Royal Company of Archers court dress uniform

This uniform for the Royal Company of Archers in Scotland was worn by Sir Ian Zachary Malcolm, K.C.M.G. (1868-1944), who probably wore this uniform at the Russian Imperial court of St. Petersburg, where he was British Attaché before 1918. Sir Malcolm was a conservative MP, author, and chief of the clan MacCallum.

The Royal Company of Archers now provide the ceremonial Bodyguard to the Sovereign when in Scotland, performing duties similar to those undertaken by The Yeoman of the Guard in England. The Company dates to the 17th century, and obtained a Royal Charter from Queen Anne in 1704 giving the Company access to all places in Scotland set out for archery, but was a private organisation. The Company's formal place within royal ceremony in Scotland dates from the 1820s when George IV visited Scotland. With support from prominent Scots. The King accepted the Company's offer to act in any capacity including that of a ceremonial bodyguard when George visited.

This led to the Company having a ceremonial role and therefore its uniform was subsequently included within the general instructions governing these, issued through the Lord Chamberlain's office in London.

This is the court dress version of the uniform, as opposed to the uniform worn by members providing a ceremonial bodyguard. The style of headress here remained in use as the Company's Full Dress until the early 1930s. Thereafter, reflecting the period of financial stringency, its use was restricted to the head of the Company, the Captain General with the Company's members adopting the less elaborate but more Scottish cap used previously for the less formal Field Dress. This new pattern of uniform was illustrated in the final published version of the manual 'Dress Worn at Court' issued in 1937. Today the Captain General also wears a version of this style of uniform, with the simpler Scottish bonnet.