James Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife, dies aged 85

The funeral has taken place of James Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife.

James George Alexander Bannerman Carnegie was the son of Lord Carnegie and held the courtesy title the 11th Earl of Southesk.

The family held substantial land at the imposing Kinnaird Castle near Brechin where he died aged 85.

The 3rd Duke of Fife inherited several ancient Scottish titles and a large estate in Angus and Fife.

Although he had strong royal connections – he was a second cousin to the Queen – he was content leading a quiet life overseeing the management of his estates.

In 1992 he succeeded his father as head of the clan Carnegie. In recent years Lord Fife has been represented as head of the clan by his son, Earl Southesk.

Born on September 23 1929, Lord Fife attended school initially at Stonehaven and grew up with the two young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.

He attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire then Gordonstoun. He did his national service, as a private, with the Royal Scots in Malaya (1948-50) and then studied land management at the Royal Agriculture College, Cirencester.

From his youth he had wanted to be a farmer and on leaving Cirencester settled down to manage the family estate which comprised some 20,000 acres.

Lord Fife was involved in local affairs and devoted much of his time to helping various Scottish institutions, most noticeably the Braemar Highland Gathering.

Lord Fife was a keen sportsman and served as a vice-president of the British Olympic Association and president of the Amateur Boxing Association (1959–63). He also did much to support West Ham Boys Club.

One of his lifelong passions was motor-racing and fast cars. He drove a Bentley in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1955.

For many years he lived at Elsick House near Stonehaven in Kincardinshire, which served as the headquarters of the clan Carnegie. In later years he returned to live at Kinnaird House.

He married a member of the Dewar whisky family in 1956, in full Highland dress. Caroline Dewar was the daughter of Lord Forteviot, chairman of the Perth distillers, John Dewar & Sons.

The marriage was dissolved in 1966. They had a daughter, Alexandra, and a son, David Carnegie, the Earl of Southesk, who now becomes the 4th Duke of Fife.

James Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife.