The Duke of Atholl | |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bruce George Ronald Murray 6 April 1960[1] Louis Trichardt, South Africa |
| Parents |
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Bruce George Ronald Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl OStJ (born 5/6 April 1960) is a South African-born businessman and peer who is the chief of Clan Murray.[2] As Duke of Atholl, he has the right to raise Europe's only legal private army, the Atholl Highlanders, a unique privilege granted to his family by Queen Victoria after visiting Blair Atholl in 1844.[3]
Early life and career
[edit]The elder son of John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl, and Margaret Yvonne (née Leach), now styled the Dowager Duchess of Atholl,[4][5] graduated from Jeppe High School for Boys, Johannesburg, in 1979. He was educated at Saasveld Forestry College before serving his two years' National Service with the South African Infantry Corps.[2] He is currently a volunteer member of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment, holding the rank of lieutenant.[5] Previously, he managed a tea plantation, but then ran a signage business producing signs for commercial buildings.[6][7] He was commissioned into the Atholl Highlanders in 2000,[2][8] being appointed as lieutenant colonel.[9] Upon the death of his father on 15 May 2012, he succeeded to all his father's titles, becoming the 12th Duke of Atholl.[3][10]
Marriages and children
[edit]The Duke first married on 4 February 1984, in Johannesburg, Lynne Elizabeth Andrew, elder daughter of Nicholas Andrew; Together they had two sons and one daughter. They were divorced in 2003.[4][1]
In 2009, he married secondly Charmaine Myrna du Toit, daughter of Dirk Du Toit, without issue. They were divorced in 2016.[1]
Honours
[edit]- Officer of the Order of St John, December 2015[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Atholl, 12th Duke of, cr. 1703 (Bruce George Ronald Murray)", Who's Who, online edition by Oxford University Press, accessed 12 February 2026 (subscription required)
- ^ a b c Three Generations of the Atholl family to be on parade at Blair Castle – website VisitScotland Perthshire
- ^ a b "The Duke of Atholl". The Daily Telegraph. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Information on Murray, Bruce George Ronald, Marquess of Tullibardine". Royal Genealogy Database, University of Hull. 18 January 2005. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ a b Mosley, Charles, ed. (1999). Burke's Peerage and Baronetage. Vol. 1 (106 ed.). Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. p. 133.
- ^ KAOXA'S SHELTER, THE DIGGING STICK, Volume 17, No 1 ISSN 1013-7521 April 2000, Acknowledgements Archived 15 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine – website of the South African Archaeological Society
- ^ Local Marquess presents colours to Her Majesty – www.zoutnet.co.za
- ^ Clan & Septs Archived 23 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine – website of the Clan Murray Society
- ^ Highlander’s Visit (5/29 – 6/7) Archived 30 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine – website of the Atholl 250th Anniversary Committee
- ^ John Murray, the 11th Duke of Atholl, dies in South Africa Archived 20 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine – website of The Courier
- ^ The London Gazette, 2 December 2015, Notice ID: 2441480
- http://www.van-gool.info/Leach.htm Archived 25 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
External links
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