He was half-brother to champion amateur jockey William Shand Kydd (1937–2014), who was the husband of Christina Muriel Duncan, sister of Veronica Bingham, Countess of Lucan.
After selling the farm and returning to England, and still married, he began an affair with Diana's mother (Frances) Viscountess Althorp.
He thus became stepfather to her four children, including Diana, although the Viscount eventually won the bitter custody battle.
[4] Frances blamed the pressure of media attention, following the rise to fame of Diana, for the breakdown of the marriage.
In 1993, Shand Kydd married Marie-Pierre Palmer (née Bécret),[5][6] who ran a champagne-importing business in London,[7][page needed] which lasted until April 1995.