The Earl of Lindsay, father-in-law of Lady Violet Manners and the Duke of Noto, has died at the age of 70

James Lindsay-Bethune, 16th Earl of Lindsay, has died at the age of 70. The news was announced on the official website of the Clan Lindsay Society, in a statement that spoke of the family’s ‘great sorrow’ at the passing of the Scottish businessman and Conservative politician.

‘It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of James Randolph Lindsay-Bethune, 16th Earl of Lindsay, who passed away on Friday 9th October,’ the statement read, adding that the Earl had ‘suffered from an aneurysm earlier in the year and has been unable to recover despite the devoted love and attention of his wife, Diana, and his family.’

The Earl died in London, but will be buried with his ancestors in the crypt of Kilconquhar Church, where his funeral is expected to take place in early November. The Clan Lindsay Society extended its condolences to the Earl’s family, including his wife and their five children.

Their eldest son, William, 35, now inherits his father’s title and honours. His wife, Lady Violet Manners, whom he married in June 2025, is now the Countess of Lindsay. The new Earl and Countess welcomed a son, John, in July 2026 – at three months old, he has inherited the title Viscount Garnock.

The Earl of Lindsay was one of the guests of honour when his daughter, Lady Charlotte, married Prince Jaime, Duke of Noto, in September 2021, travelling to Palermo to celebrate the happy occasion with his family. He is also remembered by his daughters, Lady Frances and Lady Alexandra, and his younger son, The Hon. David Lindsay-Bethune.

Born on 19 November 1955, James Lindsay-Bethune was the son of the 15th Earl of Lindsay and his first wife, the Hon. Mary-Clare Douglas-Scott-Montagu, who could trace her lineage back to King Charles II. In March 1982, he married Diana Mary Chamberlayne-Macdonald, and in 1989, he succeeded his father as the Earl of Lindsay, also becoming the 15th Viscount Garnock, 16th Lord Parbroath, and 25th Lord Lindsay of Byres.

Seated at Lahill House in Fife, the Earl served as the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland between 1995 and 1997, taking charge of the country’s agriculture, fisheries and environment. From 2012 to 2017, he was the President of the National Trust of Scotland and was named President of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute in April 2021.

The 16th Earl of Lindsay lost his seat in the House of Lords after 36 years of hereditary peerage, a matter that his daughter-in-law, Lady Violet, discussed in a wide-ranging interview in The Times in July.

‘It feels like there’s such a desire to homogenise this country right now. And I really strongly believe it’s our eccentricity that makes our country so unbelievably desirable to the rest of the world,’ she said. ‘Trail hunting is a massive part of that. Shooting is the lifeblood of rural economies, employing thousands of people. It’s so easy to be in the city watching David Attenborough and completely misunderstand what it means to really be a part of the countryside. I’d love to introduce them to the people who work on the land – they would come back with a very changed opinion.’

The new Earl and Countess were introduced by Lady Charlotte, who set them up at a New Year's party in 2023. After a six-month long-distance relationship between Texas and London, William (or ‘Bill’, as he is known) proposed in the Rocky Mountains. The couple are now expected to settle at Lahill House and the family’s Kilconquhar estate.

‘I feel a sense of duty knowing that my family has been in the area for generations. It has shaped who I am,’ the then-Viscount told the outlet: ‘Why would I try and build a life anywhere else?’