Who Is Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy?

Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, is, in fact, a direct relation of both Queen Elizabeth II and the late Prince Philip. Born Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel on Christmas Day in 1936, per the royal family's official website, she is one of the last remaining royals alive to have attended the wedding of then-Princess Elizabeth and Philip, per The Sun. 

She is the daughter of Prince George, the Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent. George was the fourth son of King George V and his wife, Queen Mary, making him Elizabeth's uncle. Therefore, Alexandra is Elizabeth's first cousin, according to Town and Country. Alexandra is also related to Philip, though she is his first cousin once removed. Marina (Alexandra's mother) was Philip's first cousin.

She was just 11 years old when she was one of the bridesmaids at Elizabeth and Philip's wedding, a time of her life that was important for another big reason, per the royal family's official website. Although she was originally homeschooled (like other royals of the time), when she was 11 she went to the Heathfield School, becoming the first British princess to go to "ordinary school." 

After attending finishing school in Paris, she became engaged to Angus Ogilvy, the second son of the Earl of Airlie, in 1962, and the couple were married in 1963. The ceremony was attended by Elizabeth, Philip, Prince Charles, Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother, and others. Princess Anne served as Alexandra's chief bridesmaid.

Princess Alexandra is a working royal, supporting "The Queen throughout her reign ... representing Her Majesty in the UK and overseas, and attending events of national significance," per royal family's official website. Before her husband's death, Sir Angus Ogilvy would often accompany her on these duties, traveling overseas on official visits together. The couple's two children, James and Marina, however, are not working royals and therefore do not carry out any royal duties of their own.

Alexandra is also a "patron or president of over 100 organisations which reflect her wide-ranging interests, from arts to health care," per the official website. She has worked closely with the Florence Nightingale Foundation since 1957 and is Deputy President of the British Red Cross Society. She is also well-known for her work with the blind, and has focused on the causation between tropical diseases and blindness. 

Additionally, she has taken over as president of the Alexandra Rose Charities, a foundation started in 1912 by King Edward VII's wife, Queen Alexandra, which raised "money for hospitals through the sale of roses." These days, "the charity promotes and assists projects for the welfare and development of children and young people in London." She is also a patron for numerous arts and education organizations, including "the Chopin Society, the English National Opera, and the London Philharmonic Choir." She was the Chancellor of the University of Lancaster from 1964-2004, and has numerous military titles due to her placement in the royal family.