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Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy

Born Belgrave Square, 25 Dec 1936

6 facts1 source

Living person. The family sees only the name, dates and photo; everything else stays private unless they choose to share it.

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 25 Dec 1936

    Born in Belgrave Square

  2. 1964–1966

    2 children are born

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 2

During her lifetime

She has lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Belgrave Square.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1930s · Princess is born in Belgrave Square

In the news1919–1939

Council Housing Construction Began in 1919

Following the 1919 Housing Act, local authorities began building council houses to replace slums, with over 1 million built by 1939.

Getting around

Short branch line train travel times

A local branch line train between Oxenholme and Windermere stopped at three intermediate stations over a 10-mile distance, with the journey taking 25 to 30 minutes.

What it cost

Cost of bread and bacon in 1938

In 1938, bread typically cost about 8.5 pence for a 4-pound loaf, while bacon cost roughly 1 shilling 3.5 pence per pound.

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.Around the world · 1939–1945

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.

Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHoM) Robert F. Sargent · public domain

What people wore

Turbans served as safety and style

The turban, initially a safety device to protect hair from factory machinery, became popular everyday wear that also disguised unkempt hair during the war.

Music

Popular wartime dance routines

The Hokey Cokey became a hit song and dance routine in 1942, featuring simple actions that allowed for mass participation by anyone. Other popular wartime dances included the conga, which was easily mastered with a simple one, two, three kick format.

Daily life

Schooling and Classroom Life

Schools often lacked lunches, so children in winter brought a potato marked with their initials to be baked in the school coal-oven. Pupils were taught using rote learning, and in smaller schools, might start by writing in trays of sand before using chalkboards or expensive pencils.