Princess Alexandra: the British Royal Family’s unsung heroine
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| Princess Alexandra of Kent |
The recent illness that struck Princess Alexandra of Kent
left her with no choice but to cancel all her engagements until the end of May.
For someone who’s been dedicating her life for the service of others and for
the support of the Crown, it must be pretty sad point in her life. Just recently,
the Princess was reportedly struck with polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR), an
inflammation of the muscles that leads to stiffness and agonizing pain.
Unlike other attention-seeking members of the royal family, Princess
Alexandra has been happy to performing her duties without ever wanting to seek
publicity. Peace and quiet is Princess Alexandra’s preferred lifestyle, and an
existence as little punctuated by the click of cameras as possible is what
enables her to make her jovial, easy-going contribution to the public life.
A royal birth
Princess Alexandra was born on Christmas Day, 1936. She is
the only daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent, fourth son and fifth child of
King George V and Queen Mary, and of Princess Marina, youngest daughter of
Prince Nicholas of Greece (a son of King George I of Greece) and Grand Duchess
Helen Vladimirovna (a granddaughter of Czar Alexander II of Russia). She was
barely six when her father died of plane crash in Scotland. At a very young
age, Princess Alexander was thrusted upon the role of becoming her mother’s
companion as the dowager duchess performed public duties. Later on, she pursued
her own interests, supported charities, represented her cousin Queen Elizabeth
and supported her in any means that she could. One friend notes that “Alexandra
has always put duty first, second and third.”
Fairy-tale wedding
In 1963, she married the Hon. Angus Ogilvy, second son of
the 12th Earl of Airlie, at Westminster Abbey. The marriage was a
stunning event and the bride arrived in a Rolls-Royce, rather than the usual
state coach. Her dress was designed by John Cavanagh, which was of white tulle
over which was magnolia lace. Her 21-foot train extended from her headdress and
she was crowned with her mother’s diamond fringe tiara. Four small bridesmaids
and a chief bridesmaid, twelve-year old Princess Anne, plus two kilted pages
completed her wedding entourage.
The marriage was a very happy one, blessed by the birth of a
son, James, in 1964, and a daughter, Marina, in 1966. It survived the shattering
effect of the Lonrho Affair, where Mr. Ogilvy’s reputation was threatened, and
which forced him to resign almost 50 city directorships all at the same time.
Selfless Life
Princess Alexandra and her family established their
residence at Thatched House Lodge, a fine well-shielded cottage in Richmond
Park. The Princess also maintains an office at St. James’s Palace. In fact, Her
Royal Highness has one of the smallest permanent staffs of all the working
members of the Royal Family, who have their work cut out making all the
necessary arrangements from start to finish for the hundreds or more
engagements she undertakes every year. To pay for the cost of her public
duties, Her Royal Highness receives 225,000 pounds a year.
Mr. Ogilvy has been her constant companion in many events,
ranging from visits to theaters, concert halls, dinners, public engagements,
charitable events and State occasions.
The death of Mr. Ogilvy in 2004 was a blow to Princess Alexandra,
but she decided to continue her full schedule of official duties. Since then,
she lived alone at Thatched House Lodge.
Princess Alexandra’s first, and longest established, public
position was as Patron of the British Red Cross Society. It fitted her well
with her training as a nurse in child welfare although, she confessed: “I was
always terrified of dropping a baby on its head.” But her “try-anything-at-once”
attitude has since become celebrated. Aside from being the “first” English
princess to have attended an ordinary school (She was 11 when she attended
Heathfield School near Ascot), the Princess also tried a royal ride on a London
transport bus. Meanwhile, a trip to British Hong Kong enabled her to ride a
Chinese sampan, giving her also a distant few of China. There, she got her try of
Chinese cuisine, too, and she fell in love with it. In fact, she has been a
regular patron of Chinese restaurants in and around Richmond.
Princess Alexandra undertakes an average of 120 engagements
every year, making her one of the most active members of the Royal Family. Well
past retirement age, the Princess has refused to cut back in her engagements.
In 1959, Princess Alexandra embarked on an extensive tour of
Australia, where she represented the Queen during Queensland Centenary
Celebrations.
She also stood on behalf of Her Majesty during the independence
celebration of Nigeria in 1960, where she opened the first Parliament on October
3.
Princess Alexandra has been founding Chancellor of Lancaster
University a position she held from 1964 until 2005
She is also President of Alexandra Rose Day, which was
founded in honor of her great-grandmother, Alexandra of Denmark.
A day in her life
She starts every morning by reading newspapers and then reading
and answering letters. She may decide to hold meetings with her staff “to
discuss issues relating to her program of future engagements and related
administrative matters.” She also spends time to study briefs in preparation
for forthcoming engagements.
Afternoons are spent visiting organizations of which Her Royal
Highness is Patron or with which she is closely affiliated. These visits usually
take her to various youth projects, hospitals, care homes, museums and
agricultural shows.
In the evening, Princess Alexandra attends engagements, theatrical
performance, an exhibition or a gala, as well as Receptions held at Buckingham
Palace.
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