It was King George IV who began the custom of the royals wearing tartan when they visit Scotland.
He hoped his popularity would be improved by the first visit of a reigning sovereign to Scotland since Charles II had been crowned there two hundred years earlier.
So in 1822, encouraged by Sir Walter Scott (of Ivanhoe fame) George ordered tartan outfits to the modern day value of £120,000 in a tartan that was to become known as Royal Stewart, and set off by sea for Scotland.
Sir Walter Scott was in charge as master of ceremonies and arranged a huge programme of balls, processions, dinners etc, encouraging all the guests to wear highland dress to match the King. For sometime previously the wearing of Highland dress had been forbidden by the Dress Laws, so this caused great interest.
George was welcomed enthusiastically by his Scottish subjects, something new for him, as his popularity in England was low due to his treatment of his wife Caroline of Brunswick.
One of the events was a King's Drawing Room, where George spent some hours with over four hundred ladies, greeting each one with a kiss, a highlight of the visit for all involved!
Perhaps Kensington Palace should consider a similar event for Wills once the Covid threat has receded! 