Clare McLaren-Throckmorton was born as Elizabeth Clare d'Abreu, one of three daughters, of Professor Alphonsus Ligouri d'Abreu (CBE, FRCS), a surgeon, and the former Elizabeth Ursula Arienwen Throckmorton.
Veronica Teresa d'Abreu (b. 10 July 1948), the youngest of the d'Abreu sisters, married Marius Peregrine Lechmere Barran in 1972; they have four daughters.