HRH Princess Alexandra - Information, Royal Family

HRH Princess Alexandra

Princess Alexandra and the late Rt Hon Sir Angus Ogilvy

HRH Princess Alexandra

Born: London, December 25th 1936, second child and only daughter of the late Duke and Duchess of Kent.

Education: First British Princess to go to an ordinary school, Heathfield School near Ascot, before finishing school in Paris.

Marriage and family: Married Angus Ogilvy, second son of the Earl of Airlie, on April 24 1963 in Westminster Abbey. They had two children - James (b. 1964) and Marina (b. 1966) - and four grandchildren. The children carry out no official royal duties.

Official roles: Patron or President of numerous organisations, including: Deputy President of the British Red Cross Society; Patron of the Alzheimer's Disease Society, St Christopher's Hospice and Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.

Patron of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Action for Blind People, and President of Sight Savers; President of the Alexandra Rose Day (founded in 1912 by King Edward VII's wife Queen Alexandra to raise money for hospitals through the sale of roses).

Colonel-in-Chief of The King's Own Royal Border Regiment, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's); Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of The Light Infantry and The Queen's Royal Lancers.

Chancellor of the University of Lancaster; Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Royal College of Physicians; Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Life and times

Her brothers are the present Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent. Her father died in a wartime flying accident when she was just five.

Shortly after starting school she was a bridesmaid to her cousin Princess Elizabeth, now The Queen.

After leaving school the Princess studied nursing at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and her she still takes a keen interest in medical and welfare issues. She is particularly noted for her work with the blind.

Princess Alexandra has made numerous official visits overseas, prior to his deatth she was often accompanied by her husband, and has represented The Queen at official functions.

The Rt Hon Sir Angus Ogilvy

Born: September 14th 1928; died 26th December 2004.

Education: Eton, Oxford.

Official roles: He was Chairman of the Advisory Council of The Prince's Youth Business Trust; member of the Council of The Prince's Trust; President of the Carr-Gomm Society and the Friends of Youth Club UK; Patron of Arthritis Care; Vice-Patron of The Friends of The Elderly, Gentle Folks Help and NCH Action for Children; member of the Royal Company of Archers (The Queen's ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland); Privy Counsellor.

Life and times

Sir Angus joined the Scots Guards after school before going to Oxford and pursuing a successful career in the City of London. He was chairman and/or director of a number of public companies but most of his work in later times was for charities. His interests included architecture, reading and music.

His funeral took place on Wednesday 5th January 2005 at 12.30 p.m. in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.