Princess Alexandra, born in 1936, is a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and has long been regarded as one of the most elegant and stylish members of the British royal family. During the 1950s and 1960s she became internationally recognised for her fashion, public appearances and extensive charity work, representing the Crown at major events throughout the Commonwealth and abroad.
In 1963 she married Sir Angus Ogilvy at Westminster Abbey, and over the decades became patron of numerous charities and cultural organisations, particularly those connected with healthcare, children and the arts. Known for her understated elegance and strong support of British and European couture, Princess Alexandra was frequently featured in fashion publications of the era and became associated with leading designers including Norman Hartnell and André Courrèges.
The first piece was owned by Princess Alexandra and was purchased through a charity she supported, where personal belongings from her collection were donated to help raise funds. It is a numbered 1960s Courrèges piece, reflecting the bold modernism and clean lines that made the French fashion house one of the defining names of the decade.
