Princess Alexandra (born 1936)

{{Infobox royalty

| name = Princess Alexandra

| title = The Hon. Lady Ogilvy (more)

| image = HRH The Princess Alexandra 04 25 10.png

| caption = Alexandra in 2010

| spouse = {{marriage|Sir Angus Ogilvy|24 April 1963|26 December 2004|end=died}}

| issue = {{plainlist|

| full name = Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel

| house = Windsor

| father = Prince George, Duke of Kent

| mother = Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark

| birth_name = Princess Alexandra of Kent

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1936|12|25|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Belgravia, London, England

| signature = Princess Alexandra's signature.svg

| module = {{infobox person |embed=yes

| education = Heathfield School, Ascot

}}

Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel; born 25 December 1936) is a member of the British royal family and the only daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. She is also the only living granddaughter

of George V, a niece of Edward VIII and George VI, and a first cousin of Elizabeth II. Alexandra's mother was also a first cousin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, consort of Elizabeth II, making her both a second cousin and first cousin once removed of Charles III.

Princess Alexandra was married to businessman Sir Angus Ogilvy from 1963 until his death in 2004. At the time of her birth, she was sixth in the line of succession to the British throne; {{as of|2025|lc=y}}, she is 58th.

Early life

Princess Alexandra was born on 25 December 1936 at 3 Belgrave Square, London.{{London Gazette|issue=34354|date=28 December 1936 |page=8413}}{{sfn|Panton|2011|p=37}} Her parents were Prince George, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, a daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia. She was named after her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra; her grandmother, Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia; and both of her maternal aunts, Countess Elizabeth of Törring-Jettenbach and Princess Olga of Yugoslavia. She received the name Christabel because she was born on Christmas Day, like her aunt Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. Her birth was the last to have the tradition of having the Home Secretary present to verify the birth of potential heirs to the throne.{{cite news|title=Royal baby: Traditions and customs surrounding Prince William and Catherine's new baby princess|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-03/traditions-around-the-royal-birth/6440426|access-date=11 September 2015|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=3 May 2015}} John Simon was present and was the last one to do so.{{cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/content/100028|title=Royal babies and The Gazette|work=The Gazette|access-date=22 May 2025}}

As a male-line granddaughter of the British monarch, she was styled as a British princess with the prefix Her Royal Highness. At the time of her birth she was sixth in the line of succession to the British throne, behind her cousins Elizabeth and Margaret, her uncle the Duke of Gloucester, her father the Duke of Kent, and her elder brother Prince Edward. She was born two weeks after the abdication of her uncle King Edward VIII.

Alexandra was baptised in the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace on 9 February 1937, and her godparents were King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (her paternal uncle and aunt); the Queen of Norway (her great-aunt); Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark (her maternal grandmother); Princess Olga of Yugoslavia (her maternal aunt); the Princess Beatrice (her paternal great-great-aunt); the Earl of Athlone (her paternal great-uncle); and Count Karl Theodor of Törring-Jettenbach (her maternal uncle by marriage). Of her godparents, only the King and Queen and Lord Athlone were present.Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 10 February 1937.{{cite web |title=Members of the royal family attend christening of Princess Alexandra (1937) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRjUkW8F418 |url-status=live |work=British Pathé |via=YouTube |date=12 November 2020 |access-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/TRjUkW8F418 |archive-date=12 December 2021}}{{cbignore}}

Alexandra spent most of her childhood at her family's country house, Coppins, in Buckinghamshire. During the Second World War she also lived at Badminton with her widowed grandmother Queen Mary.{{sfn|Panton|2011|p=37}} Her father was killed in an aeroplane crash in Caithness, Scotland, on 25 August 1942, whilst serving in the Royal Air Force. Alexandra has the distinction of being the first British princess to have attended a boarding school, Heathfield School near Ascot.{{sfn|Panton|2011|p=37}} She then studied in Paris.{{cite news|title=Mayfair glamour girl not Margaret, but Alex|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post Gazette|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_ZZRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3979,5364379&dq=princess+alexandra&hl=en|access-date=17 July 2013|date=19 January 1956|agency=Associated Press|location=London}} She was also trained at Great Ormond Street Hospital.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/07/the-royal-clan-whos-who-what-do-they-do-and-how-much-money-do-they-get|title=The royal clan: who's who, what do they do and how much money do they get?|work=The Guardian|date=7 April 2023|access-date=8 April 2023}}

File:Princess Alexandra of Kent 1947.jpg

Marriage and personal life

On 24 April 1963, she married The Hon. Angus James Bruce Ogilvy (1928–2004), second son of David Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie, and Lady Alexandra Coke, at Westminster Abbey.{{cite news|last=Mishael|first=Herbert|title=Princess Alexandra to wed Ancestral foe|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OFBVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6980,3292048&dq=princess+alexandra&hl=en|access-date=17 July 2013|newspaper=The Age|date=24 April 1963|location=London}}{{sfn|Panton|2011|p=38}} Ogilvy presented Alexandra with an engagement ring made of a cabochon sapphire set in gold and surrounded by diamonds on both sides.{{cite web|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com.au/celebrity/british-royal-engagement-rings-15117|title=A Very Thorough History of British Royal Engagement Rings|publisher=Harper's Bazaar Australia|first=Mahalia |last=Chang|date=27 November 2017|access-date=15 May 2018}} The wedding ceremony was attended by the royal family{{cite web|title=Royal Spring Wedding|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/royal-spring-wedding-technicolor|work=Pathé News|year=1963 |access-date=24 March 2018}} and was broadcast worldwide on television, watched by an estimated 200 million people.{{sfn|Panton|2011|p=38}}

The bride wore a wedding gown of Valenciennes lace, with matching veil and train, designed by John Cavanagh.{{cite book |last=Cathcart |first=Helen |title=Princess Alexandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uU0wAAAAIAAJ&q=Cavanagh%22 |publisher=W. H. Allen & Co. |location=London |year=1967}}{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Nichola |title=Princess Anne is a beautiful bridesmaid in unearthed royal wedding photos |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/20210713117370/princess-anne-bridesmaid-photos-princess-alexandra-wedding/ |work=Hello! |date=13 July 2021 |access-date=30 November 2021}} She made her way with her brother, the Duke of Kent, from Kensington Palace to the church. The bridesmaids included Princess Anne and Archduchess Elisabeth of Austria, and the best man was Peregrine Fairfax. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, conducted the service. Angus Ogilvy declined the Queen's offer to be created an earl upon marriage,{{sfn|Panton|2011|p=38}} so their children carry no titles.

Angus Ogilvy was knighted in 1988 (when Princess Alexandra assumed the style of The Hon. Lady Ogilvy), later being sworn of the Privy Council in 1997. Princess Alexandra and Angus Ogilvy had two children, James and Marina, and four grandchildren:

James Robert Bruce Ogilvy (born 29 February 1964 in Thatched House Lodge, Richmond Park, Surrey). He married Julia Caroline Rawlinson on 30 July 1988 at St Mary's Church in Saffron Walden, Essex. The couple have issue:{{cite news |title=Royal baby for leap year day |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/29/newsid_2758000/2758983.stm |quote=The Ogilvy baby was one of several royal babies due within months of each other. The 9lb 6oz boy will be unique among them in having no title. Master Ogilvy is currently 13th in line to the throne but will soon be displaced to 16th |publisher=BBC News |date=29 February 1964 |access-date=8 March 2008}}
Flora Alexandra Vesterberg (born 15 December 1994 in Edinburgh, Scotland). She married Timothy Vesterberg at Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, on 26 September 2020.{{cite news |title=Princess Alexandra's granddaughter Flora Ogilvy marries Timothy Vesterberg |url=https://www.tatler.com/article/flora-ogilvy-timothy-vesterberg-wedding |work=Tatler |date=1 October 2020 |access-date=1 October 2020}}
Alexander Charles Ogilvy (born 12 November 1996 in Edinburgh, Scotland).
Marina Victoria Alexandra Ogilvy (born 31 July 1966 in Thatched House Lodge, Richmond Park, Surrey). She married Paul Julian Mowatt (Hendon, 28 November 1962) on 2 February 1990; they divorced on 15 October 1997. They have two children:
Zenouska May Mowatt (born 26 May 1990 in Roehampton, England). Currently{{when|date=April 2023}} works as Head of Marketing for Halcyon Days Ltd.
Christian Alexander Mowatt (born 4 June 1993 in London, England)

Marina's first pregnancy, which was announced in late 1989, caused a controversy as the couple were not married. This resulted in a feud with her parents who suggested she either marry her companion in a shotgun wedding or have an abortion.{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/17/world/one-more-scandal-for-british-royalty.html|title=One More Scandal For British Royalty|date=17 October 1989|access-date=1 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-09-mn-238-story.html|title=Unwed Pregnant Royal Cousin Petitions Queen|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=9 October 1989|access-date=1 August 2018}} In an interview with a tabloid at the time, Marina had claimed that her parents had cut off her trust fund and monthly allowance due to their disapproval of her conduct. She also said that she wrote a letter to Queen Elizabeth II, addressing her "Dear Cousin Lilibet", asking her to intervene in the family dispute.{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1989-10-09 |title=Unwed Pregnant Royal Cousin Petitions Queen |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-09-mn-238-story.html |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Marina's parents denied her allegations and said that they loved her, had not cut her off and that she was welcome at home any time.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/05/world/princess-s-daughter-says-she-s-pregnant.html |title=Princess's Daughter Says She's Pregnant |website=The New York Times |date=5 November 1989 |access-date=30 October 2022}}

Activities

File:Queensland State Archives 7962 Princess Alexandra at the Royal National Show Brisbane 19 August 1959.png

File:Princess Alexandra and the Mayor Councillor H, Clafton at Ossett.jpg in 1977]]

Beginning in the late 1950s, Princess Alexandra carried out an extensive programme of engagements in support of the Queen, both in the United Kingdom and overseas. Taking part in roughly 120 engagements each year, Princess Alexandra was one of the most active members of the royal family.{{sfn|Panton|2011|p=37}} She carried out 110 engagements in 2012. However, in April 2013, she cancelled her engagements due to polymyalgia rheumatica.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/kate-middleton/10545889/Royal-family-carries-out-1000-fewer-engagements-in-2013-as-illness-and-pregnancy-take-their-toll.html|title=Royal family carries out 1,000 fewer engagements in 2013 as illness and pregnancy take their toll|work=The Telegraph|first=Gordon|last=Rayner|date=1 January 2014|access-date=10 June 2025}} As of 2022, she is still listed as a working member of the royal family, attending numerous ceremonial and charitable engagements.{{cite web|title=Princess Alexandra|date=13 January 2016 |url=https://www.royal.uk/princess-alexandra|publisher=Official website of the Royal Family|access-date=20 June 2017}}

File:Prinses Alexandra (1961).jpg

In 1959, she carried out an extensive tour of Australia, and attended the Queensland Centenary Celebrations.{{sfn|Panton|2011|p=38}} The Alexandra Waltz was composed for this visit by radio announcer Russ Tyson, and television musical director, Clyde Collins. It was sung for the princess by teen-aged Gay Kahler, who later changed her name to Gay Kayler."Gay song for a princess", Woman's Day, 7 January 1963 In 1961, Princess Alexandra visited Hong Kong and made a visit to Aberdeen Fish Market, Lok Ma Chau police station and So Uk Estate, a public housing complex.{{cite web|url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/heritage/watch-hong-kong-s-royal-visit-in-1961-1-8032533|title=Watch: Hong Kong's Royal visit in 1961|first=Mark|last=Acheson|date=29 June 2017|access-date=24 March 2018|publisher=Portsmouth News}}{{cite web|title=Farewell To Hong Kong (1961)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlnQm6oyjU8|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/OlnQm6oyjU8| archive-date=12 December 2021|url-status=live|website=YouTube | date=13 April 2014 |publisher=British Pathé}}{{cbignore}} Princess Alexandra returned to Australia in 1967 for a private holiday, but also carried out engagements in Canberra and Melbourne.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6YkhCe9TxI|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/B6YkhCe9TxI|archive-date=12 December 2021|url-status=live|title=Princess Alexandra's Visit (1967)|publisher=YouTube|work=British Pathé|date=13 April 2014|access-date=24 March 2018}}{{cbignore}} The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane is named in her honour.{{cite web|url=https://metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/princess-alexandra-hospital/about-us/history|title=History|work=Princess Alexandra Hospital|date=15 March 2015|access-date=30 November 2021}}

Princess Alexandra represented the Queen when Nigeria gained its independence from the United Kingdom{{sfn|Panton|2011|p=38}} on 1 October 1960, and opened the first Parliament on 3 October. Later overseas tours included visits to Canada, Italy, Oman, Hungary, Norway, Japan, Thailand, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.{{sfn|Panton|2011|p=38}} Princess Alexandra launched the New Zealand Leander-class frigate HMNZS Waikato at Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1965.{{cite web|url=http://navymuseum.co.nz/hmnzs-waikato-leander-class-frigate/|title=HMNZS Waikato (Leander-class Frigate) |date=18 January 2016 |publisher=National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy|access-date=24 March 2018}} Princess Alexandra opened the Victoria-to-Brixton section of London Underground's Victoria line on 23 July 1971.{{cite book |last=Green |first=Oliver |title=The London Underground – An Illustrated History |publisher=Ian Allan |year=1988 |page=59 |isbn=978-0-7110-1720-7}} In May 1973 the Princess was introduced to both teams and presented the Scottish Cup to winners Rangers in the 1973 Scottish Cup Final.{{Cite web |date=22 May 2024 |title=The Scottish Cup – 1973 – A Royal Occasion |url=https://www.followfollow.com/the-scottish-cup-1973-a-royal-occasion/ |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=followfollow.com}} She again represented the Queen at the celebrations of independence from the United Kingdom of Saint Lucia in 1979.{{Cite web |last=Wayne |first=Rick |date=16 February 2019 |title=INDEPENDENCE: From Day One It's Been Looshan vs Looshan! |url=https://stluciastar.com/independence-from-day-one-its-been-looshan-vs-looshan/ |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=THE STAR - St Lucia}}

Princess Alexandra opened the new hospital in Harlow, Essex, named in her honour on 27 April 1965. The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust was announced by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in September 2019 to be part of the government's new health infrastructure programme to build a new hospital.

Princess Alexandra served as chancellor of Lancaster University from its foundation in 1964 until she relinquished the post in 2004{{cite web |title=Chancellor's Installation |url=http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/about-us/ourpeople/meet-our-chancellor/chancellors-installation/ |publisher=Lancaster University |access-date=25 March 2018}} (when she also accepted an honorary degree in Music). She also served as the first chancellor of the University of Mauritius.{{cite web |title=Port Louis – Princess Alexandra visits Mauritius – 1972 |url=http://vintagemauritius.org/port-louis/port-louis-princess-alexandra-visits-mauritius-1972/ |date=8 December 2014}} She is also an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow,{{cite web|url=https://www.artuk.org/discover/artworks/hrh-princess-alexandra-b-1936-gcvo-in-evening-dress-139185|title=HRH Princess Alexandra (b.1936), GCVO, in Evening Dress|publisher=Art UK|year=1960|quote=The painting is on display in the Alexandra Room in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (Princess Alexandra became an Honorary Fellow in 1960).|access-date=24 March 2018}} Faculty of Anæsthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons of England,{{cite journal |title=Faculty of Anæsthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons of England |journal=Anaesthesia |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=537–539 |date=July 1967 |s2cid=221417865 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2044.1967.tb02794.x |doi-access=free}} the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists,{{cite web |title=Honorary Fellows |url=https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/about-us/membership/membership-categories/honorary-fellows/ |publisher=Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |access-date=25 March 2018}} and the Royal College of Physicians. She is also the president of Alexandra Rose Day, which was founded in honour of her great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra.{{cite web|url=http://www.alexandrarose.org.uk/our-history |title=History |publisher=Alexandra Rose Charity|access-date=25 March 2018|quote=Our Patron is her great granddaughter, HRH Princess Alexandra.}} She was also patron of The Royal School, Hampstead.{{cite magazine |last=Carrier |first=Dan |title=Royal premiere for school's first song |url=http://www.thecnj.com/camden/070507/news070507_11.html |magazine=Camden New Journal |date=5 July 2007 |access-date=25 March 2018}} The Princess was president of WWF-UK until 2011.{{cite web|url=http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?201587/New-President-for-WWF-UK|title=New President for WWF-UK|publisher=WWF|date=9 September 2011|location=London|access-date=25 March 2018}}

Until it was abolished in 2013, Princess Alexandra received £225,000 per year from the Civil List to cover the cost of official expenses,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/mar/06/monarchy.princessmargaret|title=The royal family and the public purse|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Paul|last=Kelso|date=6 March 2000|access-date=25 March 2018}} although as with the other members of the royal family (except the Duke of Edinburgh) the Queen repaid this amount to HM Treasury. Alexandra lives at Thatched House Lodge in Richmond, London, a Crown property purchased on a 150-year lease from the Crown Estate Commissioners by Angus Ogilvy after their wedding in 1963. She also has use of a grace-and-favour apartment at St James's Palace in London.{{cite web |title=The Royal Residences |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/StJamessPalace/Today.aspx |url-status=dead |publisher=Official website of the British Monarchy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015012612/http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/StJamessPalace/Today.aspx |archive-date=15 October 2014}}

The Princess is the patron of the Blackie Foundation Trust, a charity dedicated to the promotion of research and education in homoeopathy. She is also a patron of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals;{{cite web|url=https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/charity-governance/our-patron|title=Our Patron|work=PDSA|access-date=17 August 2022}} the English National Opera;{{cite web |url=https://www.eno.org/about/whos-who/eno-board/|title=ENO board|publisher=English National Opera|access-date=25 March 2018}} the London Philharmonic Choir;{{cite web|url=http://www.lpc.org.uk/ |title=News|publisher=LPC|access-date=22 May 2012}} the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra;{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/princess-alexandra-attends-concert-celebrate-power-music-people-suffering-dementia|title=Princess Alexandra attends a concert to celebrate the power of music on people suffering with dementia|work=The Royal Family|date=12 February 2018|access-date=7 December 2022}} Wigmore Hall; the Florence Nightingale Foundation;{{cite web|url=http://www.westminster-abbey.org/press/news/2011/may/princess-alexandra-attends-service-to-commemorate-the-life-of-florence-nightingale|title=Princess Alexandra Attends Service to Commemorate the Life of Florence Nightingale|publisher=Westminster Abbey|date=May 2011|access-date=25 March 2018}} the not-for-profit housing association Anchor;{{cite web|url=http://www.anchor.org.uk/media-centre/latest-news/augusta-court-royal-visit|title=HRH Princess Alexandra visits Augusta Court care home|publisher=Anchor|date=29 September 2016|access-date=25 March 2018}} the charity Independent Age;{{cite web|url=https://www.independentage.org/about-us/our-people|title=Our people|publisher=Independent Age|access-date=25 March 2018}} St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham, England;{{cite web|url=http://www.stchristophers.org.uk/hrh-princess-alexandra-makes-annual-visit-st-christophers-hospice/|title=HRH Princess Alexandra makes annual visit to St Christopher's Hospice|publisher=St Christopher's|date=12 January 2018|access-date=25 March 2018}} Core, a National charity in London dedicated to funding research into digestive diseases and which also publishes information leaflets on the most common diseases of the gut and liver;{{cite web|url=http://corecharity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Final-Type-signed-Accounts-2016.pdf|title=Core – The Digestive Disorders Foundation (Annual Report and Financial Statements)|publisher=Core|date=31 December 2016|access-date=25 March 2018}} the Nature in Art Trust;{{cite web|url=http://nature-in-art.org.uk/trust.html|title=Nature in Art – Trust|publisher=Nature in Art Trust|access-date=23 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509223727/http://www.nature-in-art.org.uk/trust.html|archive-date=9 May 2010|url-status=dead}} and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA),{{cite web|url=https://www.lamda.ac.uk/about-lamda/lamda-trustees|title=LAMDA Trustees|publisher=London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art|access-date=25 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.niallmclaughlin.com/news/opening-of-lamda/6120/|title=Opening of LAMDA|publisher=Níall McLaughlin Architects|date=June 2017|access-date=25 March 2018}} the oldest drama school in the English-speaking world. She has been the patron of the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton since 1954 and of Alzheimer's Society since 1990.{{Harvnb|Collis|2010|p=288.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/our-people/vice-presidents-patrons|title=Vice-Presidents and Patrons|date=16 May 2022 |publisher=Alzheimer's Society|access-date=7 December 2022}} She is also the royal patron of Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB),{{cite web|url=http://cfab.org.uk/who-we-are|title=Who we are|publisher=CFAB|access-date=25 March 2018|quote=HRH Princess Alexandra has been CFAB's Royal Patron since 2000. She was preceded by her sister-in-law HRH The Duchess of Kent, ...}} a charity dedicated to reuniting children who have been separated from their families. She is patron of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, which received its royal style in 2012 during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.{{cite web|url=https://www.cssd.ac.uk/sites/default/files/RCSSD%20Financial%20Statements%20YE%2031%20July%202014_signed.pdf|title=Royal Central School of Speech and Drama – University of London (Financial Statements)|publisher=Royal Central School of Speech and Drama|date=31 July 2014|access-date=25 March 2018}} In her role as president of Sightsavers UK, the Princess visited Washington D.C. in October 2016 to attend the Neglected Tropical Diseases NGDO Network conference partnership reception.{{cite web|url=https://www.sightsavers.org/news/2016/10/princess-alexandra-ntds-conference/|title=Princess Alexandra visits Washington for NTDs conference|publisher=Sightsavers|date=October 2016|access-date=25 May 2018}} In November 2016, one month ahead of Alexandra's 80th birthday, the Queen held a reception at Buckingham Palace in honour of the work of Alexandra's charities.{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/reception-celebrate-princess-alexandras-patronages|title=Reception to celebrate Princess Alexandra's patronages|publisher=Official website of the Royal Family|date=29 November 2016|access-date=25 March 2018}}

In May 2023, Alexandra appeared alongside other working members of the royal family in photos in the Throne Room and on Buckingham Palace balcony following the coronation of King Charles III, which she had attended earlier that day.{{cite news |title=Official Coronation Portraits |url=https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-05-08/official-coronation-portraits |access-date=29 May 2023 |publisher=Royal Household |date=2023}} In February 2024, she was seen using a wheelchair at the thanksgiving service for Constantine II of Greece.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/02/27/prince-william-pulls-out-godfathers-memorial-service/|title=Prince William pulls out of godfather's memorial service for 'personal reasons'|work=The Telegraph|first=Victoria|last=Ward|date=27 February 2024|access-date=27 February 2024}} In June, she joined King Charles for a church service in London taking place in the Queen's Chapel, Alexandra sat alongside the King to mark the chapel's 400th anniversary celebration,{{cite magazine|title=Rarely seen Princess Alexandra makes a surprise appearance with King Charles|url=https://www.tatler.com/article/rarely-seen-princess-alexandra-makes-a-surprise-appearance-with-king-charles|date=5 June 2025|access-date=7 June 2025|magazine=Tatler|first=Isaac|last=Bickerstaff}} and was a guest at Garter Day, appearing in photos alongside Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Catherine, Princess of Wales.{{cite news |last1=Jureidini |first1=B. |title=Kate Middleton and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, showcase their ‘unbreakable bond’ as they match outfits at Garter Day celebrations |url=https://www.tatler.com/article/kate-middleton-duchess-of-edinburgh-bond-garter-day#intcid=_tatler-right-rail_71791201-745f-44d5-9a63-2f73f6da4db5_popular4-2 |access-date=17 June 2025 |publisher=Tatler |date=16 June 2025}}

Titles, styles, honours and arms

File:Royal Monogram of Princess Alexandra of Kent.svg

=Titles and styles=

While she has had longer styles, she is often referred to more simply as Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra.{{cite web |title=A message from The Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra on World Cancer Day |url=https://www.royal.uk/message-duke-gloucester-and-princess-alexandra-world-cancer-day |website=royal.uk |access-date=20 February 2025}}

25 December 1936 – 24 April 1963: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent{{London Gazette |issue=40020 |supp=2 |date=17 November 1953 |page=6225 |nolink=yes}}
24 April 1963 – 31 December 1988: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Mrs Angus Ogilvy{{cite web|url=http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/history/hist_chivalry.asp |title=Orders of Chivalry|publisher=St George's Chapel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820080536/http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/history/hist_chivalry.asp |archive-date=20 August 2008}}{{London Gazette |issue=47235 |supp=2 |date=10 June 1977 |page=7119 |nolink=yes}}
31 December 1988 – present: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy{{London Gazette |issue=52834 |supp=2 |date=13 February 1992 |page=2582 |nolink=yes}}{{London Gazette |issue=62310 |supp=2 |date=9 June 2018 |page=B4 |nolink=yes}}

=Honours=

{{see also|List of honours of the British royal family by country}}

45px 1951: Recipient of the Royal Family Order of George VI{{citation|page=97|title=Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage 2008|isbn=9781870520805|year=2008|publisher=Debrett's}} (the Princess is the final living recipient of this order)
45px 25 December 1952: Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II
45px 2 June 1953: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

{{London Gazette|issue=40020|page=6225|date=20 November 1953|supp=y}}

45px 25 December 1960: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO){{London Gazette |issue=42230 |date=27 December 1960 |page=8869 |nolink=yes}}
45x45px 6 February 1977: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal{{Cite web |title=Princess Alexandra attends the State Banquet given by Former Polish... {{!}} Princess alexandra, Princess, Alexandra |url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/princess-alexandra-attends-the-state-banquet-given-by-former-polish--378161699966940897/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Pinterest |language=en}}
45px 23 April 2003: Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter (KG){{efn|The original announcement made regarding her appointment in 2003 describes her as a "Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter",{{cite web |url=https://www.royal.uk/new-members-order-garter-announced |title=New members of the Order of the Garter announced |date=23 April 2003 |work=The official website of the British Royal Family |access-date=11 April 2019}} but her official biography states that she was "made a Knight of the Order of the Garter (KG) in 2003".{{Cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/titles/knight/knights-of-orders-of-chivalry.aspx |title=Knights of the Orders of Chivalry |publisher=Debrett's |access-date=5 March 2012 |quote=Although HRH The Princess Royal and HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy, are both female they are actually included with the Royal Knights Companions and they bear the post-nominal letters KG (not LG)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217082602/http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/titles/knight/knights-of-orders-of-chivalry.aspx |archive-date=17 December 2011}}}}
1967: Recipient of the Order of the Dogwood{{Cite web |date=2018-03-19 |title=This Day In History: November 21, 1966 |url=http://www.vancouversun.com/This+History+November+1966/7587673/story.html |access-date=2022-04-11 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319152607/http://www.vancouversun.com/This+History+November+1966/7587673/story.html |archive-date=19 March 2018 |url-status=dead}}
45px 1972: Recipient of the Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) with 5 Clasps[http://crht.ca/the-royal-family-and-the-armed-forces/ The Royal Family and the Armed Forces][http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/pub/doc/cfd-dfc-eng.pdf The Canadian Forces Decoration]

;Foreign

{{Flagicon|JPN}} 1962: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown
{{Flagicon|Netherlands}} 18 November 1982: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
{{Flagicon|Thailand}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao

==Eponyms==

The Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm School.
The Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, Worcestershire is named after the Princess which she opened on 2 April 1987.
The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, was named by the Princess on 27 April 1965.[https://www.pah.nhs.uk/news-and-events/hospital-marks-55th-anniversary-by-reflecting-on-its-evolution-over-the-decades-700 PAH Trust website]
The Princess Alexandra Hospital (formerly South Brisbane Hospital) was named by and in honour of the visit by the Princess to Queensland in 1959.
The Princess Alexandra Gardens at Leeds Castle[https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/court-circular-june-25-2019-mvxxf6cvw Court Circular: June 25, 2019] are named after her in honour of her involvement as Patron of the Leeds Castle Foundation
The Hong Kong Red Cross Princess Alexandra school, 8-9 Rehab Path, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, a government subsidized special education boarding school, set up in 1962.

==Appointments==

;Academic

1964–2004: University of Lancaster, Chancellor
1972–1996: University of Mauritius, Chancellor

;Honorary academic degrees

University of Queensland, Doctor of Laws
University of Hong Kong, Doctor of Laws
University of Mauritius, Doctor of Laws
University of Liverpool, Doctor of Laws
University of Lancaster, Doctor of Musical Arts

;Civic

Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists
Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians

==Honorary military appointments==

;{{flagicon|CAN}} Canada

{{flagicon|CAN|army}} 1960–2010: Colonel-in-Chief, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada{{cite web |url=http://www.qor.com/association/powderhorn-dec2010.pdf |title=Powder Horn |publisher=The QOR of C |date=December 2010 |access-date=17 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624115839/http://www.qor.com/association/powderhorn-dec2010.pdf |archive-date=24 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.qor.com/history/colonel.html|title=The Colonel-in-Chief|publisher=The Rifleman Online|access-date=17 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619142100/http://www.qor.com/history/colonel.html|archive-date=19 June 2013|url-status=dead}}
{{flagicon|CAN|army}} 1977: Colonel-in-Chief, The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's){{cite web|title=Colonel-in-Chief|url=http://www.canadianscottishregiment.ca/index.php?page_id=1024|publisher=The Canadian Scottish Regiment|access-date=17 July 2013}}

;{{flagicon|UK}} United Kingdom

{{flagicon|UK|naval}} 1955: Patron, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service{{London Gazette |issue=40656 |date=16 December 1955 |page=7071 |nolink=yes}}
{{flagicon|UK|naval}} 1998: Lady Sponsor, of {{HMS|Kent|F78}}{{cite web|url=https://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/cambridge/what-is-a-royal-ship-sponsor-162481/|title=What is a royal ship sponsor?|work=Royal Central|first=Jess|last=Ilse|date=30 June 2021|access-date=30 June 2021}}{{Unreliable source?|date=November 2021}}
{{flagicon|UK|army}} 1957–1968: Colonel-in-Chief, of Durham Light Infantry[http://www.lightinfantry.me.uk/formnewreg.htm The History of the Light Infantry]
{{flagicon|UK|army}} 1968–2002: Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, of Light Infantry{{London Gazette |issue=44633 |supp=y |date=12 July 1968 |page=7848 |nolink=yes}}
{{flagicon|UK|army}} 1977–2006: Colonel-in-Chief, of King's Own Royal Border Regiment{{London Gazette |issue=47234 |date=11 June 1977 |page=7079 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}
{{flagicon|UK|army}} 2002–2007: Colonel-in-Chief, of Light Infantry{{London Gazette |issue=56777 |date=10 December 2002 |page=14986 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}
{{flagicon|UK|army}} 1967: Honorary Colonel, of the North Irish Horse{{London Gazette |issue=44365 |date=14 July 1967 |page=7882 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}
{{flagicon|UK|army}} 1975: Royal Honorary Colonel, of The Royal Yeomanry{{London Gazette |issue=46542 |date=15 April 1975 |page=4820 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}
{{flagicon|UK|army}} 1992: Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, of The Queen's Royal Lancers
{{flagicon|UK|army}} 2007: Royal Colonel, 3rd Battalion The Rifles{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/appointment-new-royal-colonels|title= Appointment of New Royal Colonels|date= 28 February 2006|publisher=Royal.UK|access-date=18 November 2019}}
{{flagicon|UK|air force}} 1966: Patron and Air Chief Commandant, of Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service{{London Gazette |issue=44159 |date=1 November 1966 |page=11803 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}
{{flagicon|UK|air force}} 2000–2013: Honorary Air Commodore, of RAF Cottesmore{{London Gazette |issue=55974 |date=19 September 2000 |page=10420 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}

;{{flagicon|Hong Kong|1959}} Hong Kong

1969–1997: Commandant General, Royal Hong Kong Police Force[https://www.police.gov.hk/offbeat/809/eng/n16.htm Obituary]

=Arms=

{{Infobox COA wide

|image = Coat of Arms of Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy.svg

|image size =

|bannerimage = Royal Standard of Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy.svg

|badgeimage =

|notes = As a descendant of George V, Princess Alexandra's arms are based on the Royal Arms. The following explains the way in which her arms are differenced from those of the monarch.

|coronet = Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign

|year_adopted = 1961

|crest = On the coronet of children of other sons of the Sovereign, composed of four crosses-pattées alternated with four strawberry leaves a lion statant guardant or, crowned with the like coronet and differenced with a label as in the Arms.

|torse =

|helm =

|escutcheon = The Royal Arms differenced with a five-point label—the standard differentiation for a male-line grandchild of a British Monarch. The first and fifth points bear a heart gules, the second and fourth points bear an anchor azure, and the third point bears a cross gules.

|supporters = The Royal Supporters differenced with the like coronet and label.

|compartment =

|motto =

|orders = The Order of the Garter circlet.
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
(Shame be to him who thinks evil of it)

|banner = The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom labelled for difference as in her arms.
50px (in Scotland)

|badge =

|symbolism = As with the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom. The first and fourth quarters are the arms of England, the second of Scotland, the third of Ireland.

|previous_versions =

}}

Issue

Name	Birth	colspan="2"\|Marriage	Issue
class="wikitable"
James Ogilvy	29 February 1964	30 July 1988	Julia Caroline Rawlinson	Flora Alexandra Vesterberg Alexander Charles Ogilvy
Marina Ogilvy	31 July 1966	2 February 1990 Divorced 4 December 1997	Paul Julian Mowatt	Zenouska May Mowatt Christian Alexander Mowatt

Ancestry

Since Princess Alexandra's mother was a first cousin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, she is a second cousin to King Charles III and his siblings, in addition to being their first cousin once removed because her father was Queen Elizabeth II's uncle.

{{ahnentafel

|collapsed=yes |align=center

|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;

|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;

|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;

|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;

|1= 1. Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy

|2= 2. Prince George, Duke of Kent

|3= 3. Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark

|4= 4. George V of the United Kingdom

|5= 5. Princess Victoria Mary of Teck

|6= 6. Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark

|7= 7. Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia

|8= 8. Edward VII of the United Kingdom

|9= 9. Princess Alexandra of Denmark

|10= 10. Francis, Duke of Teck

|11= 11. Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge

|12= 12. George I of Greece

|13= 13. Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovna of Russia

|14= 14. Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia

|15= 15. Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

}}

Notes

References

Bibliography

{{cite book|last=Collis|first=Rose|others=(based on the original by Tim Carder)|title=The New Encyclopaedia of Brighton|edition=1st|year=2010|publisher=Brighton & Hove Libraries|location=Brighton|isbn=978-0-9564664-0-2}}
{{cite book|first=Kenneth J.|last=Panton|title=Historical Dictionary of the British Monarchy|publisher=Scarecrow Press, Inc|year=2011 |isbn=978-0-8108-5779-7 }}

External links

[https://www.royal.uk/princess-alexandra Princess Alexandra] at the Royal Family website
{{NPG name|name=Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy}}
[http://www.health.qld.gov.au/pahospital Princess Alexandra Hospital, Australia]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFzDdQZGGQ4&ab_channel=AdeyinkaMakinde Sardauna Hosts Princess Alexandra at Sokoto Durbar | Independence Celebrations | Oct. 1960]

{{S-ttl|title=Line of succession to the British throne|creation=daughter of George, Duke of Kent
granddaughter of George V}}

{{S-prec|}} in England and Wales and in Northern Ireland

{{S-ttl|title=Ladies
HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy|years=}}