when he becomes king? For now, nothing is certain, but the second option is likely to disappoint the Scots.
