Alastair Bruce of Crionaich


Alastair Andrew Bernard Reibey Bruce of Crionaich is a British Army reservist, journalist and television correspondent, who commanded the TA Media Operations Group, before being appointed in 2019 Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
Royal, Religious and National Events Commentator for Sky News, the 24-hour television news service operated by satellite broadcaster Sky, Bruce has also worked for the BBC, and is a historical adviser for several feature films and the ITV series Downton Abbey. He has commentated on many major state events in the United Kingdom, including the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the Royal Wedding in 2011, the Papal Visit in 2010, and the funerals of the Princess of Wales in 1997 and the Queen Mother in 2002.
Bruce serves as one of the royal heralds at the College of Arms, and has held the position Fitzalan Pursuivant since 1998. He is also a godfather to Viscount Severn, the son of Prince Edward.

Early life and education

Bruce was born at Winchester in 1960, the son of Lieutenant-Commander Henry Victor Bruce of Salloch and Helen Vernon Wallop William-Powlett, daughter of Vice Admiral Sir Peveril William-Powlett. He is the youngest of four siblings, his sisters being Robina Helen and Lucinda Jane Bruce, and his brother Peveril John Bruce of Salloch, younger. His great-grandfather was James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, and he is in the line of succession to both earldoms. He was brought up in Hampshire in southern England, but spent much of his childhood in Sutherland, in the far north of the Scottish Highlands, where his parents owned the Sallachy Estate near the village of Lairg.
Bruce was educated at Milton Abbey School, an independent boarding school for boys, in the village of Milton Abbas in Dorset, followed by the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in Berkshire.

Life and career

Armed forces

Bruce joined the British Army in 1979. In 1980, he gained the rank of Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards. He served as a regular officer for four years, and saw active service in the Falklands War of 1982. The following year, he erected a cairn at Sallachy in Sutherland, in memory of his orderly during the War, Guardsman James Reynolds, from the village of Bridge of Weir in Renfrewshire, who had died while bringing back a wounded comrade, who survived. Reynolds died at the age of 19 at Tumbledown Mountain, and at the time was the only soldier to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal posthumously. At the time, Alastair Bruce said: "On returning to Britain after the Falklands, I decided I wanted to do something in honour of Jim Reynolds. He was such a brave young man who was well liked by everyone".
Bruce is still a reservist, having served as an Army Reserve Brigadier, Deputy Commander of 3rd Division and Colonel of the London Scottish Regiment. From 1983–1989, he was Assistant Vice-President with Merrill Lynch.
In 2019, Bruce was appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle in succession to Major-General Michael Riddell-Webster and promoted to the rank of Major-General.

Officer of Arms

In 1984, Bruce was recognised in the name of Bruce of Crionaich by Lord Lyon King of Arms. The Queen appointed him as one of her heralds on 7 October 1998 as Fitzalan Pursuivant, and he has been a member of the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland, since 1990. In 1991, he was appointed Officer of the Order of St John; in 1997, he was promoted Commander.
In 2004, Bruce took command of the reserve unit, Media Operations Group, co-ordinating media representation of military activity. In the same year, he was mobilised on active operations in Iraq, serving in Operation TELIC. He was promoted Colonel in the Territorial Army, and became the Equerry to Prince Edward. In 2008, Bruce was appointed Knight of St John, and in 2010, became OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for "services to the Territorial Army".

Television, Film and Publications

Historian

Bruce has worked as a historical advisor to Oscar-winning films such as The King's Speech and The Young Victoria, and the BAFTA-winning television series Downton Abbey in which he provided historical accuracy as far as possible while balancing this with the need not to slow down the story unduly. He also advised on the minutiae of early 20th-century society protocol, in such subjects as dress, posture, the serving of food and even on matters that might initially appear trivial, such as the use of vocabulary or the correct way to step out of a car.
Bruce has written many books, and worked with several independent production companies in the preparation of television documentaries which are regularly aired on the BBC, America's PBS network, Discovery Channel and A&E channels. Among these are Nicholas and Alexandra, Victoria and Albert and Days of Majesty.

Royal documentary

In 2017 Bruce recorded a conversation with Queen Elizabeth II for the BBC: The Queen spoke about her coronation, more than 60 years earlier, among other things.

Academia

Bruce has lectured widely in Britain, Europe and the United States; his subjects range from the last Tsars of Russia to Britain's monarchy and the Vatican in Rome. In 2011, he was appointed Honorary Professor of Media at the University of Winchester.

Arms

Charity

Bruce is an ambassador of Hampshire Scouts, his father having been the charity's chairman. Bruce and his family provide the annual Lieutenant Commander Henry V Bruce Royal Navy Memorial Award which is awarded by the charity to someone under the age of 25 for services to the organisation.
Bruce is also a trustee of the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation.

Honours


RibbonDescriptionNotes
Order of the British Empire
Order of St John
  • 2008
  • Knight of Justice
    • General Service Medal
  • With "NORTHERN IRELAND" Clasp
    • South Atlantic Medal
  • With Rosette
    • Iraq Medal
    Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
  • 2002
  • UK version of this medal
    • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • 2012
  • UK version of this medal
    • Volunteer Reserves Service Medal
  • 10 years service in the Territorial Army.
    • Service Medal of the Order of St John
  • With 1 Silver Bar
    • Medal of the Tuvalu Order of Merit
  • 19 July 2017