Princess Alexandra visited St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham London. The hospital was founded in 1967 and since then the Royal has visited patients and staff every year as she is Patron.
The princess, who was one of the Queen’s eight bridesmaids in 1947, has suffered a series of health issues in recent years which have forced her to cut back on public engagements, down last year to just 67.
Alexandra, together with her brothers Eddie (the Duke of Kent) and Michael (Prince Michael of Kent), grew up in relative poverty at their Buckinghamshire home.
Her early years were scarred by the sale of treasured family possessions, but there was just enough money to educate her and she became the first royal princess to be sent away to school, at Heathfield in Sussex, rather than being taught at home.
When her cousin Elizabeth became Queen, Alexandra shot up the royal batting order to become sixth in line to the throne. In 1963 she married the affable Angus Ogilvy, the son of the Earl of Airlie, and at the Queen’s invitation the newlyweds spent their honeymoon on the Balmoral estate.
Born on 25 December 1936, the only daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark at age 84, is still a working member of the royal family and is patron or president of over 100 organisations, ranging from the arts to health care. She also supports her cousin the Queen in her duties and attends ceremonial occasions alongside other members of the royal family.
