Flora Marjorie Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun (18 October 1930 – 3 September 2024), was a Scottish noblewoman and Crossbench peer. Until her retirement on 12 December 2014, she was the only holder of a lordship of Parliament with a seat in the House of Lords as an elected hereditary peer.

Early life

Flora Marjorie Fraser was born in Edinburgh on 18 October 1930, the daughter of Alexander, Master of Saltoun (later 20th Lord Saltoun), and Dorothy Geraldine Welby (1890–1985). Her maternal grandfather was Sir Charles Welby, 5th Baronet, Conservative MP for Newark. She was raised at Cairnbulg Castle near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, which her father had purchased in 1934 after it had been sold by Frasers in 1613. She was educated at Heathfield School, Ascot, and St Mary's School, Wantage. She had an elder brother, Alexander Simon Fraser, Master of Saltoun (1921–1944), who was their father's heir apparent. He was killed in action in March 1944 while serving with the Grenadier Guards during World War II, making Flora heir presumptive. She published a family history in 1997, maintained an extensive clan website and designed tartans. In 1997, she, with Lord Lovat, hosted a four-day Fraser gathering, attended by 30,000 people. She was a proponent of decorum in the house and was opposed to the removal of hereditary peers. On 12 December 2014, she retired from the Lords under the House of Lords Reform Act 2014.

Personal life

Flora Fraser met Alexander Ramsay of Mar (1919–2000), son of the former Princess Patricia of Connaught, at the Perth Hunt Ball. They became engaged and Queen Elizabeth II gave her official consent to the marriage under the Royal Marriages Act 1772 on 19 August 1956.

They were married on 6 October 1956 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Fraserburgh. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Queen Ingrid of Denmark (her husband's first cousin) attended.

The couple inherited Mar Lodge near Braemar from his aunt, Princess Arthur of Connaught. They also resided at Cairnbulg Castle and Inverey House, a mock baronial house they built near Ballater. The Duke and Duchess of Fife represented the royal family.

Bibliography

  • Saltoun, Flora Marjory Fraser, 20th Lady, Clan Fraser: A History Celebrating over 800 Years of the Family in Scotland. Scottish Cultural Press, 1997.

Footnotes

References

  • Lady Saltoun's website