As a Belgian-born Englishwoman, the Countess of Erroll proved a dedicated, loving and supportive wife to a Scottish peer and chief and, in so doing, took Scotland to her heart. Isabelle Hay provided loyal and dutiful support over four decades to Lord Erroll, high constable of Scotland, chief of Clan Hay and hereditary lord assessor to the Lord Lyon King of Arms. She was at the heart of Scottish ceremonial occasions including Holyrood garden parties, the annual Royal Week in Edinburgh and the general assembly of the Church of Scotland.
When Isabelle Hohler married Merlin Hay 38 years ago she entered a Scots earldom that was one of 20 in existence 500 years ago. The Hays, originally from northern France, appeared in Scotland by the