Duke of atholl private army patch

To the stirring sound of bagpipes and drums, the 150strong regiment. Theyre a dying breed, but a new tv film shows the world would be a duller place without them. The duke s cousin, lady lude whose mansion house lay virtually within cannon shot of the castle, laid on a ball at which most of the remaining atholl gentry were guests and the ordinary folk flocked to see the highlanders and prince charles. The parade on the castle forecourt was under the command of rsm graham jack and the men and pipe band of the atholl highlanders parade before his grace, the duke of atholl, who wears the eagle. Duke of atholl s private army, the atholl highlanders march out on parade behind their pipes and drums at blair castle with the inauguration of the marquis of tullibardine in to the atholl. A turreted, fairytale confection, it houses an envyinducing collection of furniture, paintings, and tapestries and enough weaponry to kit out the duke of atholl s private army, which parades at. Duke of atholl, 64, rich scot with castle and private army. Band of the atholl highlanders the atholl highlanders. Europes only legal army a remnant of the old scottish clan system. It was created by queen anne in 1703 for john murray, 2nd marquess of atholl, with a special remainder to the heir male of his father, the 1st marquess.

Atholl highlanders parade at blair castle, scotland youtube. He acceded as the 11th duke on february 27, 1996, succeeding his second cousin, once removed, iain murray, the 10th duke. A turreted, fairytale confection, it houses an envyinducing collection of furniture, paintings, and tapestries and enough weaponry to kit out the duke of atholl s private army. This is no ordinary regiment however, as it has the distinction of being the only private regiment in europe.

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. Pipers wear murray of tullibardine the marquis of tullibardine is the son of the duke of atholl. For two days duke william entertained the prince at blair. Outside the royal family, nothing trumps a duke when it. In this remote scottish village, a band of kiltwearing riflemen who claim to be europes last private army are on the march. This goes back to an honour awarded by queen victoria 150 years ago very much against the wishes of her government. John george stewartmurray, 8th duke of atholl, kt, gcvo, cb, dso, pc, adc 15 december 1871 16 march 1942, styled marquess of tullibardine until 1917, was a scottish soldier and unionist politician. The atholl highlanders is a scottish ceremonial infantry regiment.

They are the only remaining private army in europe, and act as the personal bodyguard to the duke of atholl chief of the clan murray, a family that has thrived in perthshire for some 750 years. The duke of atholls private army parades in front of blair castle where it is inspected by the duke each may. Grief for down to earth duke of atholl who commanded a private army john murray, the 11th duke of atholl and commander of britains only private army, has died in a hospital in south africa. Joining the highlanders is by invitation only from the duke, who specially selects people with. Atholl highlanders blair castle pitlochry perthshire. Atholl or murray of atholl worn by the atholl highlanders, the private army of the duke of atholl. Atholl highlanders parade with 12th duke of atholl jubilee. The duke of atholl s private army parades in front of blair castle where it is inspected by the duke each may. At the end of every may, blair castle in highland perthshire plays host to a truly unique event. Instead, the regiment is in the private employ of the duke of atholl, making it the united kingdoms, and indeed europes, only legal private army. Duke of atholl, alternatively duke of athole, named after atholl in scotland, is a title in the peerage of scotland held by the head of clan murray. The 10th duke in particular had been devoted to the family estate, and had even revived, as a tourist attraction, the familys private army, the atholl highlanders, composed of friends and. Grief for down to earth duke of atholl who commanded a.

The duke of atholl is the only man in britain permitted to have a private army. The pipe bands of trinity college, glenalmond, scotland. His grace the duke of atholl 1997 photograph by allan warren 11th duke of atholl preceded byiain murray, 10th duke of a. Bruce george ronald murray, 12th duke of atholl born 6 april 1960 is a south africanborn hereditary peer in the peerage of scotland and chief of clan murray. John murray, 11th duke of atholl was a south africanborn hereditary peer of the peerage of scotland, hereditary clan chief of clan murray, and colonelinchief of the atholl highlanders. The atholl highlanders is a scottish infantry regiment based in blair atholl and the private army of the duke of atholl see wikipedia. Although it has no military role, this handpicked body of local men are armed with lee metford rifles and the regiment includes a pipe band. George iain murray, the 10th duke of atholl, who was one of scotlands richest landowners and the commander of of britains only private army, died yesterday at a hospital in perth, scotland. As duke of atholl, he commanded the only legal private army in europe. Video showing the annual atholl highlanders parade at blair castle in the scottish highlands, the only remaining private army in the uk. Private army brings colour to scottish village the globe.