Prince William may abandon the kilt tradition when he becomes King, as he has not been seen wearing one in public as an adult, unlike his father, King Charles.
Royal summer at Balmoral
As the summer season continues, the Royal Family have a lighter workload and are expected to spend time together at the Balmoral estate in Scotland. Balmoral summer holidays have long been a tradition, cemented by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Each year, many royals are invited to the Aberdeenshire estate for outdoor activities and family time before duties resume in September. For the King, wearing a kilt is another tradition of spending summer in Scotland.
King Charles and the kilt
King Charles has been seen wearing kilts in various tartans for public engagements in Scotland. Recently, he met locals in Dingwall wearing a green, blue and red tartan kilt with a sporran. Days earlier, he attended the Mey Highland Games in Caithness in a Balmoral royal tartan kilt.
While there is no official obligation to wear kilts in Scotland, the King chooses to keep the tradition alive.
William's choice
Prince William, who holds the Scottish titles of Duke of Rothesay and Lord of the Isles, has not worn a kilt for public engagements as an adult. The last time he was pictured in one was as a child with his brother Prince Harry. He notably opted out of wearing a kilt for his graduation from the University of St Andrews.
Generations of royals, including his grandfather Prince Philip, have worn kilts in Scotland. The family even has its own Balmoral tartan, a grey, black and red design created by Prince Albert in 1857.
Summer plans and expert view
William and his family are expected to spend time in Balmoral this month before Prince George starts at Eton College in September. Royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror that the estate's landscape is perfect for the Wales family to recharge.
Bond said: “The summer stay up there has always been a time primarily for William, Catherine and the rest of the family to gather in the peace of the Scottish countryside after the busyness and noise of their working lives in London and elsewhere.
“It’s a ‘breathe, relax and be still’ kind of place, and that’s what they all love about it. Its beauty is undeniable, but the castle really is quite remote, and it’s the sort of place where you have to make your own fun. That, however, is something that generations of the Royal Family seem very well equipped to do. They walk and romp, play games and ride, and fish and shoot (when in season) - it’s part of Balmoral life.
“The Balmoral holiday is an important tradition for the family when quite a lot of them can spend time together away from work, away from the cameras and very seriously off-duty. Generation after generation seem to have fallen under the spell of the castle and its grounds.”
