Sir Angus Ogilvy | |
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 Ogilvy in 1978 | |
| Born | (1928-09-14)14 September 1928 London, England |
| Died | 26 December 2004(2004-12-26) (aged 76) London, England |
| Burial place | Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse | |
| Children | |
| Parents |
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Sir Angus James Bruce OgilvyKCVO (14 September 1928 – 26 December 2004) was a British businessman. He is best known as the husband ofPrincess Alexandra of Kent, a first cousin ofQueen Elizabeth II. Ogilvy is also remembered for his role in a business scandal, known as theLonrho affair, involving the breaking ofsanctions againstRhodesia during the 1970s. In later years, he was involved in charity work.
He was born inLondon as the second son of the12th Earl of Airlie and Lady Alexandra Coke, daughter of the3rd Earl of Leicester.[1] Many of his relatives had close links with theBritish royal family.[1]
His grandmother,Mabell Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie, was a close friend andlady-in-waiting toQueen Mary.[1] His father was alord-in-waiting toGeorge V andLord Chamberlain toQueen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother).[1]
Ogilvy was educated atHeatherdown School, nearAscot inBerkshire, and later atEton College (also in Berkshire). Between 1946 and 1948, while onNational service, he was commissioned as an officer in theScots Guards. In 1947, he attendedTrinity College, Oxford, graduating in 1950 with aBA inPhilosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE).[2]
After university, Ogilvy worked at the Drayton company and later worked with the tycoonTiny Rowland at Drayton's subsidiary, London and Rhodesia Mining and Land Company (Lonrho). The then-Prime Minister,Sir Edward Heath, criticised the company and described it in theHouse of Commons as "an unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism" on a 1973 court case over the company's management style. Ogilvy's business career ended in 1976, after he was criticised in aDepartment of Trade report into the company's activities.[3]
On 24 April 1963, Ogilvy marriedPrincess Alexandra of Kent, a granddaughter ofKing George V andQueen Mary, and a cousin ofQueen Elizabeth II, atWestminster Abbey inLondon.[4][5] The wedding ceremony was attended by all the members of the royal family and was broadcast worldwide on television, watched by an estimated 200 million people.
Elizabeth offered Ogilvy anearldom on his wedding, which he declined.[6] He also rejected a grace-and-favour apartment at one of the royal palaces. Instead, he leasedThatched House Lodge inRichmond from theCrown Estate, where he lived with Alexandra,[2] who still resides there. She retained a grace-and-favour apartment atSt James's Palace.[7]
The couple had two children,James (born in 1964) andMarina (born in 1966).[2]
| Name | Birth | Marriage | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Ogilvy | 29 February 1964 | 30 July 1988 | Julia Rawlinson | Flora Vesterberg Alexander Ogilvy |
| Marina Ogilvy | 31 July 1966 | 2 February 1990 Divorced 4 December 1997 | Paul Mowatt | Zenouska Mowatt Christian Mowatt |
Marina's first pregnancy, which was announced in late 1989, caused a controversy as the couple were not married. This resulted in a feud with her parents who suggested she either marry her companion on ashotgun wedding or have anabortion.[8][9] In an interview with a tabloid at the time, Marina had claimed that her parents had cut off her trust fund and monthly allowance due to their disapproval of her conduct.[8] She also said that she wrote a letter toQueen Elizabeth II, addressing her "Dear Cousin Lilibet", asking her to intervene in the family dispute.[10] Marina's parents denied her allegations and said that they loved her, had not cut her off and that she was welcome at home any time.[10][11]
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After his business career was blighted, Ogilvy was involved with charity work.[4] He served as president of theImperial Cancer Research Fund and as chairman of Youth Clubs UK, the biggest non-uniformed youth organisation in Britain. He was patron of Arthritis Care, vice-patron of the National Children's Homes, chairman of the advisory council ofThe Prince's Trust, a trustee of the Leeds Castle Foundation, as well as being a member of the governing council ofBusiness in the Community and of theSociety for Promoting Christian Knowledge.[2] He was also a member of theRoyal Company of Archers, the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland,[2] in which his father had served as one of its four lieutenants.
He suffered fromthroat cancer in later years, and his last public appearance with his wife was when he accompanied her toThailand for an official tour.
Ogilvy died inKingston upon Thames, London, on 26 December 2004 after spending three months in hospital with cancer-related illnesses, including acutepneumonia.[12] His funeral took place atSt. George's Chapel, Windsor inWindsor Castle on 5 January 2005.[13] He was buried in theRoyal Burial Ground, Frogmore, at Windsor.[14]
Ogilvy and his wife attended a special service atSt Anne's Church, Kew, on Sunday 10 May 1964, to mark the church's 250th anniversary. A pew cushion in the church is embroidered with their names and coats of arms.[15]
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| Country | Date | Appointment | Ribbon | Post-nominal letters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 2 June 1953 | Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal | | [20][21][22] | |
| Between 1946 and 1948 | Defence Medal | | |||
| 6 February 1977 | Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal |  | |||
| 31 December 1988 | Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |  | KCVO | [17][18] | |
| 6 February 2002 | Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal | | [20][22] |
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| National | |
