His sister, Venetia Stanley, was a close correspondent of the Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal party, H. H. Asquith.

Stanley had been commissioned an officer in the Royal Anglesey Engineers Militia in May 1900, and saw active service in South Africa during the Second Boer War.

In the 1923 General election he stood unsuccessfully as Liberal candidate for Knutsford, losing by 80 votes to Conservative, Sir Ernest Makins.

In his capacity as former Governor of Victoria, he attended the Covent Garden farewell of the Australian soprano Nellie Melba, and made a speech thanking her for her artistry and war-work.

HMV recorded several excerpts of the evening, including Lord Stanley's speech, all of which can be heard on CD today.