‘This is the dark side of the royal family…’ The young royal family who rebelled 30 YEARS before Megxit lashed out against the monarchy – and posed for photos in a rubber jumpsuit (and a crown…)
If the late Queen Elizabeth seemed outwardly unaffected by the turmoil surrounding Megxit and her grandson’s criticism of the royal family, perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
The Queen had seen it all before – as Ingrid Seward explains in her new biography of Elizabeth and King Charles III. And one episode from 30 years ago especially stands out.
Marina Ogilvy, who rebelled against her privileged upbringing, was named Rear of the Year in 1991
Marina Ogilvy and her boyfriend – later husband – freelance photographer Paul Mowatt. She was persuaded to agree to a church wedding to spare the feelings of the royal family
Marina’s story was spread in the national media, much to the chagrin of her family
Marina’s ordeal became a national sensation. She burst into tears when she was interviewed on television
Just married, Marina Mowatt, daughter of Princess Alexandra and Sir Angus Ogilvy and husband Paul in 1990
That was the moment when Marina Ogilvy, a great-granddaughter of George V and a niece of the Duke of Kent, decided to get started in colorful style.
As the daughter of the late Sir Angus and Alexandra Ogilvy, Marina is extremely well-connected.
Alexandra’s brothers are Prince Edward and Michael of Kent; the three siblings were cousins of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Marina is also a goddaughter of King Charles III.
However, in 1989, Marina had started a relationship with Paul Mowatt, a photographer that her parents unfortunately did not approve of.
She became pregnant – and left a place of study at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music to move in with her lover.
“Marina’s parents were furious when confronted with the news,” Seward writes in My Mother and I – the inside story of the king and our late queen.
‘Their disappointment in their talented daughter was compounded by concerns about the effect Marina’s behavior would have on the royal family.
“According to Marina, her mother told her to have an abortion or get married.”
Instead, Seward says, Marina sold her story and made a number of “hysterical” accusations, including that she had been cut off by her parents and kicked out of her home.
She appeared on television and begged her parents to contact her.
And in 1990, she posed for a magazine wearing a rubber jumpsuit and a crown, surrounded by corgis.
“This,” she claimed at one point, “is the dark side of the royal family that we are experiencing now.
“The other side of the postcard is for tourists only.”
Marina and Paul Mowatt divorced in 1997 after seven years of marriage and two children, Zenouska and Christian.
Life became hard for Marina – at least by royal standards.
At one point it was revealed that she was dependent on state benefits, including help with the rent of her grace-and-favour cottage in Windsor Great Park, prompting expressions of concern from Prince Charles.
However, over the years, Marina mended her relationships and returned to her maiden name and today, at the age of 57, she is a teacher and musician.
She attended the recent memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece, along with the other royals, sitting next to her mother in the front row.
A family tree showing the descendants of George, Duke of Kent, including Marina Ogilvy
Nowadays Marina leads a completely different life. She is pictured, second from left, in the front row of St George’s Chapel next to her mother, Alexandra Ogilvy, surrounded by other members of the Royal Family.
Princess Alexandra follows the coffin of her husband Sir Angus Ogilvy with their daughter Marina, third from left, son James and granddaughter Zenouska Mowatt
Princess Alexandra and her daughter Marina arrive at St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle for Thanksgiving service to mark the Queen’s 80th birthday
Zenouska Mowatt, daughter of Marina and granddaughter of Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra and Zenouska Mowatt, Marina’s daughter, leave Westminster Abbey after the celebration of The Lady Elizabeth Shakerley in 2022
If she seems to have little interest in publicity, who can blame her?
As Seward puts it, Marina’s youthful defiance “had echoes of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex some thirty years later.”
‘The queen made no secret of her displeasure.
‘Several years later, Lady Elizabeth Anson was going through the Queen’s Christmas card list with her when they came across Marina’s name.
“I don’t think so,” said the queen, drawing a line through it.