The brother of David Cameron has died from cancer after a long battle with the disease.
Alexander Cameron, 59, a prominent barrister, stepped down from the bar shortly after being diagnosed with cancer in 2020.
He is said to have inspired his younger brother to become Conservative leader.
When an opening for a new leader of the Conservative party appeared in 2005, Alexander told his brother: “You’ve got to go for it,” the Mail Online reported.
Aged just 39 when he made Queen's Counsel, Alexander developed a reputation as “one of the best silks at the Criminal Bar”, according to his chambers.
He was a significant role model for David, who wrote in the Big Issue that he “lived in the shadow of my older brother”.
David wrote: “He was three years older and was a huge success. It was great to have that kind of role model and I was incredibly proud of him, but like many younger brothers you find yourself always a few steps behind.”
‘An inspirational head of these Chambers’
Announcing his death, Alexander's chambers, Three Raymond Buildings, said: “It is with immense sadness that Chambers announces the death of Alexander Cameron KC.
“Alex was considered to be one of the best silks at the Criminal Bar during his illustrious career, and was a hugely respected and inspirational head of these Chambers.
“He will be missed enormously, and our heartfelt condolences go to his wife, Sarah, their children Imogen and Angus, and to his wider family.
“Details of a memorial service will be announced in due course.”
Alexander was born in 1963, the elder son of Ian and Mary Cameron.
He and David, who is three years his junior, attended Heatherdown preparatory school in Berkshire. The brothers both went to Eton, where Alexander was an accomplished athlete.
While David attended Oxford, Alexander went to Bristol University where he studied law and was called to the bar in 1986.
He married fellow barrister Sarah Fearnley-Whittingstall, the cousin of chef Hugh, in 1990.
Star turn on court TV
Alexander was in 2013 the first barrister for 90 years to appear on camera while in action at the Court of Appeal, after a major law change allowed televised proceedings.
After the day's hearing, Alexander told Sky News that he did not have much time to prepare for being on camera: "It's surprising. I only found out yesterday it was happening."
David, who was Prime Minister at the time, was among those following the broadcast, watching on his smartphone on a train as his brother made history.
David said: "I couldn't help notice that the barrister in the case was actually my brother which was a surprise to me this morning as I think it was a surprise to him.
"My reflection on that is that the noise and the atmosphere in the Court of Appeal is rather different to the noise and the atmosphere in the House of Commons for Prime Minister's Question Time.
"It's very quiet, it's very ordered, it's very reasonable. So I said to my brother perhaps he would like to do a job swap for a day."
Alexander represented a number of high-profile clients including Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of the News of the World, in her phone hacking defence in 2013.
