Princess Alexandra is Patron or President of numerous organisations reflecting her wide-ranging interests.

On completing her education, she took a nursing course at Great Ormond Street Hospital before starting to undertake official engagements.

Many of her affiliations reflect her interest in medical and welfare issues. For example, she is Patron of Alzheimer's Society, St. Christopher's Hospice, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service, CancerBACUP, MIND, the Mental Health Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis Trust. She is Deputy President of the British Red Cross Society, also Patron and Air Commandant of Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service.

The Princess is also known for her work for the blind: she is Patron of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and of Action for Blind People as well as being President of Sight Savers International.

The Princess is President of Alexandra Rose Day, founded in 1912 by King Edward VII's wife Queen Alexandra to raise money for hospitals through the sale of roses.

The Princess's military affiliations include Colonel-in-Chief of The King's Own Royal Border Regiment (until 1 July 2006), The Light Infantry, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and the Canadian Scottish Regiment. She is also Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of The Queen's Royal Lancers and Honorary Royal Colonel of The Royal Yeomanry.

The Princess has also acted as Counsellor of State in The Queen's absence abroad.

Princess Alexandra represented The Queen at the Nigerian Independence celebrations in 1960. Since then she has made numerous official visits overseas, often accompanied by her husband.

More recently these have included Rome, Oman and Hungary in 1998, Gibraltar in 1999, the Falkland Islands and Norway in 2000 and Thailand and Brunei in 2003.

The Princess enjoys music, swimming, skiing and riding.