Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl

Can you believe that South Africa is home to the 12th Duke of Atholl, a position only subordinate to the Archbishop of Cantubury, and of course the  royal family. He’s been in the precense of the queen and commands Europe’s only private army. 

 

About Bruce Murray:

 

Bruce George Ronald Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl (born 6 April 1960) is a South African-born hereditary peer in the Peerage of Scotland and Chief of Clan Murray. As Duke of Atholl he has the right to raise Europe's only legal private army, named the Atholl Highlanders (a unique privilege granted to his family by Queen Victoria after visiting Blair Atholl in 1844).

 

 

12th Duke of Atholl Bruce Murray presents the colours of the Atholl Highlanders to Queen Elizabeth.

 

 

 

Our chat with Brucy Murray, the 12th Duke Of Atholl

 

 

 

 

 

VIDEO: Atholl Highlanders Parade with 12th Duke of Atholl Jubilee (26 May 2012).

 

 

 

The elder son of John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl and Margaret Yvonne née Leach (now styled the Dowager Duchess of Atholl),[3][4] he was educated at Saasveld Forestry College before serving his two years' National Service with the South African Infantry Corps.[1] He is currently a volunteer member of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment, holding the rank of Lieutenant. Previously he managed a tea plantation, but then ran a signage business producing signs for commercial buildings. He was commissioned into the Atholl Highlanders in 2000, being appointed as Lieutenant Colonel.[8] Upon the death of his father on 15 May 2012, he succeeded to all his father's titles, becoming the 12th Duke of Atholl.

 

 

 

Coat of arms of the Duke of Atholl.

 

 

Marriage and children:

 

The Duke first married on 4 February 1984 at Johannesburg Lynne Elizabeth Andrew (born Johannesburg, 7 June 1963)[n 1] and they divorced in 2003.

 

Together they had three children, two sons and one daughter:

Michael Bruce John Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine (born in Louis Trichardt, 5 March 1985)

Lord David Nicholas George Murray (born in Louis Trichardt, 31 January 1986)

Lady Nicole Murray (born in Duivelskloof, 11 July 1987)

 

He married Charmaine Myrna (née Du Toit) in 2009.

 

 

Titles and styles:

 

Mr Bruce Murray (1960–1996)

Marquess of Tullibardine (1996–2012)

His Grace The Duke of Atholl (2012–present)