Sir Angus James Bruce OgilvyKCVO (14 September 1928 – 26 December 2004) was a British businessman. He is best known as the husband of Princess Alexandra of Kent, a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Ogilvy is also remembered for his role in a business scandal, known as the Lonrho affair, involving the breaking of sanctions against Rhodesia during the 1970s. In later years, he was involved in charity work.
After university, Ogilvy worked at the Drayton company and later worked with the tycoon Tiny 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 the House 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 a Department of Trade report into the company's activities.[3]
The Queen had offered Ogilvy an earldom on his wedding, which he declined.[6] He also rejected a grace-and-favour apartment at one of the royal palaces. Instead, he leased Thatched House Lodge in Richmond, London from the Crown Estate for him and Princess Alexandra to live in,[2] and where she still lives today. However, she retained a grace-and-favour apartment at St James's Palace.[7]
The couple had two children, James (born in 1964) and Marina (born in 1966).[2]
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 or have an abortion.[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]
Later years
After his business career was blighted, Ogilvy was involved with charity work.[4] He served as president of the Imperial 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 of The Prince's Trust, a trustee of the Leeds Castle Foundation, as well as being a member of the governing council of Business in the Community and of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.[2] He was also a member of the Royal Company of Archers, the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland,[2] in which his father had served as one of its four lieutenants.
He suffered from throat cancer in later years, and his last public appearance with his wife was when he accompanied her to Thailand for an official tour.
Ogilvy and his wife attended a special service at St 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.[13]
^Blomfield, David (2014). St Anne's Kew: 1714–2014. RJL Smith and Associates. pp. 68, 72. ISBN978-0-9573492-8-5.
^Maclagan, Michael; Louda, Jiří (1999). Lines of Succession: Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe. London: Little, Brown & Co. p. 31. ISBN1-85605-469-1.