Royal Profile:Princess Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel of Kent, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy

Princess Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel of Kent, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy was born on 25 December 1936 as the only daughter of The Duke and Duchess of Kent {Source}. She has one older brother, and a younger brother, as well as two sisters-in-law, three nephews, two nieces, six great nephews and five great nieces{Source}.

When she was just five years old, her father died in a wartime accident {Source}. Her mother chose to raise her and her two brothers primarily at the family's country home Choppins in Buckinghamshire{Source}.
Much of Her Royal Highness's childhood was spent at the Duke and Duchess of Kent's country home, Coppins, in Buckinghamshire. Her father was killed in a wartime flying accident in 1942 when she was just five years old{Source}.

 Unlike her cousins, Princess Elizabeth & Princess Margaret who were privately tutored at home, she attended a regular school, starting at age five. She attended Heathfield School, Ascot begining in 1947{Source}. After graduation, she attended finishing school in Paris, where she studied French and music{Source}. Upon returning from Paris, she undertook a nursing course at Great Ormond Street Hospital {Source}.

Over the  years, Princess Alexandra has taken on many public duties. When she was just eleven years old, she appeared as a bridesmaid for her cousin Princess Elizabeth for her marriage to Princess Alexandra's mother's cousin, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh {Source}. She has many patronages to date, some of which include {Source}:

• Alzheimer's Society (patron)
• St. Christopher's Hospice(Patron)
• Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service (Patron)
• CancerBACUP (Patron)
• MIND, the Mental Health Foundation (Patron)
• Cystic Fibrosis Trust (Patron) 
• Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Patron)
• British Red Cross Society (Deputy President)
• Action for Blind People (Patron)
• Sight Savers International (President)
• Alexandra Rose Day (President)

She also holds many military affiliations including{Source}:

• Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (Air Commandant)
• The King's Own Royal Border Regiment (Colonel in Chief until July 2006)
• The Light Infantry (Colonel in Chief until February 2007)
• The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (Colonel in Chief, 1960-2010, now held by The Duchess of Cornwall)
• Canadian Scottish Regiment (Colonel in Chief)
•  The Queen's Royal Lancers (Deputy Colonel-in-Chief)
• The Royal Yeomanry (Honorary Royal Colonel)

In 1960, she represented her cousin ath te Nigerian Independence celebrations {Source}. She has also visited Italy, Oman, Hungary, Gibraltar, The Falkland Islands, Norway, Thailand and Brunei on her cousin's behalf {Source}. She has also acted as head of state as a member of the Queen's privy council on her cousin's behalf in her absence{Source}.  

Her engagement to Angus Ogilvy was announced on 19 November 1962 {Source}. They were married five months later on 24 April 1963 at Westminister Abbey {Source}. Together, they have two children, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren:

• James Robert Bruce Ogilvy (1964)
• Julia Ogivly (1964)
• Flora Alexandra Ogilvy (1994)
• Alexander Charles Ogilvy (1996)
• Mariana Victoria Alexandra Ogilvy (1966)
• Zenouska May Mowatt (1990)
• Christian Alexander Mowatt (1993)

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