The engagement between Princess Alexandra of Kent, daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, and The Honourable Angus Ogilvy, son of David Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie and Lady Alexandra Coke, was announced on 19 November 1962.
They had reportedly met at a ball of Luton Hoo and had known each other for around eight years at the time of their engagement. Princess Alexandra received an engagement ring with a cabochon sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Exactly one month after the announcement, Queen Elizabeth II officially gave her consent to the union.1
The festivities began on 22 April when Queen Elizabeth II hosted a ball at Windsor Castle. She received a tiara from her future husband, who had incorporated a set of diamond and turquoise flowers that she had previously worn. She wore the tiara on the night of the ball. The tiara was later worn by her granddaughter, Flora Ogilvy, during her wedding to Timothy Vesterberg.
On 24 April 1963, the pair were married at Westminster Abbey. The service was conducted according to the Book of Common Prayer by The Very Rev. Eric Abbott, Dean of Westminster, and The Most Rev. and Rt Hon. Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury. Princess Alexandra wore a gown of Valenciennes lace, with a matching veil and train, which was designed by John Cavanagh. The gown included a piece of lace from Princess Alexandra’s late grandmother, Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia. Her veil was previously worn by Princess Patricia of Connaught. Her tiara belonged to her mother, and she had received it as a wedding gift in 1934. Angus wore morning dress.
After the ceremony, the pair travelled to St. James’s Palace, where a wedding breakfast was held. Afterwards, they honeymooned on the Balmoral estate. Angus and Princess Alexandra went on to have two children together, James and Marina. They would have celebrated their wedding anniversary today, but unfortunately, Angus Ogilvy (by then Sir
Angus Ogilvy) died 26 December 2004.
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