It is said that the chiefs of the clan have been seated at Dunvegan Castle since the time of Leod, and this on the Isle of Skye where for centuries they were sovereign within their own territories.
In recent years, an Australian MacLeod has claimed to be the rightful chief because he is acknowledged as having a direct male-line descent from a 17th-century chief, and is the senior agnate of the senior cadet branch.
His supporters would contend that, because Guy MacLeod of Talisker is the senior agnate, he is the legitimate, de jure Chief of Clan MacLeod, regardless of any recognition given to the de facto chiefs by the Court of the Lord Lyon or by the modern clan society itself (which is not the same entity as the ancient Clan MacLeod).
Guy MacLeod of Talisker has stated that he has no interest in the estates, only wanting acknowledgement of his right to the title.
On the death of Sir Reginald, in 1935, Flora inherited Dunvegan Castle and the MacLeod estate.
Dame Flora chose one of her grandsons as her successor, John Wolridge-Gordon, younger son of Capt.