Princess Josephine, Mrs Alexander: Difference between revisions

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| birth_name    = Josephine Astrid Charles Frederick Gustaf
| birth_name    = Princess Josephine of Clarence and Avondale
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1930|2|20|df=yes}}
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1930|2|20|df=yes}}
| birth_place    = {{wp|Drottningholm Palace}}, {{wp|Sweden}}
| birth_place    = {{wp|Drottningholm Palace}}, {{wp|Sweden}}
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'''Princess Josephine, Mrs Alexander''' (Josephine Astrid Charles Frederick Gustaf; 20 February 1930 - 20 November 2005) was a {{wp|British}} princess, diplomat, and humanitarian. Alongside her sister [[Princess Charlotte, Mrs Allen|Charlotte]] and older brother [[Prince Charles, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|Charles]], Josephine is well known and internationally acclaimed for her line of work in the field of international relations and humanitarianism, a tradition inherited from their parents, whom were also respected diplomats and humanitarian themselves. From 1955 to 1979, she served twice as the {{wp|British}} ambassador to {{wp|Saudi Arabia}} to which she was considerably credited with her success, particularly in restoring {{wp|British}}-{{wp|Saudi}} relations in the aftermath of the {{wp|Suez Crisis}}.  
'''Princess Josephine, Mrs Alexander''' (Josephine Astrid Charles Frederick Gustaf; 20 February 1930 - 20 November 2005) was a {{wp|British}} princess, diplomat, and humanitarian. Alongside her sister [[Princess Charlotte, Mrs Allen|Charlotte]] and older brother [[Prince Charles, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|Charles]], Josephine is well known and internationally acclaimed for her line of work in the field of international relations and humanitarianism, a tradition inherited from their parents, whom were also respected diplomats and humanitarian themselves. From 1955 to 1979, she served twice as the {{wp|British}} ambassador to {{wp|Saudi Arabia}} to which she was considerably credited with her success, particularly in restoring {{wp|British}}-{{wp|Saudi}} relations in the aftermath of the {{wp|Suez Crisis}}. Furthermore, her particular friendship with the reform-minded {{wp|Faisal of Saudi Arabia|King Faisal}} of {{wp|Saudi Arabia}} became a subject of much interest and documentation, with the princess believed to had been the {{wp|Saudi}} king's unofficial advisor on both domestic and foreign issues.


In 1959, she married {{wp|British}} equestrian [[Philip Alexander]] and had four children in total, consisting of one son and three daughters, namely [[Philip Thomas Alexander|Philip]], [[Mary Eleanor Alexander|Mary]], [[Charlotte Elizabeth Alexander|Charlotte]] and [[Alexandra Williams Alexander|Alexandra]].  
In 1959, she married {{wp|British}} equestrian [[Philip Alexander]] and had four children in total, consisting of one son and three daughters, namely [[Philip Thomas Alexander|Philip]], [[Mary Eleanor Alexander|Mary]], [[Charlotte Elizabeth Alexander|Charlotte]] and [[Alexandra Williams Alexander|Alexandra]].  
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Josephine was born on February 20, 1930 as the second child and eldest daughter of [[Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale]] and {{wp|Astrid of Sweden|Princess Astrid of Sweden}} in {{wp|Drottningholm Palace}}, {{wp|Sweden}}, the primary residence of her parents since their marriage in 1925. Despite being a {{wp|British}} princess by her [[Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|father]]'s descent, Josephine, like her siblings were brought up as {{wp|Swedish|Swedes}} in a fairly modern household, with their upbringing generally mirroring much of her {{wp|Astrid of Sweden|mother}}'s own instead. Following her baptism ceremony, she was given the name ''Josephine Astrid Charles Frederick Gustaf'', with her middle names honouring that of her own {{wp|Astrid of Sweden|mother}} and [[Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|father]], and subsequently that of her paternal {{wp|Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland|grandfather}} and great uncle, {{wp|Gustaf V|King Gustaf V}} of {{wp|Sweden}}.  
Josephine was born on February 20, 1930 as the second child and eldest daughter of [[Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale]] and {{wp|Astrid of Sweden|Princess Astrid of Sweden}} in {{wp|Drottningholm Palace}}, {{wp|Sweden}}, the primary residence of her parents since their marriage in 1925. Despite being a {{wp|British}} princess by her [[Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|father]]'s descent, Josephine, like her siblings were brought up as {{wp|Swedish|Swedes}} in a fairly modern household, with their upbringing generally mirroring much of her {{wp|Astrid of Sweden|mother}}'s own instead. Following her baptism ceremony, she was given the name ''Josephine Astrid Charles Frederick Gustaf'', with her middle names honouring that of her own {{wp|Astrid of Sweden|mother}} and [[Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|father]], and subsequently that of her paternal {{wp|Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland|grandfather}} and great uncle, {{wp|Gustaf V|King Gustaf V}} of {{wp|Sweden}}.  


At the age of five, Josephine, under the strict tutelage of her mother began undertaking cooking lessons at home where on several occasions, she was instructed to cook a specific food which would later be judged by the latter for its taste. At the same time, she then undertook private swimming lessons through a hired instructor, and at the age of eight, began undertaking horseback riding lessons with her mother, whom she would often trot with on their respective horses around the palace gardens on the morning and evening hours.
At the age of five, Josephine, under the strict tutelage of her mother {{wp|Astrid of Sweden|Astrid}}, she began undertaking cooking lessons at home where on several occasions, she was instructed to cook a specific food which would later be judged by the latter for its deliciousness. At the same time, a private instructor was hired in order to teach the young Josephine in swimming, while lessons in horseback riding however was done by Josephine herself whom, on a daily basis would trot around the palace gardens alongside her mother with their horses.
 
==Second World War==
In 1939, following the onset of the {{wp|Second World War}}, Josephine and her family were confined to {{wp|Sweden}} by the insistence of her father [[Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|Frederick]] whom had in turn enlisted in the {{wp|British Army}}, despite some protest from Josephine's mother {{wp|Astrid of Sweden|Astrid}} whom in turn wanted for her family to remain together away from the conflict. Nevertheless, with their father away for the war, Josephine and her siblings took active measures in consoling their nervous-stricken mother, as they would join the latter in daily prayers for [[Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|Frederick]]'s safety.
 
Though {{wp|Sweden}} itself generally avoided any form of involvement in the {{wp|Second World War|war}}, Josephine and her siblings however adopted a rather vigilant approach to the conflict, as they were said to had consistently bought the local newspaper issues covering the war on a daily basis. Furthermore, when in private, the family of four was said to have gathered around to sing patriotic war songs in support of the {{wp|Allies of World War II|Allied}} war effort almost every night in the palace's living room, with Josephine herself later describing those times as being ''"somewhat gloomy, yet inspiring and passionate"''. Following the exodus of {{wp|Jewish}} refugees and exiled {{wp|Danish}} and {{wp|Norwegian}} soldiers, all of whom were somewhat granted access into {{wp|Sweden}}, Josephine and her mother would at times pay spontaneous visits to {{wp|Allies of World War II|Allied}} training camps around {{wp|Sweden}}.  


==Personal Information==
==Personal Information==

Latest revision as of 15:51, 26 April 2022

Princess Josephine
Medium
British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
In office1955 - 1956
Preceded bySir Clinton Pelham
Succeeded byDiplomatic relations severed due to Suez Crisis
MonarchCharles III
In office1963 - 1979
Preceded byDiplomatic relations severed due to Suez Crisis
Succeeded bySir James Craig
MonarchCharles III
BornPrincess Josephine of Clarence and Avondale
(1930-02-20)20 February 1930
Drottningholm Palace, Sweden
Died20 November 2005(2005-11-20) (aged 75)
Drottningholm Palace, Sweden
Burial23 November 2005
Westminster Abbey, London
Spouse
Philip Alexander
(m. 1959; died 2001)
Issue
Detail
Full name
Josephine Astrid Charles Frederick Gustaf
HouseHanover
FatherFrederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale
MotherAstrid of Sweden
ReligionProtestant

Princess Josephine, Mrs Alexander (Josephine Astrid Charles Frederick Gustaf; 20 February 1930 - 20 November 2005) was a British princess, diplomat, and humanitarian. Alongside her sister Charlotte and older brother Charles, Josephine is well known and internationally acclaimed for her line of work in the field of international relations and humanitarianism, a tradition inherited from their parents, whom were also respected diplomats and humanitarian themselves. From 1955 to 1979, she served twice as the British ambassador to Saudi Arabia to which she was considerably credited with her success, particularly in restoring British-Saudi relations in the aftermath of the Suez Crisis. Furthermore, her particular friendship with the reform-minded King Faisal of Saudi Arabia became a subject of much interest and documentation, with the princess believed to had been the Saudi king's unofficial advisor on both domestic and foreign issues.

In 1959, she married British equestrian Philip Alexander and had four children in total, consisting of one son and three daughters, namely Philip, Mary, Charlotte and Alexandra.

Early Life

Josephine was born on February 20, 1930 as the second child and eldest daughter of Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale and Princess Astrid of Sweden in Drottningholm Palace, Sweden, the primary residence of her parents since their marriage in 1925. Despite being a British princess by her father's descent, Josephine, like her siblings were brought up as Swedes in a fairly modern household, with their upbringing generally mirroring much of her mother's own instead. Following her baptism ceremony, she was given the name Josephine Astrid Charles Frederick Gustaf, with her middle names honouring that of her own mother and father, and subsequently that of her paternal grandfather and great uncle, King Gustaf V of Sweden.

At the age of five, Josephine, under the strict tutelage of her mother Astrid, she began undertaking cooking lessons at home where on several occasions, she was instructed to cook a specific food which would later be judged by the latter for its deliciousness. At the same time, a private instructor was hired in order to teach the young Josephine in swimming, while lessons in horseback riding however was done by Josephine herself whom, on a daily basis would trot around the palace gardens alongside her mother with their horses.

Second World War

In 1939, following the onset of the Second World War, Josephine and her family were confined to Sweden by the insistence of her father Frederick whom had in turn enlisted in the British Army, despite some protest from Josephine's mother Astrid whom in turn wanted for her family to remain together away from the conflict. Nevertheless, with their father away for the war, Josephine and her siblings took active measures in consoling their nervous-stricken mother, as they would join the latter in daily prayers for Frederick's safety.

Though Sweden itself generally avoided any form of involvement in the war, Josephine and her siblings however adopted a rather vigilant approach to the conflict, as they were said to had consistently bought the local newspaper issues covering the war on a daily basis. Furthermore, when in private, the family of four was said to have gathered around to sing patriotic war songs in support of the Allied war effort almost every night in the palace's living room, with Josephine herself later describing those times as being "somewhat gloomy, yet inspiring and passionate". Following the exodus of Jewish refugees and exiled Danish and Norwegian soldiers, all of whom were somewhat granted access into Sweden, Josephine and her mother would at times pay spontaneous visits to Allied training camps around Sweden.

Personal Information

Titles & Honours

  • 20 February 1930 - 8 August 1959 Her Royal Highness Princess Josephine of Clarence and Avondale
  • 8 August 1959 - 20 November 2005 Her Royal Highness Princess Josephine, Mrs Alexander

Honours

Ancestry

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