In a compelling new episode of the Daily Mail's "Reading the Royals" podcast, host Richard Eden delves into the remarkable life of Princess Alexandra, a frequently overlooked royal whose seven decades of dedicated service have profoundly reshaped the British monarchy in ways that remain largely unknown to the public.
The Birth That Ended a Medieval Tradition
Princess Alexandra entered the world on Christmas Day in 1936, bringing a rare moment of happiness to a Royal Family still recovering from the shocking abdication of King Edward VIII just two weeks prior. At the time of her birth, the princess, now 89 years old, stood sixth in line to the throne as a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her father was Prince George, Duke of Kent, the son of King George V, who tragically perished during World War II when Alexandra was merely five years old.
Alexandra's arrival marked a significant historical milestone, as she was the last royal baby to undergo the archaic verification process. This centuries-old custom, originating in the late 17th century after rumours of a Catholic heir being smuggled into the royal bedchamber sparked the Glorious Revolution of 1688, required the serving Home Secretary to witness royal births to confirm the lineage.
Richard Eden explains this peculiar practice: "It may sound utterly ridiculous today, but the Home Secretary had to be present at the birth of any potential heir to the throne. John Simon was the final Home Secretary to perform this duty for Princess Alexandra." King George VI is believed to have formally abolished this outdated custom shortly after Alexandra's birth, recognizing it served no practical purpose in the modern era.
Additional Historical Firsts
The princess inadvertently made history again just one year later when she was christened in what is now known as the old chapel at Buckingham Palace. This chapel was tragically destroyed by a bomb during the Blitz in September 1940, one of nine direct hits sustained by the Palace, making Alexandra the final royal baby ever to be baptised in that sacred space.
Revolutionizing Royal Education
Following the war, Alexandra's mother, Princess Marina of Greece, made a radical decision regarding her daughter's education that would permanently alter the trajectory for all future princesses. Before 1947, royal children were exclusively educated by private tutors at home, with mixing with commoners considered beneath the family's station. This isolation left princesses disconnected from the real world and deprived them of crucial social education.
With Alexandra, this tradition was decisively broken. Eden reveals: "Alexandra was the pioneering British princess sent to boarding school. In 1947, she attended the exclusive Heathfield school near Ascot. Unknowingly, she opened the door for subsequent princesses like Anne, Beatrice, and Eugenie, and perhaps Princess Charlotte will follow in her footsteps."
A Lifetime of Service and Influence
Commencing her royal duties at just 15 years old in 1952, Alexandra matured during a pivotal moment for women in the Royal Family, thereby forging a path for later royals including Princesses Anne, Sophie, and Catherine. As one of the most active working royals of the twentieth century, her contributions have been extraordinary.
- She has served as patron for more than 100 charitable organizations
- At her peak, she undertook over 120 engagements annually
- She represented the Crown at Nigeria's independence ceremony in 1960, demonstrating the immense trust the Royal Family placed in her
- In 1964, she achieved another first by being appointed founding Chancellor of Lancaster University, a position she held for four decades
Alexandra has also functioned as an informal mentor to younger royals who married into the family, most notably Princess Sophie and Princess Catherine, guiding them through the complex demands of public royal life.
The Legacy of a Quiet Revolutionary
Richard Eden concludes: "She may be a princess you have never heard of until today, but now I am certain you will find it difficult to forget her. Her 70 years of service have quietly transformed the institution in fundamental ways." To hear Richard Eden's complete analysis of Princess Alexandra's extraordinary life, listeners can subscribe to the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential YouTube channel.
