Figure 1.--This unidentified English boy had his portrait taken in a Highland outfit during 1877. The CDV portrait was taken in Teignmouth which is located along the English Channel in Devon. Queen Victoria introduced the style in England during the 1840s and it became fashionable among affluent English families.

As far as we know, English boys did not begin wearing kilts until Queen Victoria and Prince Albert began dressing the young princes in them. This would have been some time in the 1840s, although I am not sure about the precise year. I am not sure just how rapidly the fashion caught on. For some reason we have not been able to find English daguerreotype portaits. We do begin to see English boys dressed in kilts in the 1860s when CDVs become available. The boys involved are boys from aristocratic or affluent families. We mostly see formal Highland outfits. And we mostly see them wearing these outfits for formal occassions such as parties and weddings or portraits. They were not worn for school or casual wear. Here we see an English boy in a formal Highland outfit in 1877 (figure 1). We continue to see English boys wearing kilts for formal occassions and portraits throughout the 19th century. This continued to be the case in the Edwardian era in the early 20th century. This changed after World War I (1914-18). We see very few such portraits after the War, although there were a few exceptions such as the Royal Family. But they generally only wore kilts when they went up to the royal residence, Balmoral in Scotland.

The 18th Century

As far as we know, English bpys did not wear kilts in the 18th century. Both England's relations with Scotland and general attitudes toward the Scotts make ths unlikely. After the Jacobin Rebellion and defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie on Culloden Moot (1745-46), the kilt was even banned in Scotlans, making it unlikely that it would have been worn in Enflnd.

The 19th Century

English attitudes toward Scotland went through a sea change begiining at the turn-of-the 19th century. Scottish regiments became ainf of shock troops of Empire. And their performance during the Napoleonic wars was widely noted. And Scottish authors like Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott attracted large, admiring readerships. With that foundation an impressionable young princess who had been stirred by such works stepped on to the British stage--Queen Victoria (1837). The result was the growth of romantic notions about Scotlsnd. As far as we know, English boys did not begin wearing kilts until Queen Victoria and Prince Albert began dressing the young princes in them. This would have been some time in the 1840s, although I am not sure about the precise year. we are not sure just how rapidly the fashion for boys caught on. For some reason we have not been able to find English Daguerreotype portraits. Photographs from the 1840s abd 50s seem much rarer than in America. We think some English boys wore kilts in the 40s and 50s, but we have not yet found any photograohs outside the royal family. We do begin to see English boys dressed in kilts in the 1860s when CDVs become available. The boys involved are boys from aristocratic or other affluent families. We are less sure about middle-class families. We mostly see formal Highland outfits. Boys also wore kilt suits, but we think that they were less common than in America. Perhaps this was because English mothers were more aware of just what a kilt was or perhaps more taken with the mystique of Scotland. As far as we know, the British princes never wore kilt suits. And we mostly see them wearing these outfits for formal occassions such as parties and weddings or portraits. Here we see an English boy in a formal Highland outfit in 1877 (figure 1). We continue to see English boys wearing kilts for formal occassions and portraits throughout the 19th century.

The 20th Century

After the turn-of-the 20th century, the kilt rapidly disappeared as a boy's garment of any importance. Upper-class and even middle-clss boys English boys continued to wear kilts in the Edwardian era during the early 20th century before World War I. We do notsee working-class or even lower-middle class boys wering these outfits. Here both praticality and cost my be factors. This was mostly outfits for special occassions. Although we think that wealth was a factor. Boys from wealthy families might wear wear these outfits even for play. We think it was less common than in the late-19th century. We notice the Royal Family. But the boys generally only wore kilts when they went up to the royal residence, Balmoral in Scotland. This seemed to have been the case based on prevalnce in the photographic record. We see a few examples, but this was increasingly only for formall occassions. This changed after World War I (1914-18). This is one of countless fshin changes we have noticed. Our English archive is not huge, but there were definitedly fewer exmples after the war and even more so after the 1920s. And always just for formal occassions. We see very few such portraits after the War,

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Created: 7:17 PM 10/18/2007
Last updated: 10:42 PM 1/16/2016