He subsequently took up merchant banking, joining J. Henry Schroder in 1953. He was appointed a director of the company in 1961 and chairman of Henry Schroder Wagg & Co in 1973, and then of Schroders plc from 1977. In 1984, Lord Airlie resigned from Schroder to take up the position of Lord Chamberlain, when he was also sworn of the Privy Council and appointed GCVO. Lord Airlie as Lord Chamberlain initiated changes in the early 1990s under the auspices of “The Way Ahead Group”. Under these plans The Queen agreed to pay tax, greater transparency for the public subsidy of the monarchy began and a greater emphasis on public relations started. He was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1985. Two years after that he became Chairman of General Accident Fire and Life Assurance plc. He followed in the footsteps of his late father, who served as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. He remained in the post until 1997. Lord Airlie has also served as the Lord Lieutenant of Angus in Scotland, and as the Captain General of The Royal Company of Archers and Gold Stick for Scotland. He was also the founding Chancellor of the University of Abertay, Dundee. In 1998, he was asked by the Labour government to stay on as a Lord in Waiting for life. Lord Airlie's ancestral home in Tayside is Cortachy Castle near the ancient burgh of Kirriemuir, Angus. On 13 November 2007 he was asked to be Chancellor of the Order of the Thistle. His wife, the Countess of Airlie, is a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II. His grandmother, Mabell, Countess of Airlie, was a Lady-in-Waiting and subsequently Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Mary.
Lady Doune Mabell Ogilvy ; married Sir Hereward Charles Wake, 15th Bt. on 16 April 1977; they had four children, and divorced in July 1995.
Lady Jane Fortune Margaret Ogilvy ; married François Nairac on 30 August 1980. The couple have two daughters.
David John Ogilvy, Lord Ogilvy ; married, firstly, in 1981, Hon. Geraldine Harmsworth, daughter of Vere Harmsworth, 3rd Viscount Rothermere. They had a daughter, Augusta, before divorcing in 1990. Lord Ogilvy married, secondly, in 1991, Tarka Kings, with whom he has three sons; David Huxley, Master of Ogilvy, Joseph and Michael.
Hon. Bruce Patrick Mark Ogilvy
Lady Elizabeth Clementine Ogilvy ; married Jonathan Baring, with whom she has one son.
Hon. Patrick Alexander Ogilvy
The numbering of the titles varies, depending on whether the attainted holders of the earldom and their successors are counted or not. He is a recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain. In November 2007, Buckingham Palace announced Lord Airlie was appointed Chancellor of the Order of the Thistle, following the death of the previous Chancellor, the Duke of Buccleuch. Late in 2009, His Lordship announced that he and his wife were retiring. His son has considered the future of Cortachy Castle, the family home for more than 500 years.
In popular culture
He was portrayed by actor Douglas Reith in the 2006 film The Queen in his capacity as Lord Chamberlain, planning the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.
