Royal Profile: Princess Alexandra of Kent, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy

Princess Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel of Kent was born 25 December 1936 as the second child and only daughter of Prince George, The Duke and Princess Mariana, The Duchess of Kent{Source}. She has two brothers{Source}:

• Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent (1935)
• Prince Michael of Kent (1942)

She spent much of her childhood at her family's estate Choppins in Buckinghamshire {Source}. Her father was killed in a wartime flying accident when she was 5 years old, leaving her and her two brothers to be raised by their mother {Source}.

Princess Alexandra was the first British Princess to attend an ordinary school, when she was enrolled in Heathfield School, Ascot in 1947 {Source}. Upon graduation, she attended a finishing school in Paris, studying French and music {Source}. The young Princess  took a nursing course at Great Ormond Street Hospital before starting to undertake official engagements and completing her primary educational studies {Source}.

She has also made appearances as a bridesmaid several times. In 1947, she was a bridesmaid for her paternal 1st cousin  Princess Elizabeth and her maternal 1st cousin 1x removed (through King George I) {Source}. In 19 she was one of bridesmaids for Princess Sophia of Grecce for her wedding to King Juan Carlos of Spain {Source}. Princess Sophia was her maternal 2nd cousin (through King George I) and King Juan Carlos was her paternal 3rd cousin (through Queen Victoria).

Her engagment to the second son of the Earl of Airlie was announced on 19 November 1962 {Source}. They were married the following spring on 24 April 1963 in Westminster Abbey {Source}. Together, they have two children, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren:

• James Alexander Ogilvy (1964)
• Julia Ogilvy (1964)
• Flora Alexandra Ogilvy (1994)
• Alexander Charles Ogilvy (1996)
• Mariana Victoria Alexandra Ogilvy (1966)
• Zenouska May Mowatt (1990)
• Christian Alexander Mowatt (1994)

She became a widow in December 2004 {Source}.

Princess Alexandra is Patron or President of numerous organisations reflecting her wide-ranging interests{Source}. She is patron of{Source}:

• Alzheimer's Society
• St. Christopher's Hospice 
• Queen Alexandra's Royal Navy Nursing Service
• CancerBACUP 
• MIND
• The Mental Health Foundation
• The Cystic Fibrosis Trust
• British Red Cross Society (Deputy President)
• Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (Patron/Royal Air Commandant)
• The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
• Action of Blind People
• Sight Savers International (President)
• The Princess Alexandra Rose Day (President)
• The King's Own Royal Border Regiment (until 1 July 2006)(Colonel-in-chief)
• The Light Infantry (Colonel-in-Chief)
• The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and the Canadian Scottish Regiment(Colonel-in-chief)
• She is also Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of The Queen's Royal Lancers 
• Honorary Royal Colonel of The Royal Yeomanry

Other royal duties include acting as Counsllor of State in her cousin's absence, and representing her cousin at numerous functions overseas{Source}.

In her spare time, she  enjoys music, swimming, skiing and riding{Source}.

In 2013, she suffered a health scare. She was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and was not seen in the public eye due to the condition for several months {Source}