One of his younger brothers was the Scottish Conservative and Unionist politician James Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of Douglas.

He fulfilled that duty by carrying the Crown in front of Queen Elizabeth II at the opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament.

He flew in the far east during the UK confrontation with Indonesia in the 1960s, and then became a flying instructor on the Jet Provost at RAF Syerston north of Nottingham.

For family reasons in Scotland he was then posted to RAF Prestwick as a flying instructor, before retiring from his Air Force career.

A qualified nurse, she serves as Patron of Scottish Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue.