Pringle baronets

Baronetcy of Pringle of Stichill

Coat of arms of the Pringles of Stichill: Azure, three escallops, or
Creation date 5 January 1683
Monarch Charles II
Peerage Baronetage of Nova Scotia
First holder Sir Robert Pringle, 1st Baronet
Present holder Sir Norman Murray Pringle, 10th Baronet
Heir apparent Alastair Steuart Ronald Pringle
Remainder to The male heirs of his [Robert Pringle of Stichill] body
Former seat(s) Stitchill House, Roxburghshire
Undermount, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight

There have been two baronetcies created for members of the Scottish Pringle family, one in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and one in the Baronetage of Great Britain. As of 2015, one creation is extant.

The Pringle Baronetcy, of Stichill in the County of Roxburgh, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 5 January 1683 for Robert Pringle.[1] The fourth Baronet sat as Member of Parliament for Berwickshire.

The Pringle Baronetcy, of Pall Mall, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on 5 June 1766 for the physician John Pringle. He was the youngest son of the second Baronet of the 1673 creation. The title became extinct on his death in 1782.

2013-2016 dispute over lineage

The 10th Baronet was Commandant General Royal Marines from 1981 to 1985. After his death in 2013, the title was claimed by his eldest son, Simon. However, DNA testing, originally gathered to determine who the current clan chief of the Clan Pringle (dormant since 1738) should be, showed that the 10th baronet was not genetically related to the rest of the Pringle clan. Steuart's first cousin (and therefore Simon's first cousin once removed) Norman Murray Pringle (born 3 August 1941) contested the title, on the basis that the 9th baronet should have been his father, Ronald Steuart Pringle (26 April 1905 – 24 July 1968), the younger, legitimate son of the 8th baronet. While the dispute continued, the baronetcy was dormant, due to the conflicting claims of Murray Pringle and Simon Pringle since neither had proven their right of succession to the baronetcy over the other. As a consequence neither was entered on the Official Roll of the Baronetage.[2]

The Queen, acting under the Judicial Committee Act 1833,[3] referred the matter to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council,[4] which held its hearings on the matter in November 2015[5][6] and January 2016.[1][7]It delivered its ruling on 20 June 2016,[8] determining that DNA evidence[9] proved that Sir Norman Hamilton Pringle, 9th Baronet, was conceived adulterously and was not the son of Sir Norman Robert Pringle, 8th Baronet. As such, on the latter's death, the baronetcy rightfully passed to his first biological son, Ronald Steuart Pringle, and then to his son, Norman Murray Pringle.

In delivering the judgment, Lord Hodge expressed sympathy for the late Steuart Pringle and his son Simon, stating:

“

85. In the past, the absence of scientific evidence meant that the presumption of legitimacy could rarely be rebutted and claims based on assertions that irregular procreations had occurred in the distant past were particularly difficult to establish. Not so now. It is not for the Board to express any view on what social policy should be. It notes the ability of DNA evidence to reopen a family succession many generations into the past. Whether this is a good thing and whether legal measures are needed to protect property transactions in the past, the rights of the perceived beneficiary of a trust of property, and the long established expectations of a family, are questions for others to consider.

 ”

On 27th June 2016 Grant Bavister, Assistant Register to the Baronetage at the Ministry of Justice, entered Sir Ronald Steuart Pringle and his son Sir Norman Murray Pringle onto the Official Roll of the Baronetage, as the 9th and 10th Baronets. He also removed Norman Hamilton Pringle and his son Steuart Robert Pringle from the Roll, in accordance with the Royal Warrant of 1910. Certificates of succession to this effect were issued to Sir Norman Murray Pringle on 1st July 2016.

Pringle baronets, of Stichill (1683)

Sir John Pringle, 1st Baronet of Pringle of Pall Mall
The grave of Sir Norman William Pringle and his son Sir Norman Robert Pringle, Brompton Cemetery, London


Relatives who were incorrectly registered as Baronets of Stichill:

Pringle baronets, of Pall Mall (1766)

See also

References

Further reading

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