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Alexandra Curzon

1904 – 1995

British noble

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About Alexandra Curzon

Lived 1904 – 1995 (aged 91). Alexandra Curzon was a British aristocrat and socialite.

Lady Alexandra Naldera Metcalfe (; 20 March 1904 – 7 August 1995) was a British aristocrat. She was the third daughter of Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, and his first wife, the American heiress, Mary Victoria Leiter.

Early life Lady Alexandra Curzon was born in March 1904 in London. She was named after her godmother, Queen Alexandra and her place of conception, Naldehra, near Simla. Her mother died in 1906 when Alexandra was only two years old. Her father's Indian servants called her "Baba Sahib", "Baby Master", and she was thereafter best known as "Baba". She and her sisters, Irene ("Nina") and Cynthia ("Cimmie") were brought up at Hackwood Park, Hampshire, and Montacute; their London home, 1 Carlton Gardens in Carlton House Terrace, became a centre of elite social life after Curzon's second marriage to Grace Elvina Duggan in 1917. She was dubbed the "prettiest debutante of the 1922 season".

Adulthood She was the first love of Prince George, Duke of Kent. However, on 21 July 1925 she married Major Edward Dudley Metcalfe, ADC and equerry of Edward VIII. She was one of a handful of witnesses to Edward's marriage to Wallis Simpson.

The Metcalfes had a son, David (1927–2012), who was a noted socialite.

Before World War II she earned the sobriquet Baba Blackshirt, and for a while played a murky role as a semiwitting go-between for her brother-in-law Sir Oswald Mosley and Dino Grandi, Benito Mussolini's ambassador to London, while simultaneously enjoying the romantic devotion of the foreign secretary, Lord Halifax, who was staying at the same Dorchester Hotel as Alexandra and her sister.

Later life The main thrust of Baba's later life was her tireless efforts for the Save the Children Fund, a commitment that lasted for more than 40 years. Lady Alexandra joined the Save the Children Fund in 1950 and was very active in fund-raising in London. In 1955, she and her husband divorced and she became a member of the fund's governing council. Later she would become chairman of the Overseas Relief and Welfare Committee, which controls all overseas work of the fund. In 1974 she was elected vice-president.

Honours She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for those efforts in 1975.

Death She died on 7 August 1995 at age 91 at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. She was the last surviving witness to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

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Important facts

Birth century
Awards
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Also known as
Lady Alexandra Naldera Curzon, Alexandra Naldera Metcalfe, Lady Alexandra Metcalfe, Lady Alexandra Naldera Metcalfe, Alexandra Metcalfe, Alexandra Naldera Curzon

People in Alexandra Curzon's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Alexandra Curzon's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Alexandra Curzon?

British noble (1904–1995)

When was Alexandra Curzon born?

Alexandra Curzon was born on 20 March 1904 in London.

When did Alexandra Curzon die?

Alexandra Curzon died on 7 August 1995.

What was Alexandra Curzon's occupation?

Alexandra Curzon was an aristocrat and socialite.

What nationality was Alexandra Curzon?

Alexandra Curzon was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Alexandra Curzon

· Wikidata: Q2643637

· DBpedia: Lady Alexandra Metcalfe

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Alexandra Curzon. https://biography.guide/alexandra-curzon/

MLA: "Alexandra Curzon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/alexandra-curzon/.

Chicago: "Alexandra Curzon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/alexandra-curzon/.

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