Sir David Bowes-Lyon KCVO was the sixth son of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Cecilia Nina Cavendish-Bentinck as well as their tenth and youngest child. His elder sister Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married Prince Albert, Duke of York, the second son of King George V, in 1923 and became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom after the abdication of her husband's elder brother Edward VIII on 11 December 1936.

On 6 February 1929, he married Rachel Pauline Spender-Clay, younger daughter of Herbert Henry Spender-Clay, they had two children, four grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren:

Davina Katherine Bowes-Lyon (2 May 1930 – 1 November 2017), married on 14 January 1960 to John Aymer Dalrymple, 13th Earl of Stair (9 October 1906 – 26 February 1996), they had three children and nine grandchildren: John David James Dalrymple, 14th Earl of Stair (b. 4 September 1961), married on 17 June 2006 to The Hon. Emily Mary Julia Stonor (b. 1969), they have two children: John James Thomas “Jack” Dalrymple, Viscount Dalrymple (b. 3 January 2008) Lady Elizabeth Alice Mary “Lily” Dalrymple (b. 24 July 2012) Hon. David Hew Dalrymple (b. 30 March 1963), married to Emma R. Woods and they have three children: Alexander John Peter Dalrymple (b. 29 April 2007) Davina Alice Louise Dalrymple (b. 19 April 2009) The Hon. Harry David Fergus Dalrymple (b. 6 April 2015) The Hon. Michael Colin Dalrymple (b. 1 April 1965), married in 1991 to Harriet Lucy Buxton (b. 29 December 1962), they have four children: William Hew Dalrymple (b. 1992) Angus Dalrymple (b. 1993) Peter Dalrymple (b. 1996) Flora Dalrymple (b. 2001) Simon Alexander Bowes-Lyon (b. 17 June 1932), married on 11 April 1966 to Caroline Mary Victoria Pike (b. 27 September 1940), they have four children and six grandchildren: Rosemary Pema “Rosie” Bowes-Lyon (b. 1968), married on 7 September 1996 to Nicholas David Kirkland Glazebrook, they have three children: Petra Rachel Glazebrook (b. 7 September 2000) Flora Joy Glazebrook (b. 2002) Tessa Elizabeth Glazebrook (b. 2 December 2004) Fergus Alexander Bowes-Lyon (b. 1970), married in 2002 to Frances Margaret Anne Harris, they have two children: Thomas Simon Bowes-Lyon (b. 2002) Eleanor Florence Bowes-Lyon (b. 2004) David Victor Bowes-Lyon (b. 1973), married in 2002 to Jennifer Hurst (b. 1977), they have one son: William David Bowes-Lyon (b. 2007) Andrew Simon Bowes-Lyon (b. 1979), married on 2 June 2012 to Melanie Fletcher During World War II, Bowes-Lyon was a member of the secret propaganda department Political Warfare Executive. He was High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1950 and Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire from 1 July 1952 until his death. Also, he became President of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1953. In 1960, he commanded the third World Orchid Conference. He was also a baptismal sponsor to Prince Charles, Prince of Wales.

He died at his sister's home, Birkhall, on the Balmoral estate, of a heart attack after suffering from hemiplegia. The Queen Mother discovered him dead in bed. The funeral was held at Ballater, and he was buried at St Paul's Walden Bury.