THE Duke of Buccleuch has been announced as the latest Lord-Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale.

The Duke, Richard Scott, will officially assume the role on December 28 when Gerald Maitland-Crew retires.

The news of the Duke's appointment has been welcomed by the outgoing Lord Lieutenant.

He said: “I am sure everyone will be delighted with the news that the Duke of Buccleuch has been appointed as the next Lord-Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale, as from the end of December.

“He has many interests and is well known throughout the Scottish Borders. He follows in the footsteps of his father, the 9th Duke, as Lord-Lieutenant.”

A well known figure in the Borders, The Duke of Buccleuch was born in 1954.

He was brought up in the shadow of the Eildon Hills before studying at Oxford University.

In 1981 he married fellow borderer Lady Elizabeth Kerr.

The Duke maintains his family’s centuries-long involvement with many aspects of life in the Borders.

For a number of years he was a Regimental Trustee of the KOSB’s and he remains patron of the Abbotsford Trust. He and his wife also sponsor the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, presented annually at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose.

The role of Lord Lieutenant entails a wide range of responsibilities, from liaising with visiting Royals to making nominations for the Queen's honours. The Lord Lieutenant also works closely with local businesses and charities.