Princess Alexandra: Remarkable Family, Life, and Royal Role

Introduction

Princess Alexandra is a senior member of the British royal family and a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Born in 1936, she has spent decades supporting charitable organizations, public institutions, and the monarchy through official duties and patronages. Her work has covered health and welfare, the arts, education, and military organizations.

Princess Alexandra Quick Bio

Detail	Information
Full Name	Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel
Born	December 25, 1936
Birthplace	London, England
Father	Prince George, Duke of Kent
Mother	Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent
Royal Connection	First cousin of Queen Elizabeth II
Current Monarch	King Charles III
Spouse	Angus Ogilvy
Marriage Date	April 24, 1963
Children	James Ogilvy and Marina Ogilvy
Education	Heathfield School and finishing school in Paris
Former Academic Role	Chancellor of Lancaster University, 1964–2004
Major Interests	Health, welfare, arts, education, and military organizations
Royal Honors	Membership in the Order of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order
Formal Style	Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy

Who Is Princess Alexandra?

Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy, was born Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel on December 25, 1936, in London. She is the second child and only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

Her father, Prince George, Duke of Kent, was a younger brother of King George VI. This family connection made Princess Alexandra a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal Family identifies her as a working member of the Royal Family and notes her continuing support for charities and national events.

Princess Alexandra has maintained a public role for many decades rather than pursuing a conventional professional career. Her work has centered largely on royal engagements, charitable patronages, healthcare, culture, education, and military affiliations.

Princess Alexandra’s Place in the Royal Family

Her relationship to Queen Elizabeth II

Princess Alexandra was a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II through their fathers. Princess Alexandra’s father, the Duke of Kent, was the brother of Elizabeth’s father, King George VI.

The two were also connected through important events during Elizabeth’s early life. At age 11, Princess Alexandra served as one of the bridesmaids at Princess Elizabeth’s wedding to Philip Mountbatten in 1947.

Princess Alexandra later supported Queen Elizabeth II at official occasions, including national ceremonies, receptions, overseas visits, and events connected with the monarchy.

Her connection to King Charles III

King Charles III is the son of Queen Elizabeth II, making Princess Alexandra his first cousin once removed. Her relationship with the current monarch is therefore part of the same close extended royal family network.

Princess Alexandra has continued to support the monarchy under King Charles III. The Royal Family records her attendance at the King and Queen’s Coronation in May 2023, while the official Coronation portrait also included her among the working members of the Royal Family.

Early Life and Background

Princess Alexandra was born at 3 Belgrave Square in London on Christmas Day 1936. She was the daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.

Her father died in a wartime flying accident in 1942, when Alexandra was five years old. She grew up within the wider royal family and became the first British princess to attend an ordinary school. In 1947, she began attending Heathfield School near Ascot.

Her education later continued at a finishing school in Paris, where she studied French and music. These interests would complement her later involvement with cultural and educational institutions.

Princess Alexandra married Angus Ogilvy at Westminster Abbey on April 24, 1963. They had two children, James and Marina. Angus Ogilvy died in December 2004 after several years of illness.

Princess Alexandra was appointed a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1960. In 2003, she became a Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter.

Princess Alexandra’s Public Role

Official duties and royal engagements

Princess Alexandra has carried out official duties in support of the monarch for much of her adult life. Her responsibilities have included attending national events, representing the monarch, supporting charitable organizations, and participating in ceremonial occasions.

Her overseas work has also been significant. In 1959, she undertook her first solo overseas tour to Australia for the Queensland Centenary Celebrations. She subsequently represented Queen Elizabeth II on various international visits.

Her official activities have continued into the reign of King Charles III. The Royal Family states that she continues to support the King and Queen, and she attended their Coronation in 2023.

Official Court Circular records also continue to identify Princess Alexandra in connection with royal events and patronages. Some recent entries show her being represented by members of her household, illustrating that her role continues even when she does not personally attend every engagement.

Patronages and charitable work

Charitable work has been a central part of Princess Alexandra’s public role. The Royal Family says her patronages reflect interests ranging from healthcare and community services to the arts, education, and the Armed Services.

Her long-term associations have included organizations involved in medical care, cancer research, nursing, disability support, animal welfare, culture, and education.

One example is PDSA, the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, where Princess Alexandra has served as Patron since 1973. Her work with the organization has included visits to veterinary facilities and support for its wider charitable activities.

She has also maintained an association with Alexandra Rose Charities, an organization focused on supporting the welfare and development of children and young people.

Key Areas of Charitable and Public Service

Health and welfare organizations

Healthcare and welfare have been among the most consistent themes in Princess Alexandra’s public service.

She trained as a nurse at Great Ormond Street in 1957, although she did not pursue nursing as a professional career. Her later patronages have included organizations connected with cancer research, nursing, palliative care, mental health, blindness, and community welfare.

The Royal Family identifies her work with Cancer Research UK, where she has served as Joint-President alongside the Duke of Gloucester. Her long association with the Florence Nightingale Foundation also reflects her continuing interest in nursing and healthcare.

Other organizations connected with her public work have included St Christopher’s Hospice, the British Red Cross Society, Sightsavers, and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Her healthcare-related work demonstrates how royal patronage can involve more than ceremonial appearances. Such roles can include visiting institutions, meeting professionals and volunteers, attending events, and raising public awareness of an organization’s work.

Arts, culture, and heritage

Princess Alexandra has also supported the arts and cultural heritage. Her interests include classical music and opera, and she has held patronage or presidential roles with cultural organizations.

Among the institutions associated with her public work are the Chopin Society, English National Opera, and London Philharmonic Choir.

Her cultural patronages also extend to museums and organizations concerned with preserving historic sites, collections, art, and artifacts. This area of work has given her a continuing connection with Britain’s cultural institutions.

Education initiatives

Education has been another important part of Princess Alexandra’s public life.

Her most prominent academic role was as the first Chancellor of Lancaster University. She served from 1964 until 2004, a 40-year period that covered the university’s development from its foundation.

Lancaster University records that Princess Alexandra was installed as Chancellor in November 1964 and remained in the position until December 2004. The university later awarded her an honorary degree in music.

Her broader links with academic and professional institutions have included honorary fellowships and degrees, reflecting her longstanding relationship with higher education and professional organizations.

Military affiliations

Princess Alexandra has also maintained formal links with military organizations.

Her military affiliations have included honorary positions connected with The Rifles, The Royal Lancers, and the Royal Yeomanry. She has also had a longstanding relationship with Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service.

These positions are honorary and ceremonial rather than conventional military employment. They reflect the wider tradition of members of the Royal Family maintaining relationships with military units and service organizations.

Princess Alexandra’s Role in the Modern Monarchy

Princess Alexandra’s role has evolved across several reigns, but her central responsibilities have remained connected to public service and support for the monarchy.

Her career spans the reigns of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, and King Charles III. During that time, she has represented the Crown at official events, supported charitable organizations, and maintained relationships with institutions in healthcare, education, culture, and the Armed Services.

Her appearance in the official 2023 Coronation portrait alongside other working members of the Royal Family provides a clear contemporary indication of her position within the institution.

At the same time, her role is different from that of the most senior royals who carry out the largest number of public engagements. Her contribution is largely built around long-term patronages, institutional relationships, and selected royal duties.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ;s)

Conclusion

Princess Alexandra has maintained a long-standing role within the British royal family through public service, charitable patronages, and official duties. Her connections to healthcare, education, the arts, and military organizations have shaped much of her public work. As a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and a continuing member of the Royal Family, she remains part of the monarchy under King Charles III.

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