Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl


Bruce George Ronald Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl, 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, the Atholl Highlanders, a unique privilege granted to his family by Queen Victoria after visiting Blair Atholl in 1844.

Early life and career

The elder son of John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl, and Margaret Yvonne Leach, now styled the Dowager Duchess of Atholl, 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. 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. Upon the death of his father on 15 May 2012, he succeeded to all his father's titles, becoming the 12th Duke of Atholl.

Marriage and children

The Duke first married on 4 February 1984, in Johannesburg, to Lynne Elizabeth Andrew and they divorced in 2003.
Together they had three children, two sons and one daughter:
He married Charmaine Myrna du Toit in 2009.