Who Would Wear This? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

The crimson velvet robe may be worn by all peers of the realm to a coronation, but if you spot a crimson velvet robe trimmed with eight bars of ermine and the wearer of that robe is also sporting a gold coronet with strawberry leaves as he or she enters the Abbey, you're looking at a duke or duchess. With any luck, it might be Prince William (but you're more likely to see him in his RAF uniform, jeans and a sweat shirt or polo gear). There was a time when dukes wore crimson taffeta robes when they sat in the House of Lords, but those days are long gone.

The Queen, of course, wears royal purple (but she won't be at the next coronation, so that's moot), Harry would probably show up at his father's coronation in a dark blue robe (if one can get him out of jeans) and the Archbishop, who would preside at the coronation, would most likely wear a cloth-of-gold cope and mitre.

Answer: British Commandos in World War II

The green beret was worn by British Commandos in World War II. Other Commonwealth commando units quickly adopted the distinctive headgear, as did the crack French marine commandos. The green berets worn by Special Forces in the US were not authorized until 1953, and became standard dress at the behest of President Kennedy in 1963. The British Special Forces (the SAS) wear sand-coloured berets.

The Irish Guards wear bearskins when they're in military parades, and cadets at Sandhurst haven't earned the right to wear a green beret until after they graduate.

Answer: He is a Hasid

Hasidism is a sect of Judaism which has its origins in 18th century Poland. The founder of the Hasid movement was Israel ben Eliezer (1698-1760), a Polish rabbi who became known as the Baal Shem Tov (often abbreviated to Besht) which means 'the Master of the Divine Name'. Since its inception Hasidism has been a source of debate among other Jewish sects. A Rabbi friend of mine explained that this is because the Hasidim are mystics, unlike most Jews.

Sholom Aleichem was a Hasidic writer who emigrated to the US from Ukraine in 1914. He wrote in Yiddish, and his stories of Tevye the Milkman form the basis for the beloved musical 'Fiddler on the Roof'. Tevye, like his creator, was Hasidic.

Answer: The Life Guards

The Life Guards wear white plumes in their dress helmets, and the Blues and Royals have red-plumed dress helmets. The two regiments are collectively known as the Household Cavalry and it is their job to protect the monarch on state occasions.

Former cavalry regiments now man tanks rather than horses. Perhaps the best-known member of the Blues and Royals is Prince Harry, the Queen's grandson.

And, yes, I spelled the name of the Royal Welch Fusiliers properly! It's not a typo. When the regiment was formed in 1689, spelling was still relatively fluid and Welch was an acceptable alternate for Welsh. My grandfather and his brothers served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers in World War I.

Answer: A Greek soldier

The fustanella is the kilt-like garment which is part of the dress uniform of the Evzoni, who are members of the Greek Army. The uniform is based on the clothing worn by the kepht, Greek insurgents who fought against the Ottoman Empire throughout its occupation of Greece (15th-19th centuries).

Answer: Matador

The corbatin is the narrow black tie which forms part of the 'suit of light' worn, primarily, by matadors in the bull rings of Spain and Mexico. The suit of light is so known because the jacket and breeches are covered in sequins that sparkle in the sunlight.

Answer: In your sock

The skean dhu - the Anglicized spelling of the Gaelic sgian-dubh - is a small single-edged knife which is worn tucked into the top of one of the knee-high socks worn with the kilt as part of traditional Scottish dress. It is usually worn on the right leg, unless the wearer is left-handed, and then it is worn on the left leg. Since it is now merely decoration it probably doesn't matter on which leg it is worn.

Answer: The wearer is a free man or woman

The Phrygian cap is a close-fitting cone-shaped woolen cap, usually red, which was a symbol of manumission in ancient Greece and Rome. Anyone wearing a Phrygian cap was a freed slave, hence its connection to freedom and liberty. The hint, Marianne, refers to the Phrygian-cap-wearing female symbol of the French revolution who carries the tricoleur as she strides through paintings by David.

Answer: hat

The cwcwll tal is the tall hat worn by Welsh (you knew that by the strange spelling, didn't you?) women as part of the Welsh national costume. It is usually made of beaver pelt and worn over a white mob cap. In northern Wales the cwcwll tal is drum shaped with a stiff brim; in south Wales, the crown tapers slightly.

The siol (shaw), apron (ffedog) and hosenau gwyn (white stockings) also form part of the national dress, along with the betgwn (shift), crysbais (blouse), a coler (fichu), sgert (skirt) and esgidiau byclau (buckled shoes).

Answer: Baptized Sikh men

There are five Kakars and they are sacred symbols that are worn by all baptized Sikh men. They are also known as the five Ks: the Kesh (unshorn hair, which is concealed by the turban; no baptized Sikh man ever cuts his hair), the Kirpan (a sheathed dagger worn under the clothing), the Kaccha (a garment like drawers), the Kanga (a comb) and the Karha (a steel bracelet).

The five Ks are to Sikhs exactly what the cross is to Christians.