Why does the band wear two different tartans?
The Highland Regiments originally all wore some variant of the “Government” tartan, which was a precursor to a number of tartans, including the tartan today known as “Black Watch”. In the career of the 42nd Highlanders they were honored by the Crown by adding to their name “The Royal Highland Regiment.” At that time they were authorized to wear the “Royal Stewart” tartan, the tartan of the royal family. Today the bagpipers of the 42nd or “Forty Twa”, as they have been known, wear the Royal Stewart tartan and the drummers wear the “Black Watch” tartan. This group is today known as “1st Battalion, The 42nd Highlanders, The Royal Highland Regiment, The Black Watch”. We ourselves feel honored to be outfitted in a uniform similar to that of the Black Watch.
