Royal gains new title following sad Palace announcement

Following the sad news that the Duchess of Kent has passed away at the age of 92, a record she held has now been passed to her sister-in-law. The Duchess was the oldest living member of the British Royal Family, and became the eldest female royal following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

The Duchess lived an illustrious and interesting life and spent 64 years married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. She spent many years dedicated to various causes including the National Foundation for Youth Music and UNICEF, she also founded the charity, Future Talent, which works to give children an equal opportunity to excel in music.

Now, with the news of her death, the title of the oldest royal has passed to 89-year-old husband, while the eldest female royal is her sister-in-law, Princess Alexandra.

Much like her sister-in-law, Princess Alexandra has lived a fascinating life. Born in Belgravia on Christmas Day in 1936, Princess Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel of Kent was as the second child of Prince George and Princess Marina, the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

The princess was born on Christmas Day like her aunt, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. As a mark of being born on the special day, they were both given the middle name of Christabel.

She became the first princess to attend boarding school and was a student at Heathfield School in Windsor before travelling to study in Paris.

Her father died in a plane crash in Scotland on August 25, 1942 while serving in the RAF. At the time of his death, his youngest son Prince Michael was just just over a month old. Following his death, Alexandra focused on her studies and even trained at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Friday: "It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent. Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.

"The King and Queen and all Members of The Royal Family join The Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly The Duchess's life-long devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people."

On April 24, 1963, the Princess married Angus Ogilvy at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony which was watched by an estimated audience of 200 million people. The couple soon welcomed two children. James Robert Bruce Ogilvy was born at Thatched House Lodge in Richmond on February 29, 1964 and was soon joined by younger sister Marina Victoria Alexandra Ogilvy on July 31, 1966.

Princess Alexandra also has four grandchildren. James married Julia Rawlinson in 1988 and had a daughter, Flora Alexandra Vesterberg in 1994, and a son Alexander Charles Ogilvy in 1996. She is also the grandmother of Zenouska and Christian Mowatt through her daughter, Marina.

The Princess has dedicated her life to public service and has supported hundreds of charities from Independent Age, Sightsavers, the Florence Nightingale Foundation and the Nature in Art Trust.