Born 28 July 1845, Sir William served in the Grenadier Guards, retiring as Lt.-Col., was M.P. for Wycombe from 1868 until 1883. He was Groom-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria 1880-82, Acting Master of the Buckhounds 1883-1884, Equerry to Queen Victoria 1881-1901, and later extra Equerry to Edward VII and later to George V. In 1871 he married Juliet, only daughter of Francis Warden, who died in 1913. He died without issue on 7 October 1914.

Sir William and his younger brother Rupert, later 4th Baron Carrington, had the surname Carrington confirmed by Royal Licence on 21 Ausgust 1880.

The Fabergé gold beaker has an accompanying envelope bearing in Sir William's hand the inscription From the Czar of Russia to William Carrington Balmoral Sept 1896 "This cup is pure gold.""

Following their coronation Nicholas and Alexandra travelled in Europe, to Vienna, Breslau and Copenhagen, before arriving at Balmoral in September to visit her Grandmother, Queen Victoria. After two weeks they went on a state visit to France. It was during this visit to Balmoral that the Tsar gave this beaker to Sir William.