Separate from Letters Patent G0102, I registered a personal tartan with the Scottish Register of Tartans. Entitled the James Howard & Family (Personal) tartan, it was officially entered into the Register on 27 May 2025 under registration number 14,834.
The thread count is:
DB/36 DY4 Y8 DY4 DB36 B28 LB20 W/8
This tartan draws its palette directly from the heraldic colors of my coat of arms. While the colors do not carry individual symbolic meaning, they collectively serve to reinforce the visual identity already established in armorial form. Rendered in deep blues, golds, and white, the design expresses continuity between textile and shield—a wearable complement to the armorial tradition.
The aesthetic of the tartan is best described as modern ceremonial: it shares affinities with regimental and academic tartans, but is grounded in personal heraldry rather than institutional use. Though formally contemporary, its composition evokes the balance and dignity of historical patterns. The staff at the Register were both courteous and efficient, making the registration process an absolute pleasure.
This tartan is reserved for personal and family use. Friends and extended kin are welcome to wear it respectfully, particularly in heraldic or ceremonial contexts.