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Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl facts for kids

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The Duke of Atholl
Coat of Arms of George Iain Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl.svg
Coat of arms of the Duke of Atholl
Preceded by John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl
Personal details
Born
Bruce George Ronald Murray

(1960-04-06) 6 April 1960 (age 64)
Louis Trichardt, South Africa
Parents
Residences Louis Trichardt, South Africa

Bruce George Ronald Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl OStJ (born 5/6 April 1960), 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 (née 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.

Marriages and children

The Duke first married on 4 February 1984, in Johannesburg, to Lynne Elizabeth Andrew (born Johannesburg, 7 June 1963), daughter of Nicholas George Andrew of Bedfordview, South Africa (born Brighton, East Sussex, June 1939) and wife Evelyn Donne de Villiers, and they divorced in 2003. Together they had three children, two sons and one daughter:

  • Michael Bruce John Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine (born in Louis Trichardt, 5 March 1985)
  • Lord David Nicholas George Murray (born in Louis Trichardt, 31 January 1986)
  • Lady Nicole Murray (born in Duiwelskloof, 11 July 1987); married to Peter Piek

He married secondly Charmaine Myrna du Toit in 2009, without issue.

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