by Scott Mehl

Anne Murray, Duchess of Atholl

Anne Murray, Duchess of Atholl served as Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria from 1852 to 1853, and then as a Lady of the Bedchamber from 1854 until her death in 1897. She also served as Acting Mistress of the Robes, along with the Duchess of Roxburghe, from August 1892 to July 1895. She was born Anne Home-Drummond at the family home on Princes Street in Edinburgh on June 17, 1814, the only daughter of Henry Home-Drummond and Christian Moray of Abercairney. Anne had two brothers:

George Stirling Home-Drummond (1813) – married (1) Mary Hay, no issue; (2) Kalitza Hay, no issue

Charles Stirling-Home-Drummond-Moray (1816) – married Lady Anne Douglas, had issue

On October 29, 1839 in Blair Drummond, Anne married George Murray, 2nd Baron Glenlyon, the son of James Murray, 1st Baron Glenlyon (son of the 4th Duke of Atholl) and Lady Emily Frances Percy (daughter of the 2nd Duke of Northumberland). Her husband would later succeed his uncle as the 6th Duke of Atholl. Anne and George had one son:

John Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl (1840) – married Louisa Moncreiffe, had issue

The new Baroness Glenlyon and her husband made their home at Blair Castle in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland where, in 1839, her husband formed a regiment called the Atholl Highlanders. The regiment escorted The Queen during her tour of Perthshire in 1842, and mounted the guard when The Queen and Prince Albert stayed at Blair Castle for several weeks in 1844. In recognition of their service, The Queen decreed that she would present the regiment with colours, thus giving them official status. Lady Glenlyon presented the colours to them on The Queen’s behalf in 1845.

Anne became Duchess of Atholl in 1846 upon her husband’s accession to the dukedom. They preferred to use the alternative spelling of ‘Athole’. In 1852, she was appointed Mistress of the Robes when the Earl of Derby and the Conservative party came to power. Derby’s government was short-lived, and Anne served for less than a year. She was then appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber, and served in that role for nearly 45 years, becoming a close friend of The Queen. Back at home, she founded the Duchess of Atholl Girls’ School in Dunkeld in 1853.

Anne was in waiting in December 1861 when Prince Albert died at Windsor Castle. Upon his death, The Queen is reported to have come out of his room and said to Anne, “Oh Duchess, he is dead.” The Duchess was widowed herself three years later, but continued serving as one of the Queen’s Ladies of the Bedchamber for the rest of her life.

When Gladstone returned to power in 1892, no one would accept the position of Mistress of the Robes, due to the Prime Minister’s policy of Home Rule for Ireland. While the position remained vacant for several years, Anne, along with the Duchess of Roxburghe, performed the duties of the role. Several years later, at the age of 83, the Dowager Duchess of Atholl died in Dunkeld, Scotland on May 22, 1897. She is buried alongside her husband in the family’s cemetery beside the ruins of St. Bride’s Church in Old Blair, a village adjacent to Blair Castle.

Recommended Book – Serving Queen Victoria: Life in the Royal Household by Kate Hubbard

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