Princess Alexandra, cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II, has carried out a rare public engagement, appearing alongside Queen Camilla at a service of thanksgiving in London.
According to the Court Circular, the 88-year-old royal attended a service marking the life of Mr Hugh Green at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace. Though still officially a working member of the Royal Family, Princess Alexandra has gradually reduced her public duties in recent years, making appearances increasingly selective.
No official photographs were released from the service, but the Princess has remained quietly present at a number of significant royal occasions this year. In June, she was seated beside King Charles at the Queen’s Chapel as the Royal Family marked the church’s 400th anniversary – an event that underscored her continued place within the monarch’s inner circle.
One of her most recent engagements came in October, when she attended a reception at Windsor Castle to celebrate her brother, the Duke of Kent’s 90th birthday. The gathering brought together members of the extended Royal Family, highlighting Princess Alexandra’s enduring family ties despite a lighter official schedule.
Her last public sighting prior to this week was in August, when she attended the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to watch her grandson, Alexander Charles Ogilvy, graduate as an officer cadet. The occasion marked the culmination of his training and his commissioning into the British Army.
Alexander, the son of James and Julia Ogilvy, now serves as an officer in the Blues and Royals regiment, continuing a longstanding military tradition within the Royal Family. Sandhurst has trained generations of royals, including the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent, as well as numerous foreign royals.
Family occasions have taken on added significance for Princess Alexandra in recent years. The festive season is traditionally an important time for the Princess, who is expected to be among those attending the monarch’s annual Christmas gathering for the extended family. She will also mark a personal milestone on Christmas Day, when she turns 89.
