7 Shocking Secrets Of Princess Margaret: The Royal Rebel Who Stood In Queen Elizabeth's Shadow
Contents
A Comprehensive Biography of Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, led a life that spanned the most transformative decades of the 20th century for the British Royal Family. Her biography is a testament to the conflict between personal desire and royal duty.- Full Name: Princess Margaret Rose
- Born: August 21, 1930, Glamis Castle, Scotland
- Died: February 9, 2002 (aged 71), King Edward VII Hospital, London, England
- Parents: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
- Sibling: Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary)
- Spouse: Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon (m. 1960; div. 1978)
- Children: David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (Viscount Linley); Lady Sarah Chatto
- Key Residences: Kensington Palace (Apartment 1A), Clarence House, The Royal Lodge, Mustique (Les Jolies Eaux)
- Titles: Princess Margaret; The Countess of Snowdon
The Scandalous Love Life That Shook the Monarchy
Margaret’s romantic entanglements were the source of her greatest public scrutiny and personal heartbreak. She was the first modern royal whose love life became a global tabloid sensation, forcing the Crown to confront the changing social mores of the post-war world.The Forbidden Romance with Peter Townsend
The first major scandal involved Group Captain Peter Townsend, a decorated Royal Air Force officer and King George VI's former equerry. Townsend was 16 years Margaret's senior and, crucially, a divorced man. Their relationship blossomed after the King's death. The Church of England and the British government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Eden, declared that for Margaret to marry a divorced man, she would have to renounce her rights of succession and leave the country. After a painful two-year struggle, Princess Margaret issued a statement in 1955 announcing she would not marry Townsend, choosing duty over love. This decision was seen by many as a tragic capitulation to an outdated royal system.Marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones and the Royal Divorce
In 1960, Margaret married the bohemian society photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, a "commoner" who was later created the 1st Earl of Snowdon. Their wedding was the first British royal wedding to be televised, a major step toward modernising the monarchy's image. They had two children, David and Sarah, and their early marriage was glamorous. However, the union was volatile, plagued by mutual infidelities, bitter arguments, and creative tension between the high-born Princess and the working photographer. Their separate lives and public spats became an open secret.The Mustique Affair with Roddy Llewellyn
The final, and most damaging, affair was with landscape gardener Roddy Llewellyn, who was 17 years her junior. The relationship began in 1973 and lasted for eight years. The affair became public when a picture of the Princess and Llewellyn on the Caribbean island of Mustique was published in a tabloid in 1976. Mustique was Margaret's private sanctuary, a piece of land she had received as a wedding gift, where she built her villa, Les Jolies Eaux. The public exposure of her affair with a much younger man while still married led directly to her separation from Lord Snowdon later that year and their eventual divorce in 1978—the first royal divorce since 1901.The Intimate and Complex Bond with Queen Elizabeth II
The relationship between the two Windsor sisters, Elizabeth and Margaret, was the defining dynamic of both their lives. They were known to have a close, almost telepathic bond, yet their roles placed them on dramatically different paths. Royal biographer Andrew Morton, in his book *Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters*, highlights the profound complexity of their relationship, offering a "fresh" perspective on their lives. Morton details how Margaret was the more glamorous, theatrical sister, while Elizabeth was the reserved, dutiful one. Margaret's main role was to be Elizabeth's most trusted confidante. Despite the Queen's position as Head of State, she often relied on Margaret for candid, unfiltered advice and emotional support, especially during times of personal crisis within the family. While the Queen was bound by the constitutional necessity to intervene in the Peter Townsend affair, causing Margaret immense pain, their bond transcended the Crown's demands. It is reported that Elizabeth was ultimately supportive of Margaret's later choices, including her relationship with Roddy Llewellyn, viewing her sister's happiness as paramount after years of strict royal adherence.Her Final Years and Enduring Cultural Legacy
Princess Margaret's later life was marked by declining health, largely attributed to her lifelong habit of heavy smoking and drinking. She suffered several strokes in the late 1990s, which severely impaired her mobility and eyesight. Her final years saw her step back from public duties. She died on February 9, 2002, at the age of 71, following a stroke. Her death came just seven weeks before the passing of her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, marking a period of profound loss for the Royal Family. In a final act of breaking with tradition, Margaret was one of the few senior royals to be cremated, a choice reportedly made so her ashes could rest next to her father's in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George's Chapel, Windsor.The Princess Margaret Effect
Princess Margaret’s legacy is defined by her role as a transitional figure. Her open rebellion against the stuffy traditions of the monarchy helped pave the way for a more humanised, accessible Royal Family. Her willingness to live life on her own terms, despite the immense pressure, has made her a compelling figure for a new generation. The global popularity of the Netflix series *The Crown* has solidified her status as a cultural icon. The show's portrayal of her vibrant personality, her tragic love for Peter Townsend, and her tumultuous marriage to Lord Snowdon has kept her story fresh and relevant, ensuring that the "Royal Rebel" remains one of the most fascinating characters in the Windsor dynasty. Her life, full of both glamour and heartbreak, continues to serve as a powerful reminder of the cost of being born a princess in a rapidly changing world.Detail Author:
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