Author’s Note.The State Visit of King George IV to Edinburgh in 1822 organised by Sir Walter Scott was an unqualified success.
There is a portrait of the King, by Sir David Wilkie, in full Highland dress, wearing the Royal Stewart tartan in which he appeared at the levee at Holyrood Palace.
Although His Majesty, who always liked to dress up, was delighted with his appearance, those who saw him found the effect of the flesh-coloured tights that he wore under his kilt somewhat ludicrous.
My descriptions of the festivities in the Scottish Capital are factual and come from a book published in Edinburgh the same year.