He was the second son, and youngest child, of Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore (1852–1930)[1] and the former Lady Sydney Charlotte Montagu (1851–1932).

His father was a prominent politician who served in various roles, including Conservative Chief Whip in the Lords in the 1880s and Governor of South Australia in the 1890s.

During World War I, he fought with the Scots Guard (Special Reserves) achieving the rank of captain.

[4] Helena, the only child of Eugene Zimmerman of Cincinnati, Ohio (a railroad president and major stockholder in Standard Oil),[5][6] was the divorced wife of William Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester.

His older sister, Lady Ethel Sydney Keith-Falconer (the wife of John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven) became the suo jure 11th Countess of Kintore.