How Europe's only private army is based in BRITAIN: Soldiers in tiny regiment carry rifles from the 19th century, wear kilts and are loyal to a duke who lives in South Africa
With their Lee-Metford rifles, broadswords and daggers in their socks, they look like men you would not want to get on the wrong side of.
And that's no surprise, because Scotland's Atholl Highlanders have the honour of being Europe's only - and the world's oldest - private army.
The infantry regiment have served as the personal bodyguard of the Duke of Atholl, chieftain of the historic Clan Murray, for nearly 200 years.
But their origins stretch back even further, to the earliest years of the United States of America in the late 18th century.
The current 12th Duke of Atholl is a South Africa-based businessman who only visits their base, the stunning Blair Castle in Perthshire, once a year.
But that does not detract from the pride with which the regiment - which has a paltry strength of little more than 100 men - performs its duties.
Raymond McIntosh, who has served in the regiment for 20 years and last month was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, told MailOnline: 'Everyone that is in it is proud to do it.
'They are a good bunch of guys, good camaraderie. You feel part of history.'
But, in case prospective members fear they might be sent off to war, he added: 'We are purely ceremonial, it is unlikely the duke is going to ask me to go over the top.'
The 12th Duke of Atholl stands alongside Prince Michael of Kent at the Atholl Highlanders' parade at Blair Castle, May 2012
The Atholl Highlanders march around the arena during the annual Braemar Gathering in Braemar, central Scotland, on September 7, 2024
The Highlanders have the privilege of being Europe's only private army after they were presented with colours by Queen Victoria.
Queen Elizabeth II renewed the honour more than a century later.
And the Atholl Highlanders have the royal seal of approval too, with both Queen Victoria and Elizabeth II having presented them with colours.
One of the highlights of their ceremonial roster is the annual Braemar Gathering - a favourite of King Charles and his late mother.
There is also an annual parade at Blair Castle, which in 2012 was attended by Prince Michael of Kent.
This year, the Highlanders are heading to New York to have a starring role in Tartan Week, which celebrates Scottish heritage and culture across the Pond.
The regiment's history was recently profiled by popular historian Mark Felton, in a Youtube video.
Mr Felton says: 'With a lineage stretching back 248 years, the Atholl Highlanders is the oldest private army in the world, and the only one still existing in Europe.
Raymond McIntosh, 64, has served in the regiment for 20 years and last month was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. His son Niall, 31, is also a member of the regiment
Sergeant McIntosh, who worked as a PE teacher for 37 years before quitting in 2017 to set up a private tour business that he still runs, described the Highlanders as like a 'posh golf club'. Above: Sergeant McIntosh and his son Niall in their uniform
The Atholl Highlanders' base, Blair House in Perthshire, dates back to the 13th century and is the ancestral seat of the dukes of Atholl
George Ian Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl, inspects his troops, the Atholl Highlanders, during celebrations to mark the 710th anniversary of Blair Castle, 1979
'[It is] a flamboyant and colourful hangover from a time when aristocrats were a more visibly powerful force in British society.'
The Highlanders' rifle was briefly the Army's standard firearm from 1888 until it was replaced by the Lee Enfield.
The regiment also boasts a ceremonial field gun, but enthusiasts might be disappointed to learn that it only fires blanks.
Sergeant McIntosh, who worked as a PE teacher for 37 years before quitting in 2017 to set up a private tour business that he still runs, described the Highlanders as like a 'posh golf club'.
Asked how members are selected, he said: 'One is invited by the Duke. You have to be born within the environs of the Atholl estate, which is massive.
'That gives me the right to be invited, and then you are nominated.
'A group of officers go through the nominations. Eventually, the ones who are chosen get a letter from the duke where they are invited to join.
'Once you are in you are in. You parade until you are 70, after that you don't.'
Soldiers from the Atholl Highlanders seen on parade at Blair Castle in 1981
The Atholl Highlanders, the Duke of Atholl's private army, seen on May 30, 1978. The Duke is the only person in the United Kingdom to be allowed a private army
His son Niall, 31, is also a member of the Highlanders.
Asked what his proudest moment in the regiment has been, Sergeant McIntosh said: I met the Queen, that was pretty cool.
'We got invited to go down to Windsor to help her celebrate her 90th birthday in 2016.
'Three or four people from each of the different organisations were invited into Windsor Castle to meet her. Including me.'
Sergeant Macintosh's description of the size of the estate is an understatement. It stretches across 144,000 acres of Highland Perthshire.
The estate was once owned and controlled directly by the Duke of Atholl.
But when the 10th Duke died in 1996, it passed to a charitable trust, which continues to manage it.
The Atholl dukedom was created by Queen Anne in 1703 for John Murray, the Second Marquis of Atholl.
Some of the men of the Atholl Highlanders, the only private army allowed in Britain, on parade in full regalia with bagpipes at Blair Castle in Perthshire, 1962
Three men of the Atholl Highlanders pose in their uniform with their files, early 20th century
In 1777, the Highlanders were first raised by John Murray, the 4th Duke of Atholl, as the 77th Regiment of Foot in the British Army.
The regiment was used to quell unrest in Ireland. It relieved a regular unit serving in North America as Britain battled the forces of the newly-independent United States.
But Mr Felton says that, in 1781, the British government double crossed the Regiment of Foot.
Rather than being disbanded as promised, they were ordered to sail to India to serve as a garrison unit.
But the they mutinied, forcing the government to back down. So the Regiment of Foot was officially disbanded in 1783.
In 1839, the sixth Duke of Atholl formed the regiment again, this time as his personal bodyguard.
Having adopted the name of the Atholl Highlanders, they got the royal seal of approval in 1844 when they escorted Queen Victoria during her tour of Perthshire.
The Queen even stayed as a guest at Blair Castle as the Highlanders guarded her.
Prince Michael of Kent with the 12th Duke of Atholl at Blair Castle in 2012
The Atholl Highlanders marching during the Braemar Gathering at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, September 2024
Soldiers from The Atholl Highlanders take part in the annual parade of Europe’s last remaining private army on May 25, 2013
In a further boost, Victoria ordered in 1845 that the Highlanders be presented with royal colours.
Queen Elizabeth II then followed in her great-great-grandmother's footsteps by presenting new colours to the regiment in 1975 and then 2006.
In the Second World War, they enrolled in the newly-formed Volunteer Defence Corps.
At the time, the duke's wife, the Duchess of Atholl, told the Daily Mail: 'The Duke has been pressing such a scheme on the Government for the past three months.
'His Highlanders are the only private army allowed to bear arms.
'All have perfect eyesight and are very fit. They include gamekeepers, stalkers and farmers.'
But the effects of the two world wars hit the Highlanders hard. Due to financial problems, the regiment eventually stopped parades and appeared to be doomed.
However, the eccentric 10th Duke proved to be the Highlanders' saviour when he re-instated its annual parade in 1966.
George Iain Murray, the 10th Duke of Atholl. He restored the Atholl Highlanders' annual parade in 1966
Bruce Murray, the 12th Duke of Atholl, attends the Atholl Highlanders Parade at Blair Castle on May 26, 2012
Bruce Murray, the 12th Duke of Atholl, attends the Atholl Highlanders' parade at Blair Castle
Soldiers from the Atholl Highlanders take part in the annual parade at Blair Castle on May 26, 2012
In 1973, the unit paraded before the Queen at the annual Braemar gathering - proving that they were still in the royal good books.
In 1996, when the 10th Duke died without an heir aged 64, his dukedom passed to his South African second cousin.
Although John Murray continued to live in South Africa, he did make annual visits to Blair Castle.
After inheriting the dukedom aged 67, Mr Murray said: 'I won't be flashing the title around - that sort of thing does not have much effect on me.
'Obviously I knew the title was coming to me but I've no great desire to call myself Duke.
'There's no point doing it around here, and frankly, there's going to be very little change to my life.'
When he died in 2012, his son, Iain became the 12th and current Duke. Like his late father, he lives in South Africa but does make annual visits.
