Prince William Has “Made His Mind Up” About Breaking This King Charles-Loved Royal Style Tradition

Lara WalshTue, September 29, 2026 at 4:21 PM UTC

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King Charles. Prince William, and Kate Middleton on September 16, 2025 in London, England.The Gist -

Prince William is breaking with a 170-year-old royal fashion tradition, a royal expert claims.

The Prince of Wales reportedly has “made his mind up” about not wearing a traditional kilt during his visits to Scotland.

William’s preference is at odds with his father, King Charles, who recently donned a special kilt during a September visit to Scotland with Queen Camilla.

As Prince William integrates the British monarchy’s centuries-old heritage with more modern updates, there’s one longtime royal fashion tradition that he’s refusing to partake in. According to a royal expert, the heir to the throne of Scotland has “made his mind up” about not wearing a traditional kilt during his visits, breaking with generations of royal men.

Prince William, Prince Harry, and King Charles at BalmoralCredit: Getty Images

King Charles is partial to a Scottish kilt, frequently donning the traditional piece in the royal family’s Balmoral tartan material, but his enthusiasm has seemingly not been inherited by his sons William and Prince Harry. William hasn’t been seen publicly in a kilt since he was a child, despite the royal family’s close ties to Scotland—and according to royal commentator Phil Dampier, it’s because he simply “doesn’t like wearing them.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend the Braemar Gathering 2026 on September 5, 2026 in Braemar, Scotland.Credit: Getty Images

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dampier claimed that William’s “famously strong-willed streak” has come into play with wearing the traditional outfit, most recently exhibited when the senior royal joined Kate Middleton in navy blue slacks and an olive green jacket in Scotland on September 17. The Prince and Princess of Wales finished off their modern outfits with muted tweed caps.

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Kate Middleton and Prince William on September 17, 2026 in Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland.Credit: Getty Images

“He doesn’t want to and has never been seen wearing a kilt in Scotland, whereas King Charles will don a kilt at the drop of a hat,” Dampier claimed, explaining, “William doesn’t like wearing them and once he’s made his mind up, he tends to stick to it. If he doesn’t want to wear a kilt, he won’t.”

While Harry has also followed his brother’s lead, their dad Charles and their late grandfather Prince Philip have been photographed wearing a wide selection of kilts during their annual visits to Balmoral as well as other Scottish outings over the years. According to Hello!, royals are not officially required to wear kilts, but it’s been a long-time tradition that dates back to the 19th century.

Prince Albert created a Balmoral tartan design specially for the royal family’s use in 1857, but Charles has also been seen wearing a specific King Charles III tartan kilt in shades of red, blue, and green while joining Queen Camilla at the 2026 Braemar Gathering on September 5.

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