I am quite sure His Grace, the Duke of Argyll, was simply holding the smaller canes for others, who knows? I do know he is holding is own cromach in the other arm, as I have seen him use the same cromach before. Sometimes his kilt belt can be seen "sagging" a wee bit, as I have seen this before with the Duke in other photos, and though it tends to bother me, what can one do, you know?! I do not see the suspenders (braces?) in which you speak of, and I am quite sure he does not wear them with the kilt.