Regimental Dress

The Kilt & Tartan Trews

It has been proposed that all Battalions in the new Regiment will wear the kilt in the Government tartan (as displayed in the borders of this web page). This is the tartan currently worn by the Black Watch and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

This means that the Lowland Regiments, for the first time in their history, will no longer wear tartan trews but will now wear the kilt, which historically has only been worn by Highland Regiments. . . . . . read more

Neck Tie

Current individual Regimental neck ties will continue to be worn by each Battalion. The current Scottish Division neck tie will continue to be worn, but will be recognised as the new Royal Regiment of Scotland neck tie.

Cap & Cap Badge

No decision has been made as to which caps or cap dicing will be worn by the new Regiment. However, all Battalions in the new Regiment will wear the same cap badge, and it has been mooted that the Black Watch will continue to wear their distinctive Red Hackle.

This is to be the new cap badge of the Royal Regiment of Scotland
It shows the Saltire, the Lion Rampant and the Crown and incorporates the motto "Nemo Me Impune Lacessit"

Regimental Accoutrements

It has been decided that other Battalions in the new Regiment will retain their unique accoutrements - but a detailed list of these has so far not been published.

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Historical Note:

"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit" is the Latin motto of the Order of the Thistle, the Scottish chivalrous order.

The English translation is: "No one provokes me with impunity!"

• It appears on the Scottish Royal Arms
   
• It is the motto of the Royal Scots regiment
   
• It is the motto of the Black Watch regiment
   
• It also appears as an inscription on the rim of the 1984 "Scottish" pressing of the British One Pound coin

The Scottish Royal Arms

Origin of the Motto

According to legend, the "guardian thistle" played its part in the defence of Scotland against a night attack by the Viking Danes. When one of the attacking Danes, wearing no shoes and in the dark, stepped on a prickly thistle, he let out a cry of pain. This alerted the Scottish defenders who repelled the Danish attack. From that day on, that wild flower became known as “The Guardian Thistle”

In the motto, "Nemo me impune lacessit", "me" referred to the thistle, but through time it has now come to refer to the Scottish crown and the Scottish regiments who have adopted it as their motto.

The Thistle – Scotland’s National Flower

Taxonomic Name: Onopordon acanthium (L.)
Common Names: Scotch Thistle, Woolly Thistle, Cotton Thistle

The Thistle has been the national emblem of Scotland for more than 700 years. Later, during the reign of James III, the thistle became recognized as the badge of The House of Stuart.

The plant is also found in Scotland’s ancient order of chivalry, known as “ The Order of the Thistle”.

As an insignia, the thistle is worn by several old Scottish families and the thistle badge was worn with pride by several old Scottish Regiments. It is the insignia of the Scots Guards, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and The Highlanders.

The thistle was often engraved on broadswords and on the Claymore, the great sword used in Scotland during the Middle Ages.

The thistle was also used to decorate the traditional Scottish drinking vessel or quaich (meaning “cup” in Gaelic).

During the reign of James IV the thistle was also used on early Scottish coins and today it still appears on modern bank notes and coins, e.g. the five pence piece.