The marriage of Angus Ogilvy to Princess Alexandra of Kent in 1963 reached an estimated television audience of 200 million viewers worldwide. While this union cemented his place within the British royal circle, his professional life remained defined by his work in finance and the subsequent scrutiny that followed his tenure during the volatile corporate environment of the 1970s.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1928 at St George Hanover Square in London, Angus James Bruce Ogilvy was the second son of the 12th Earl of Airlie and Lady Alexandra Coke. His upbringing was deeply embedded in courtly tradition, with his father serving as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. After attending Heatherdown Preparatory School and Eton College, he completed his National Service as a second lieutenant in the Scots Guards. He later graduated from Trinity College, Oxford, in 1950 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.
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Ogilvy entered the business world at the Drayton Group, later transitioning to the London and Rhodesia Mining and Land Company, known as Lonrho. His time at Lonrho became synonymous with the Lonrho affair, a period of intense public and governmental criticism regarding the company's management and its operational conduct. Prime Minister Edward Heath famously described the firm's practices in the House of Commons as an unacceptable face of capitalism. Following an critical investigation by the Department of Trade, Ogilvy concluded his primary business activities in 1976.
Philanthropic Engagement
In his later decades, Ogilvy pivoted toward extensive charitable service. He held prominent roles including president of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and chairman of Youth Clubs UK. His institutional involvement extended to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Business in the Community, and The King's Trust. He also served as a patron of Arthritis Care and maintained a lifelong commitment to the Royal Company of Archers.
Marriage and Final Years
In April 1963, Ogilvy married Princess Alexandra at Westminster Abbey. Declining an earldom and royal grace-and-favour accommodation, the couple leased Thatched House Lodge in Richmond. The couple had two children, James and Marina. In 1988, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, and in 1996, he was sworn into the Privy Council. Following a struggle with throat cancer and subsequent health complications, Ogilvy died in London in 2004.
Fast facts
- Born: 14 September 1928, London
- Died: 26 December 2004, London
- Education: Trinity College, Oxford
- Spouse: Princess Alexandra of Kent
- Military Service: Scots Guards
- Notable Honour: Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (1988)
- Privy Council Appointment: 1996
- Burial Site: Royal Burial Ground, Windsor
Questions readers ask
Did Angus Ogilvy accept a royal title upon his marriage?
No, he declined an offer of an earldom from the Queen at the time of his wedding.
What was the Lonrho affair?
It was a corporate scandal in the 1970s involving accusations of sanction-breaking and poor management, which led to significant government criticism of the firm.
Achievements
- Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order — 1988
- Educated at Heatherdown Preparatory School and Eton College
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