We were sitting in the very same room today in Dalkeith where exactly 200 years ago King George IV was being hosted by the young Duke of Buccleuch.   It had been decided that George should visit Scotland in 1822 as no reigning monarch had visited for 172 years and it would provide good publicity for an unpopular monarch and promote the 1707 Union. The internationally famous Sir Walter Scott was appointed to arrange the welcome involving as many people as possible.   There was much festivity and pageantry and Scott recommended that tartan was worn so popularising tartan after it was banned for “common people” after Culloden in the mid 18th century.  Dalkeith House outside Edinburgh was the chosen residence for thirteen days because Holyrood Palace was considered in need of renovation.
Today we watched a historical music and dance performance telling the story of George IV’s visit to Dalkeith and the sort of dances and music that were popular at the time, including dance music by Neil Gow and British Abolitionist Ignatius Sancho, a former slave and ward of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch.  On 20th August 1822 the king enjoyed meeting with over 500 ladies “of the most distinguished rank, fashion, and beauty in Scotland“ at a ball and on 23rd August he inspected over 5000 cavalry and yeomen who “were formed in a line, extending upwards of a mile in open order” on the beach at Portobello.  His niece Queen Victoria also visited Dalkeith and she helped to make tartan popular in Scotland.
An interesting belief ;  apparently it was once considered unlucky to dance against the sun (anticlockwise) by Highlanders as it would bring bad weather!  Now most dances involve going in opposite directions.