Diana Hay, 23rd Countess of Erroll facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Countess of Erroll
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Lady Erroll in 1946
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 29 July 1964 – 16 May 1978 Hereditary Peerage |
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| Preceded by | The 22nd Earl of Erroll |
| Succeeded by | The 24th Earl of Erroll |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lady Diana Denyse Hay
5 January 1926 Aberdare Range, Kenya |
| Died | 16 May 1978 (aged 52) Oban, Argyll, Scotland |
| Spouses |
Sir Iain Moncreiffe
(m. 1946; div. 1964)Raymond Carnegie
(after 1964) |
| Children | Merlin, Peregrine, Lady Alexandra, Jocelyn |
| Parents | Josslyn, Earl of Errol Lady Idina Sackville |
Diana Denyse Hay, the 23rd Countess of Erroll (born January 5, 1926 – died May 16, 1978), was an important British noblewoman. She held a special place in history as one of the first women to take a seat in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK's Parliament.
Contents
Growing Up in Kenya
Diana was the only child of Josslyn, Earl of Erroll and his first wife, Lady Idina Sackville. She was born in Kenya, a country in East Africa. Her family lived in a home called Slains, named after an old family castle in Scotland. This home was located on the slopes of the Aberdare Range, a beautiful mountain area.
When her parents separated in 1930, Diana moved to England. She was raised by her uncle, The Earl De La Warr, and later by her aunt, Lady Avice Sackville, in Wiltshire.
Becoming a Countess
In 1941, Diana's father died unexpectedly. Because she was his only child, she inherited some very old and important titles. She became the Countess of Erroll and the Lady of Hay. These titles had been passed down in her family for many generations.
She also inherited a special role called Lord High Constable of Scotland. This is a very old and honorable position in Scotland. However, another family title, the Barony of Kilmarnock, could only be passed to a male heir. So, that title went to her uncle, Gilbert Boyd.
A Seat in Parliament
For a long time, women who inherited noble titles (called suo jure peeresses) were not allowed to sit in the House of Lords. This changed with a new law in 1963 called the Peerage Act 1963.
After this law was passed, Lady Erroll became one of the first twelve women to take her seat in the House of Lords. This was a big moment for women in politics, allowing them to participate directly in making laws for the country.
Family Life
On December 19, 1946, Lady Erroll married Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk. He was the leader of the Clan Moncreiffe and an expert in heraldry, which is the study of coats of arms and noble families.
Together, Diana and Sir Iain had three children:
- Merlin Sereld Victor Gilbert, born in 1948. He later became the 24th Earl of Erroll.
- Hon. Peregrine David Euan Malcolm Moncreiffe of that Ilk, born in 1951. He became the leader of Clan Moncreiffe.
- Lady Alexandra Victoria Caroline Anne Moncreiffe Hay, born in 1955.
Her Second Marriage
Diana and Sir Iain Moncreiffe separated in 1964. Later that year, on November 27, she married Major Raymond Carnegie. He was a grandson of Charles Carnegie, 7th Earl of Southesk.
With Raymond Carnegie, Diana had one son:
- Hon. Jocelyn Jacek Alexander Bannerman Carnegie, born in 1966.
Lady Erroll passed away in 1978 when she was 52 years old. Her eldest son, Merlin, then inherited her titles and became the next Earl of Erroll.
