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Boys in England as far as we know historically did not wear kilts. In very recent times there was military action between Emgland and Scotland (18th century). After Bonnie Prince Charlie led the Scotts deep into England. The English finally defeated the Scotts at Culloden (1746). It seems unlikely that many English boys would wear clothing that that was associated with a national ememy. Attitudes towad Scotland began to change by the turn-of-the 19th century. Scottish Regiments began fighting alongside English regiments as part of the British Army. Scottish poets and novelists became popular in England, including a young Princess Victoria who developed a passion for Scotland, but as far as we know English boys did not begin wearing kilts. Without photography we cannot be positive. We do note that after Victiria became queen and the princes began to appear, she liked to dress them in kilts (1840s). The Royal Family had a huge influence on fashion. We are not sure how rapidly the British public adopted kilts for boys as a result of Victoria's choices. We are not even sure to what extent the public was aware of it. We are not sure tm what extent they were on public display. We have, however, very few English photographic images (1840s-50s). Queen Victoria's sons in 1851 wore kilts at the opening of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition in 1851. [Gagon, p.147.] We do have substtanial numbers of images with the appearance of CDVs and we see many English boys wearing kilts (1860s). The boys in the English royal family subsequently were often dressed in kilts. This was the case right through th children of Queen Elizabeth. Prince Charles' sons William and Harry, however, want nothing to do with kilts.
The Scottish kilt as a child's garment is a relatively recent phenomenon. The modern kilt, in fact, dates from only from the 18th century. It's use as a child's garment was largely due to Queen Victoria in the mid-19th century and her infatuation with Scotland. The young Queen, showing the romantic outlook of her younger years, outfitted her sons in flamboyant kilts. I'm not sure if this was actually the Queen'd idea or someone on her staff or even Prince Albert. Nor am I sure weather it was an inovative idea or just a popular fashion the Queen picked up on. Whose ever idea it was, the decission had an enormous impact on popularizing the style--at least among mothers. And it was the mothers that for generations had the virtual absolute disgression in choosing their sons clothes--usually with no consideration of the boys' opinions. The result was a long-lasting dress style for generations of British and American boys. Several variants of the kilts introduced by the Queen developed. The kilt suit was the most ubiqutous. Other styles in which kilt suits were made include sailor and Fauntleroy suits. While kilt suits have passed from the boys' fashion scene, the Scottish kilt continues to be worn today by schoolboys, Scouts, dancers, pipe bands, and participants at various formal occasions such as weddings where ring bearers, attendants, and even the groom might wear kilt.
There is along history of conflict betwwn England and Scotland. Since Norman times it was primarily England trying to conquer Scotand and Scotland trying to maintain its independence. The English and Scottish crowns were joined with James I (1603), but the two countrie were not unified until the Act of Union (1707). This came about primarily by bribing members of the Scottish Parliament. And initially it did not go well for Scotland. This was part of the reasons or the last great Highland raising. Thus in very recent times there was military action between Emgland and Scotland (18th century). And Bonnie Prince Charlie led the Scotts deep into England. The English finally defeated the Scotts at Culloden (1746). The supression of the ighland Cklans began. Both the bagpipe and kilt was banned. Boys in England as far as we know historically did not wear kilts. It seems unlikely that many English boys would wear clothing that that was associated with a historic enemy. With union this all began to change.
Attitudes toward Scotland began to change by the turn-of-the 19th century. Scottish Regiments began fighting alongside English regiments as part of the British Army. In fact, during the Napoleonic Wars, Scottish regiments became known for their bravery. The bagpipe began to be used by the British Army. Scottish poets and novelists became popular in England, duch as Robbie Burns and Sir Walter Scott. One of their fans was a young, impressionable Princess Victoria who developed a passion for Scotland. As far as we know, however, English boys did not begin wearing kilts in the early-19th century.
Without photography we cannot be positive. We do note that after Victiria became queen and the princes began to appear, she liked to dress them in kilts (1840s). The Royal Family had a huge influence on fashion. We are not sure how rapidly the British public adopted kilts for boys as a result of Victoria's choices. We are not even sure to what extent the public was aware of it. We are not sure tm what extent they were on public display. We have, however, very few English photographic images (1840s-50s). Queen Victoria's sons in 1851 wore kilts at the opening of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition in 1851. [Gagon, p.147.] We now think of Queen Victoria as the elderly grandmother dressed in black. But the young Vicroria was avery fashionable young mother just out of her teens. Prince Albert was also very fashionable and much more politically aware than Victoria. He had no particular interest in Scotland other than pleasing Victoria. He would have realized the potential benefit to the monarchy of creating ties to Scotland. The boys in the English royal family subsequently were often dressed in kilts. This was the case right through the children of Queen Elizabeth. Prince Charles' sons William and Harry, however, want nothing to do with kilts.
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 portraits. 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 continue to see English boys wearing kilts for formal occasions 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
Gagnon, Louise. "L'apparition des modes enfantines au Qu�bec" (institut qu�becois de la recherche sur la culture, 1979). Collection Edmond-de-nevers. No 11.
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