George IV's Highland Dress Accoutrements

George IV visited Scotland in 1822 and it's a hugely significant moment. It was particularly significant to the Scots because no reigning monarch had visited Scotland since the time of Charles II. The person most responsible for the planning of George IV's visit was the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. Scott was very keen to present Scotland as a unified country and encouraged all the Highland chiefs to come down to Edinburgh for the occasion, bring their clansmen and wear their traditional tartan outfits. The accoutrements were ordered as part of George IV's Highland dress outfits. They were all ordered from George Hunters, the makers on Princes Street who specialised in Highland dress. The pieces that survive from George IV's outfit include two belts. These have a jewelled clasp decorated with the figure of St Andrew, who was the patron saint of Scotland. We can also see his sword, a long sword, it's a basket-hilt sword. We have George IV's dirk and if you withdraw the blade from the scabbard you'll see that the blade is engraved with George IV's coat of arms, St Andrew's cross and thistles and roses. The scabbard also contains a knife and a fork. These accoutrements are particularly elaborate and richly decorated because they were made for the king. They are covered with jewels. You can see this huge aquamarine on the hilt of the dirk. They would have sparkled and twinkled in the evening candlelight as George IV entered his reception at Holyrood House.