I do remember the drama and it was something to behold. The Daily Mail article of course, is not reporting the facts correctly, if I recall.
The Marina scandal happened before the birth of her eldest child if I recall and it was nasty. I think she had a registry wedding [not that there is anything wrong with that] and the royal representatives being only her parents and her brother and that was it. She wore a black velvet dress with a striking hat [at least I liked it.] The Queen gave her approval, but she didn't include the normal phrase her beloved cousin as she had included in the past, so you got the idea that she wasn't happy. She accused her parents of some pretty nasty stuff [drinking, being horrible absentee parents pushing for an abortion because her boyfriend was common, etc.] and she was persona non grata on the royal scene for a couple of years. She was not present at the Trooping, Christmas events, weddings, etc. I thought Charles was her godfather.
At the time it was all shocking because what the Daily Mail got right...when you thought of Alexandra you didn't think of scandal.
At one time, Alexandra was the only young beautiful British Princess besides Margaret [before Katharine of Kent and Brigitte of Gloucester and Anne was too young] and she was very popular. I mean she even married in Westminister Abbey, that's like Beatrice, Zara or Eugenie marrying the Abbey now...people would have a fit. I read in her biography that she wanted to go to nursing school but she was needed for royal duties so that idea was scratched.
That's why the talk of the cousins being pushed to the side for the younger royals to shine annoys me....both Alexandra, Edward and Richard [and their spouses] gave up their personal ambitions to assist the Queen.If they choose to slow down that is one thing but they shouldn't be kicked to the curb because there is a shiny new toy on the scene. I am glad she recognizes it if no one else does.