Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy

Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (born Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel on 25 December 1936), is a member of the British royal family. She is the only daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. She is also the sole living granddaughter of King George V, making her a niece of Kings Edward VIII and George VI, and a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Additionally, she is related to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, being both a first cousin and a second cousin to him through her mother and her maternal family, respectively. As of 2025, her position in the line of succession has been noted as 58th.

Early Life:

Princess Alexandra was born at 3 Belgrave Square, London. Her father, Prince George, was the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary. Her mother, Princess Marina, was the 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 her maternal aunts, Countess Elizabeth of Törring-Jettenbach and Princess Olga of Yugoslavia. The name Christabel was also included because she was born on Christmas Day, a tradition similar to that of her aunt Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.

At birth, she was styled as a British princess with the prefix Her Royal Highness due to her status as a male-line granddaughter of a monarch. She was sixth in the line of succession, following her cousins Elizabeth and Margaret, her uncle the Duke of Gloucester, her father, and her elder brother, Prince Edward. Her birth occurred two weeks after King Edward VIII's abdication. She was baptised in the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace on 9 February 1937, with Godparents including King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), the Queen of Norway, Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, among others.

Her childhood was spent primarily at her family’s country home, Coppins, in Buckinghamshire. During World War II, she resided at Badminton with her grandmother, Queen Mary. Her father was killed in an aircraft crash on 25 August 1942 while serving in the Royal Air Force. Notably, she was the first British princess to attend a boarding school, Heathfield School near Ascot, and later studied in Paris. She also received training at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Marriage and Personal Life:

On 24 April 1963, Princess Alexandra married The Hon. Angus James Bruce Ogilvy at Westminster Abbey. Ogilvy was the second son of David Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie, and Lady Alexandra Coke. He presented her with an engagement ring featuring a cabochon sapphire encircled by diamonds. Their wedding ceremony was broadcast globally, attracting an estimated audience of 200 million. The bride's gown was designed by John Cavanagh, made of Valenciennes lace. Princess Anne and Archduchess Elisabeth of Austria served as bridesmaids; Peregrine Fairfax was the best man. The Archbishop of Canterbury officiated.

Ogilvy declined a peerage offered by the Queen, so their children carry no noble titles. Ogilvy was knighted in 1988 and sworn into the Privy Council in 1997. The couple had two children:

- James Robert Bruce Ogilvy (born 29 February 1964), who married Julia Caroline Rawlinson in 1988, with issue including Flora Alexandra Vesterberg (born 1994) and Alexander Charles Ogilvy (born 1996).

- Marina Victoria Alexandra Ogilvy (born 31 July 1966), who married Paul Julian Mowatt in 1990; they divorced in 1997, and she has two children: Zenouska May Mowatt and Christian Alexander Mowatt.

Activities:

Princess Alexandra has been an active member of the royal family, undertaking approximately 120 engagements annually in support of various charities and official duties. She represented the Queen during significant events, including Nigeria’s independence in 1960, and participated in international visits to countries such as Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, Italy, Oman, and others. She has opened hospitals, railway lines, and hosted state visits, including launching ships and presenting trophies.

She served as Chancellor of Lancaster University from 1964 until 2004 and was the first Chancellor of the University of Mauritius. She holds honorary fellowships and degrees from multiple institutions and has been involved with numerous charitable organizations and institutions, including the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital and Alzheimer's Society.

Her official expenses were covered by the Civil List until its abolition in 2013; she resides at Thatched House Lodge in Richmond, London. She has held numerous honorary military appointments and is a recipient of various national and international honours. In recent years, she has attended events such as the coronation of King Charles III in 2023 and, as of early 2024, uses a wheelchair for mobility.

Titles, Honours, and Appointments:

Her titles have included Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent and Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Mrs. Ogilvy. Her honours include the Royal Family Order of George VI, Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II, Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, and membership of the Order of the Garter, among others. Many institutions and locations, including hospitals and gardens, are named in her honour. She has received numerous academic and civic awards and holds various honorary appointments within the military and academic sectors.

Ancestry:

Her mother’s relation as a first cousin of Prince Philip links her to the Greek and Danish royal families, and through her paternal family, she is related to the British royal family, including her grandfather King George V.