Alastair Bruce of Crionaich

Commissioned in the British Army, 1979, Bruce was promoted, the following year, as Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion[7] of the Scots Guards.[1] He served as a regular officer for four years, seeing active service in the Falklands War of 1982. The following year, he erected a cairn at Sallachy in Sutherland, in memory of his orderly during the War, Guardsman James Reynolds, from the village of Bridge of Weir in Renfrewshire, who was killed in action while bringing back a wounded comrade, who survived. Reynolds died at the age of 19 at Tumbledown Mountain, and at the time was the only soldier to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal posthumously. At the time, Alastair Bruce said: "On returning to Britain after the Falklands, I decided I wanted to do something in honour of Jim Reynolds. He was such a brave young man who was well liked by everyone".[7]

An Assistant Vice-President with Merrill Lynch from 1983 to 1989,[1] Bruce remained a military reservist. In 2004, he took command of the reserve unit, Media Operations Group, co-ordinating media representation of military activity.[8] In the same year, he was mobilised on active operations in Iraq, serving in Operation TELIC.[9] He was promoted colonel in the Territorial Army, and became the Equerry to Prince Edward.[4] In 2008, Bruce was appointed a Knight of St John[10] (OStJ (1991);[11] CStJ (1997)),[12] and in 2010, became OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for "services to the Territorial Army".[7][13] He was deputy commander of 3rd Division and colonel of the London Scottish Regiment.[9]

In 2019, Bruce succeeded Major General Michael Riddell-Webster as Governor of Edinburgh Castle[14] and was promoted to the rank of major general.[15]

In 2020, Bruce was appointed honorary colonel of 5 Military Intelligence Battalion;[16] and in 2021, as Honorary Colonel of Tayforth Universities Officers' Training Corps.[17]

Bruce processing as Fitzalan Pursuivant

Queen Elizabeth II appointed him as one of her heralds on 7 October 1998 as Fitzalan Pursuivant,[18] and he has been a member of the Royal Company of Archers,[19] the King's ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland, since 1990.[9]

Bruce has worked as a historical advisor to Oscar-winning films such as The King's Speech (2010) and The Young Victoria (2009), and the BAFTA-winning television series Downton Abbey (2010–2015) in which he provided historical accuracy as far as possible while balancing this with the need not to slow down the story unduly. He also advised on the minutiae of early 20th-century society protocol, in such subjects as dress, posture, the serving of food and even on matters that might initially appear trivial, such as the use of vocabulary or the correct way to step out of a car.[4][5]

Bruce has written many books, and worked with several independent production companies in the preparation of television documentaries which are regularly aired on the BBC, America's PBS network, Discovery Channel and A&E channels. Among these are Nicholas and Alexandra, Victoria and Albert (2001) and Days of Majesty.[9]

In 2017 Bruce recorded a conversation with Queen Elizabeth II for the BBC: the Queen spoke about her coronation, more than 60 years earlier, in a programme entitled The Coronation.[20]

Bruce has lectured widely throughout Britain, Europe and the United States; his subjects range from the last Tsars of Russia to British monarchy and the Vatican. In 2011, he was appointed Honorary Professor of Media at the University of Winchester.[9]

In 1984, Bruce was recognised in the name of Bruce of Crionaich by Lord Lyon King of Arms.[1]

On 3 July 2021, after 20 years together, Bruce was married to Stephen Knott at St John's Episcopal Church by the Bishop of Edinburgh.[21][22][23]

Bruce is a godfather to the Earl of Wessex, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.[24]