Figure 1.--Here we see a CDV portrait of Prince Arthur. He looks about 8-9 years old, so it woukd have been taken about 1859-60 just when CDVs first appeared. He is not wearing atraditional Highland kilt. His kilt is a light-solid color rather thsn a plaid. His socks have a top band, looking more like schoo than Scottish socks. He looks to be holding a Balmoral tam. I am not sure, but he seems toi have a very low-hanging sporan. Perhaps our Scottish readers will know more about that. Notice the royal crest on the pillar.

We have only limited information at this time about the clothes Prince Arthur wore as a boy. Arthur like his older brother wore dresses as a little boy. I have few details on the dresses, but there seem to have been little difference between the boys' dresss and those of his sisters. The famous painting by Winterhalter shows his older brother in a tunic and Arthur at about 2 years in a dress with a low cut neck, just like his sisters. I do not know when Arthur was breeched or just what kind of ceremony, if any, occurred. After he was breeched, Arthur was mostly dressed in kilts and sailor suits. He and his older brother often wore identical Higland kilt outfits while in Scotland. I assume they also wore identical sailor suits, but I have no images confirming this.

Dresses

Arthur like his older brother wore dresses as a little boy. I have few details on the dresses, but there seem to have been little difference between the boys' dresss and those of his sisters. The famous painting by Winterhalter shows his older brother in a tunic and Arthur at about 2 years in a dress with a low cut neck, just like his sisters.

Kilts

I do not know when Arthur was breeched or just what kind of ceremony, if any, occurred. After he was breeched, Arthur was mostly dressed in kilts and sailor suits. He and his older brother often wore identical Higland kilt outfits while in Scotland. Here we see a CDV portrait of Prince Arthur. He looks about 8-9 years old, so it would have been taken about 1859-60 just when CDVs first appeared. He is not wearing atraditional Highland kilt. His kilt is a light-solid color rather thsn s plaid. His socks have a top band, looking more like schoo than Scottish socks. He looks to be holding a Balmoral tam with two streamers. I am not sure, but he seems toi have a very low-hanging sporan. Perhaps our Scottish readers will know more about that. We do not know where he was photographed. A British reader writes, "This is an unusual 'kilt'. It is made of a light coloured cloth, but with a dark band just above the hem. Being a boy's garment, I can see no wrap over panel, which should be fringed and visible on the Prince's right. The photograph is not very clear though. I think the sporran is about right. You will see quite often the Royals wearing sporrans with very long 'beards', as a friend of mine describes the lion's mane. "

Sailor Suits

I assume they also wore identical sailor suits, but I have no images confirming this.

Created: 10:13 PM 11/16/2009
Last updated: 4:52 PM 11/17/2009