Article: When tartan won the royal seal of approval

Edinburgh will witness the greatest-ever clan gathering later this month, but where did this celebration of all things tartan begin? Jim Gilchrist reveals its origins lie in a royal visit to the capital in 1822 by a reluctant George IV

BRING forrit the tartan, as they say... but perhaps skip the pink hose. As an anticipated 6,000 clansfolk, home-grown or global Scots diaspora, tramp up the cobbles of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, or converge on Holyrood Park in what is being billed as Scotland's greatest-ever clan gathering on 25-26 July, they might do well to recall King George IV's visit to Edinburgh in 1822, an event which not only prefigured such colourful assemblies as The Gathering, but ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!