This goes back to an honour awarded by queen victoria 150 years ago very much against the wishes of her government. Atholl highlanders blair castle pitlochry perthshire. 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. A duke whos heir to europes last private army the new. As duke of atholl, he commanded the only legal private army in europe. Joining the highlanders is by invitation only from the duke, who specially selects people with.
Atholl or murray of atholl worn by the atholl highlanders, the private army of the duke of atholl. 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. 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. 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. His grace the duke of atholl 1997 photograph by allan warren 11th duke of atholl preceded byiain murray, 10th duke of a. Europes only legal army a remnant of the old scottish clan system. Outside the royal family, nothing trumps a duke when it.
Video showing the annual atholl highlanders parade at blair castle in the scottish highlands, the only remaining private army in the uk. At the end of every may, blair castle in highland perthshire plays host to a truly unique event. Theyre a dying breed, but a new tv film shows the world would be a duller place without them. 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. For two days duke william entertained the prince at blair. This is no ordinary regiment however, as it has the distinction of being the only private regiment in europe. The atholl highlanders is a scottish ceremonial infantry regiment. In this remote scottish village, a band of kiltwearing riflemen who claim to be europes last private army are on the march. 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 duke of atholls private army parades in front of blair castle where it is inspected by the duke each may. 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. The pipe bands of trinity college, glenalmond, scotland.
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. 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. Atholl highlanders parade with 12th duke of atholl jubilee. Grief for down to earth duke of atholl who commanded a. 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. Band of the atholl highlanders the atholl highlanders. 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. To the stirring sound of bagpipes and drums, the 150strong regiment.
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. Atholl highlanders parade at blair castle, scotland youtube. Pipers wear murray of tullibardine the marquis of tullibardine is the son of the duke of atholl. The duke of atholl is the only man in britain permitted to have a private army. 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. Private army brings colour to scottish village the globe. 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. The duke of atholl s private army parades in front of blair castle where it is inspected by the duke each may. Duke of atholl, 64, rich scot with castle and private army. He acceded as the 11th duke on february 27, 1996, succeeding his second cousin, once removed, iain murray, the 10th duke. 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. 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.
148 1501 1440 454 477 1416 782 1378 1121 1208 1278 1690 1520 519 913 456 1172 42 1170 664 797 544 453 517 1011 819 555 538 1055 772 1332 876 434 1358 801 86 793 496 112 245 711