Princess Alexandra

The work of Princess Alexandra

Medical and welfare

Princess Alexandra trained as a nurse at Great Ormond Street in 1957, and although she did not pursue a career in nursing, her interests are reflected in much of her work today.

Mental health care, palliative care and international aid are close to the Princess’s heart. She is Joint-President of Cancer Research UK alongside her cousin, The Duke of Gloucester. Together, they support the work of the charity and its research partners through events and visits to treatment and research facilities, where they meet patients, medical staff and scientists who are all working towards improved treatments for cancer.

Her Royal Highness was Patron of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for 47 years. The organisation funds cutting-edge research, drives up standards of care and supports people with the condition and their loved ones.  

The Florence Nightingale Foundation - which provides scholarships for nurses, midwives and health visitors to study - has had The Princess as its Patron since 1957, and Her Royal Highness opened a museum dedicated to the pioneering nurse at St Thomas’s Hospital in 1989.

Her Royal Highness is a regular visitor to St. Christopher's Hospice in South East London where she is Patron. The charity is a community hospice devoted to providing skilled and compassionate palliative care as well as support to families. 

In June 2014 - as Deputy President of the British Red Cross Society - Princess Alexandra joined The former Prince of Wales at a special Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the work of the Red Cross over 150 years and, in particular, its efforts during the First World War. Around 6,000 of its supporters, volunteers, and full-time staff from across the country attended. 

Princess Alexandra has been Patron of Alzheimer's Society since 1990, and has hosted The People Awards at St James's Palace which help to recognise the contribution of the people who work at and volunteer for Alzheimer's Society. 

Known for her work for the blind, Princess Alexandra is Patron of Action for Blind People as well as being President of Sightsavers. In 2014 Her Royal Highness attended the World Bank River Blindness Fortieth Anniversary Summit in Washington DC, USA and learned about the river blindness prevention programmes which continue to be replicated across other neglected tropical diseases. The Princess returned to Washington in 2016 in her capacity as President of Sightsavers to attend a conference on ending neglected tropical diseases.

Princess Alexandra also served as Patron of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association for over 60 years, before passing the role to The Duchess of Edinburgh.

Since 1973, Princess Alexandra has been Patron of PDSA, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity, providing free care for the pets of people in need. In addition to meeting animals in need of care, Princess Alexandra also helps to recognise animal bravery and duty through the PDSA Awards.

The Princess is President of Alexandra Rose Charities, founded in 1912 by King Edward VII's wife Queen Alexandra initially to raise money for hospitals through the sale of roses. Today the charity promotes and assists projects for the welfare and development of children and young people in London through the Rose Voucher Scheme, whereby mothers on low incomes can be helped to feed their young children healthy food.

Arts and heritage

Princess Alexandra has a great interest in classical music and opera. She is Patron of the Chopin Society, the English National Opera, and the London Philharmonic Choir. Her Royal Highness regularly attends galas and performances to lend her support to events.  

She is also Patron or President of a number of museums and organisations which seek to preserve historic locations along with art and artefacts.  

Education

Princess Alexandra has links with a number of academic institutions. She was Chancellor of the University of Lancaster from 1964-2004; she has received honorary law doctorates from Queensland, Hong Kong, Mauritius and Liverpool Universities, as well as an honorary doctorate of music from the University of Lancaster.

Her Royal Highness is also an 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.

One of the earliest charities that Princess Alexandra became involved with, and has continued to support, was the Young Women's Trust (YWCA England & Wales), which she became Vice-Patron of in 1954.

Military

The Princess’s military affiliations include her honorary role as Royal Colonel of 3rd Battalion The Rifles and Colonel in Chief of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's). She is also Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Lancers and Honorary Royal Colonel of The Royal Yeomanry.

Her Royal Highness has been Patron and Air Chief Commandant of Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service since November 1966 and was Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Cottesmore until 2013.

Biography

Princess Alexandra (baptised Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel) was born on Christmas Day 1936 at 3 Belgrave Square, her family's London home. She is the second child and only daughter of the late Duke and Duchess of Kent. Her father, who was brother to King George VI, was killed in a wartime flying accident in 1942 when Princess Alexandra was just five years old. Her brothers are the present Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent. The Princess is cousin to Queen Elizabeth II.

Her Royal Highness was the first British Princess to go to an ordinary school when, in 1947, she went to Heathfield School near Ascot. At the age of 11, during her first term at school, she was one of the bridesmaids at the wedding of her cousin Princess Elizabeth (who would be Queen Elizabeth II). She later went on to attend a finishing school in Paris, studying French and music.

Her Royal Highness was baptised in the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace, on 9 February 1937. Her godparents included King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Marriage and family

The engagement of Princess Alexandra to Angus Ogilvy, second son of the Earl of Airlie, was announced on 19 November 1962. They were married on 24 April 1963 in Westminster Abbey at a service attended by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and other members of the Royal Family. Princess Alexandra's brother, The Duke of Kent, gave her away and her chief bridesmaid was The Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, aged 13.

Princess Alexandra and Sir Angus Ogilvy's two children are James, born in 1964, and Marina, born in 1966. Their children do not carry out official Royal duties. Sir Angus Ogilvy (who was knighted in 1989) died on 26 December 2004, after several years of illness. Before his death, Princess Alexandra and Sir Angus carried out numerous Royal engagements and official overseas visits together.

Princess Alexandra was created a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 1960, and made a Knight of the Order of the Garter (KG) in 2003.

 

Supporting the Monarch

Princess Alexandra supported Queen Elizabeth II throughout her reign, representing Her Majesty in the UK and overseas on official visits, and attending key events for the Head of State, including State Visits and the annual Trooping the Colour.

Her Royal Highness attended Nigerian Independence celebrations in 1960, which included an Independence Ceremony at midnight, during which the Union Jack was symbolically lowered and the new Nigerian flag was raised. The following morning, thousands of spectators and dignitaries gathered to witness the handing over by Princess Alexandra to the Prime Minister of the ‘instruments of Government’. During the ceremony Princess Alexandra read a message from Queen Elizabeth II, wishing the new nation ‘a great and noble future’.

Princess Alexandra undertook a number of other overseas visits in support of the late Queen, including visits to Rome, Oman and Hungary in 1998, Gibraltar in 1999, the Falkland Islands and Norway in 2000 and Thailand and Brunei in 2003. More recent overseas visits have included the USA, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.

In 1959, at the age of 22, the Princess carried out her first solo overseas tour to Australia, and attended the Queensland Centenary Celebrations. The visit was so popular that 'The Alexandra Waltz' was written in Her Royal Highness's honour by prolific Queensland composer Clyde Collins. The following year, the Diamantina Hospital in Queensland was renamed Princess Alexandra Hospital in honour of her visit.

Princess Alexandra also supported Queen Elizabeth II at official events such as Garden Parties and receptions for recipients of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise winners and The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering.   

Today, she continues to support The King and Queen in their work, and attended Their Majesties’ Coronation in May 2023.