Born at Glamis Castle on August 21, 1930, Princess Margaret is one of the most iconic figures in the British royal family. She passed away on February 22, 2002, and still sparks much passion today.
Princess Margaret was very close to her father
The royal family appeared united around the two sisters, Margaret and Elizabeth, the latter being four years older. Their parents spent a lot of time with them, and the Duke of York, future King George VI, especially appreciated Margaret’s constant cheerfulness. Margaret saw him as a close confidant. His death in 1952, caused by a thrombosis complicating lung cancer, put an abrupt end to this joy of life and led to one of Buckingham’s greatest scandals: the romance between Margaret and Peter Townsend, a family friend, 15 years her senior, and married.
Margaret of the United Kingdom gave up her great love
The relationship between Margaret and Peter Townsend was initially secret but was eventually revealed during Queen Elizabeth’s coronation when Margaret inadvertently betrayed her intimacy with Peter Townsend with a gesture. The Anglican Church, the English Parliament, and even Elizabeth II herself opposed this union, which could only take place at the cost of exile and renunciation of any dynastic title. The situation was even more delicate since Margaret was not yet 25 and was thus considered a minor. Margaret eventually gave up her marriage to Peter Townsend.
Margaret of England dared to divorce
In 1960, Princess Margaret married Antony Armstrong-Jones, a British photographer and filmmaker who briefly managed royal family portraits. A commoner, he was ennobled on the occasion of their highly publicized wedding, which was watched by nearly 300 million viewers. Despite having two children (David in 1961 and Sarah in 1964), which gave the illusion for a time that Margaret was ready to lead a settled life, the marriage was hardly happy, with both of them having multiple lovers. The English tabloids went further than ever in revealing the intimate events of the royal family. Margaret and Antony eventually divorced 18 years later.
Her lifestyle affected her health
From an early age, Margaret showed a particular attraction to the nightlife. She consumed large amounts of alcohol, smoked, socialized with the Beatles and Mick Jagger, and was a fashion icon. She settled on Mustique Island, where her lovers joined her. This lifestyle, marked by excesses, took a toll on her health: she underwent partial lung removal and suffered from alcoholic hepatitis before passing away in February 2002 at the age of 71, after a series of strokes. In accordance with her wishes, she was buried near her father in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Princess Margaret remained attached to her sister Elizabeth II
The relationship between the two sisters was tumultuous throughout their lives. However, their shared childhood, both loved by their parents and raised in the same spirit, closely bound them for the rest of their lives. Margaret thus remained loyal to Elizabeth II, who was both her sister and her queen, never publicly mentioning any rivalry. Margaret’s funeral was one of the very rare occasions when the Queen allowed her emotions to show: she was seen crying as the coffin passed by. The two sisters formed an ambivalent relationship but never clearly separated.