Flora Fraser, the 21st Lady Saltoun

(b. 18 Oct 1939, d. 03 Sep 2024)

Flora Fraser, The Lady Saltoun, who died peacefully at home on 3 September 2024, at age 93, was the widow of Alexander Ramsay of Mar, the only son of Princess Patricia and Adm Sir Alexander Ramsay. She was a Scottish noblewoman and Crossbench (i.e. belonging to no political party) peer. She and her husband were considered to be members of the extended British Royal Family, and were also closely related to the Swedish, Danish and Greek Royal Families. In 1979, Lady Saltoun (pronounced Salton) succeeded her father as the 21st Lady Saltoun and Chief of the Name and Arms of Clan Fraser, and also head of the Scottish lowland family the Frasers of Philorth. She also gained a seat in the House of Lords, which she retained as she was one of the ninety hereditary peers who were elected to remain in the Lords after 1999. She was the only holder of a Lordship in Parliament until her retirement in 2014. Lady Saltoun was an Honorary Patricia and maintained a close interest in the Regiment. Until some years ago, she regularly hosted events in London for the UK Branch of the PPCLI Association.

Flora Marjory Fraser was born on 18 October 1930, the only daughter of the 20^th Lord Saltoun of Cairnbulg Castle, and his wife, the former Dorothy Geraldine Welby. Her elder brother, Lt Alexander Fraser, Master of Saltoun, MC, Grenadier Guards, was killed in action in February 1944, aged 22, leaving Flora as heiress presumptive to her father’s peerage. The Saltoun title had been created in 1445 for Sir Lawrence Abernathy, and on the death in 1669 of Margaret Abernethy, the title went to her cousin Alexander Fraser, a faithful supporter of both Charles I and Charles II. It has remained with the Frasers of Philorth ever since.

On 6 October 1956, Flora married Capt. Alexander Ramsay of Mar, Grenadier Guards, the only child of Admiral the Hon Sir Alexander Ramsay and Princess Patricia of Connaught. On her marriage, Princess Patricia was authorised by Royal Licence to relinquish the style of Royal Highness and title of Princess, and by another royal warrant was granted the style of Lady Patricia Ramsay. Flora and Alexander had three daughters, and the family lived at Cairnbulg Castle, the family seat, for a period, as well as on the Mar Lodge Estate, which Alexander Ramsay inherited from his aunt, Princess Arthur of Connaught, the Duchess of Fife, becoming the laird of Mar. After many years, much of the estate was sold, and they lived at Inverey House, Ballater, in Aberdeenshire, near Braemar. They were regular visitors to Balmoral and were frequently seen on the platform of the annual Royal Highland Games at Braemar as a guest of his cousin, Queen Elizabeth II. Alexander Ramsay died on 20 December 2000, the day before his 81st birthday.

Lady Saltoun leaves three daughters, the Hon Katharine Fraser (who retained that surname on her marriage), the Hon Alice Ramsay and the Hon Elizabeth Ramsay of Mar. Katherine, the eldest daughter, born 11 October 1957, a goddaughter of Queen Ingrid of Denmark and of the late Princess Mary, Princess Royal, succeeds to the Lordship of Saltoun as the 22^nd Lady Saltoun.