Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, remains one of the most captivating and enigmatic figures in the history of the British Royal Family. Born as the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II, her life was a complex tapestry of royal obligation, personal rebellion, and the relentless scrutiny of the modern media. Often described as the "rebel princess," Margaret navigated a world that was rapidly changing, often finding herself at the intersection of traditional monarchy and the burgeoning celebrity culture of the 20th century.

Early Years at Glamis Castle and the York Household

Princess Margaret Rose was born at 9:22 pm on August 21, 1930, at Glamis Castle in Scotland. Her birth was a historical milestone, as she was the first member of the royal family in direct line of succession to be born in Scotland since the 17th century. The choice of location was significant, as Glamis was her mother's ancestral home. To comply with tradition, the Home Secretary, J. R. Clynes, was present to verify the birth, a practice that underscored the formal nature of royal arrivals at the time.

Interestingly, the registration of her birth was intentionally delayed for several days. This was done to ensure she would not be recorded as number thirteen in the local parish register, reflecting the superstitious nuances that sometimes influenced royal protocol. Within the family, she was affectionately known as "Margot."

Margaret's early childhood was spent in what was perceived by the public as the "ideal family unit." Residing at 145 Piccadilly in London and Royal Lodge in Windsor, the Duke and Duchess of York (the future King George VI and Queen Mother) fostered an environment of warmth and stability. However, Margaret’s life was forever altered at the age of six. In 1936, her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson. This seismic event elevated her father to the throne as King George VI and placed her elder sister, Elizabeth, first in line to the throne. Margaret became second in line, a position that brought her into the direct glare of the public eye.

The Divergent Paths of Royal Education

The education of Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth was a subject of much discussion and, in later years, some resentment from Margaret herself. The sisters were educated at home by their Scottish governess, Marion Crawford, known as "Crawfie." Their curriculum was largely supervised by their mother, who aimed for her daughters to become "nicely behaved young ladies."

Following the abdication, the educational paths of the two sisters diverged sharply. While Elizabeth began to receive specialized training in constitutional history to prepare for her future role as Queen, Margaret’s education remained more general and less rigorous. She showed a profound early interest in the arts, particularly music, and began taking piano lessons at the age of four.

In her adult years, Margaret was often vocal about the limitations of her schooling. She felt that her intellectual potential had not been fully realized compared to her sister. Despite this, she developed a sharp wit and a deep appreciation for literature, ballet, and the theater, which would later make her a central figure in London’s bohemian social circles.

Princess Margaret During the Second World War

When World War II broke out in 1939, Princess Margaret and her sister remained in the United Kingdom, despite suggestions that they should be evacuated to the safety of Canada. Their mother’s famous response—that the children would not go without her, she would not leave without the King, and the King would never leave—became a symbol of British resilience.

The princesses spent much of the war years at Windsor Castle. While the war raged, Margaret was considered too young to perform the heavy public duties that Elizabeth began to undertake. Instead, she participated in pantomimes staged for the Queen's Wool Fund, which bought yarn for military garments. These performances highlighted Margaret’s natural flair for the stage and her love for performing. However, the isolation of the war years also meant that Margaret grew up in a very sheltered environment, which perhaps contributed to her desire for social freedom once the conflict ended.

The Romance with Peter Townsend and a Constitutional Crisis

The most famous and controversial chapter of Margaret’s early adult life was her relationship with Group Captain Peter Townsend. A decorated Royal Air Force pilot and a hero of the Battle of Britain, Townsend served as an equerry to King George VI. Despite the age difference and the fact that Townsend was a married man with children, a romance blossomed between him and the young Princess.

The relationship became public knowledge during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. A sharp-eyed journalist spotted Margaret affectionately brushing a piece of lint off Townsend’s uniform, a gesture that signaled a level of intimacy previously unknown to the public.

Townsend’s eventual divorce and subsequent proposal to Margaret sparked a massive constitutional and religious crisis. As the sister of the Sovereign, Margaret required the Queen's permission to marry under the Royal Marriages Act of 1772. However, the Church of England, of which the Queen was the Supreme Governor, did not recognize the remarriage of divorced persons if their former spouse was still living. The government, led by Sir Winston Churchill, and the royal establishment were also firmly opposed to the union.

After years of intense media pressure and personal turmoil, Margaret issued a public statement on October 31, 1955. She announced that she had decided not to marry Peter Townsend, citing her "duty to the Commonwealth" and her awareness of the Church’s teachings on the indissolubility of marriage. This decision earned her significant public sympathy but also left a lasting mark on her emotional life.

The Marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones

In the late 1950s, Margaret began to frequent the artistic and social circles of London, moving away from the more traditional aristocratic crowds. It was here that she met Antony Armstrong-Jones, a talented and fashionable society photographer. Their relationship was kept secret for a long time, as he was a commoner, which was unconventional for a royal marriage at the time.

The announcement of their engagement in February 1960 came as a shock to the public. They were married on May 6, 1960, at Westminster Abbey. This was the first royal wedding to be televised, attracting an estimated 300 million viewers worldwide. Armstrong-Jones was later created the 1st Earl of Snowdon, making Margaret the Countess of Snowdon.

The early years of their marriage were characterized by a shared love for the arts, photography, and high society. They became the "it couple" of the 1960s, mingling with celebrities, musicians, and artists. They had two children: David Armstrong-Jones, born in 1961 (now the 2nd Earl of Snowdon), and Lady Sarah Chatto, born in 1964.

The Evolution of the "Margaret Set" and the Bohemian Lifestyle

As the Countess of Snowdon, Margaret became the center of a social circle known as the "Margaret Set." This group included writers like Gore Vidal, actors, and dancers. She was a regular at the most exclusive clubs in London and became a fashion icon, often seen in the latest designs by Christian Dior.

However, the glamour of her social life often drew criticism. Critics argued that her lifestyle was too frivolous for a senior member of the Royal Family. Margaret’s personality was known to be complex; she could be incredibly charming and witty one moment and rigidly formal the next, often reminding friends to address her as "Ma'am" or "Your Royal Highness" if she felt they were becoming too familiar.

One of the most significant aspects of her lifestyle was her connection to the Caribbean island of Mustique. She was given a plot of land there as a wedding present by Colin Tennant (Lord Glenconner). Mustique became her private sanctuary, where she could escape the pressures of royal life in London. However, it also became the setting for some of the press scandals that would later plague her.

The Breakdown of Marriage and the 1978 Divorce

By the early 1970s, the marriage between Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones had begun to disintegrate. Both parties were rumored to have engaged in extramarital affairs, and the volatile nature of their relationship became a topic of intense media speculation.

The situation reached a breaking point in 1976 when photographs were published of Margaret on holiday in Mustique with Roddy Llewellyn, a landscape gardener 17 years her junior. The scandal was immense, and it severely damaged her public standing. In 1978, the Snowdons officially divorced. This was a historic event, as it was the first divorce in the immediate British Royal Family since the time of King Henry VIII nearly 400 years prior. The divorce marked a turning point in the public’s perception of royal marriages and the personal lives of the monarchy.

Public Roles, Patronages, and Charitable Work

Despite the controversies surrounding her private life, Princess Margaret was a dedicated public servant. She performed numerous official duties on behalf of the Crown throughout her life. Her interests were wide-ranging, but she was particularly passionate about children's welfare and the arts.

She served as the President of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) for decades and was the President of Girlguiding UK from 1965 until her death. Her love for the arts was reflected in her roles as the President of the Royal Ballet and her support for the St John Ambulance Brigade.

Margaret often traveled abroad on royal tours, representing her sister in various Commonwealth countries. While she didn't always receive the same level of acclaim as the Queen, her work behind the scenes for her patronages was highly valued by the organizations she served.

Health Struggles and the Final Years

Princess Margaret’s health began to decline significantly in the 1980s and 1990s. A heavy smoker for much of her adult life—reportedly smoking up to 60 cigarettes a day at her peak—she faced numerous respiratory issues. In 1985, she underwent surgery to remove a portion of her left lung. Although the tissue was found to be non-cancerous, the operation was a major blow to her health.

In 1993, she was hospitalized with pneumonia, and in 1998, she suffered a mild stroke while at her home in Mustique. The following year, she suffered severe burns to her feet in a bathroom accident, which further limited her mobility. Between 1998 and 2001, she experienced a series of strokes that left her with partial paralysis and blurred vision.

Her public appearances became increasingly rare. One of her final major appearances was at the 101st birthday celebrations of the Queen Mother in August 2001. By this time, she was often seen in a wheelchair and wearing dark glasses to protect her failing eyesight.

The Passing of a Royal Icon

Princess Margaret died on February 9, 2002, at the age of 71, at King Edward VII's Hospital in London. Her death occurred just seven weeks before the death of her mother, the Queen Mother.

In a departure from royal tradition, Margaret requested to be cremated. She reportedly did not want to be buried in the traditional royal vault at Frogmore, which she found "gloomy." Instead, she wished for her ashes to be placed in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George's Chapel, Windsor, so she could be near her father. Her wishes were honored following her funeral service on February 15, 2002—the 50th anniversary of her father’s funeral.

Why did Princess Margaret not marry Peter Townsend?

The primary reason Princess Margaret did not marry Peter Townsend was the legal and religious opposition from the British Establishment. Under the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, she needed the Queen's permission to wed. As the Head of the Church of England, the Queen could not easily sanction the marriage of her sister to a divorced man whose ex-wife was still alive. Additionally, the government threatened that if she went ahead with the marriage, she would have to renounce her royal rights, income, and place in the succession. Faced with these pressures, Margaret chose her royal duty over her personal desires.

How many children did Princess Margaret have?

Princess Margaret had two children with her husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones:

  1. David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (born November 3, 1961), formerly known as Viscount Linley. He is a successful furniture maker and has served as the chairman of Christie’s auction house.
  2. Lady Sarah Chatto (born May 1, 1964). She is a professional painter and is known for being very close to her aunt, Queen Elizabeth II, during the Queen's lifetime.

What was Princess Margaret's title after her divorce?

Following her divorce from Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1978, she retained the style and title of Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. Although the marriage ended, the title "Countess of Snowdon" was hers by virtue of the peerage created for her husband upon their marriage, and she continued to use it for the remainder of her life.

Conclusion and Historical Impact

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, lived a life that was both a privilege and a burden. As the "spare" to the heir, she occupied a space in the royal hierarchy that allowed for more social freedom than the Sovereign but required a level of sacrifice that often conflicted with her independent spirit.

She is remembered as a bridge between the Victorian-era sensibilities of her grandparents and the modern, media-saturated monarchy of the 21st century. By breaking ground as the first royal to have a televised wedding and later the first to divorce in the modern era, she paved a difficult path for future generations of the royal family. Her dedication to the arts and her numerous charitable patronages left a lasting legacy, but it is perhaps her vibrant, often misunderstood personality that continues to fascinate royal historians and the public alike. Princess Margaret was a woman who sought to define herself in a world that had already defined her role at birth, and her story remains a poignant reminder of the complexities of life behind the palace walls.

Summary of Key Life Events

  • 1930: Born at Glamis Castle, Scotland.
  • 1936: Becomes second in line to the throne following the abdication of Edward VIII.
  • 1953: Public reveal of romance with Peter Townsend.
  • 1955: Publicly renounces the plan to marry Townsend.
  • 1960: Marries Antony Armstrong-Jones (Lord Snowdon) in the first televised royal wedding.
  • 1978: Officially divorces Lord Snowdon, becoming a symbol of royal modernization.
  • 2002: Passes away in London at age 71.

FAQ

Was Princess Margaret the first royal to get a divorce?

She was not the first royal in history, but she was the first in the "modern" era of the 20th century. Specifically, she was the first member of the immediate British Royal Family to divorce since King Henry VIII's era, which significantly changed public discourse around the institution of marriage within the monarchy.

What was Princess Margaret's relationship with Queen Elizabeth II like?

Despite their different roles and temperaments, the sisters remained very close throughout their lives. Margaret was often the Queen’s confidante, and the Queen was known to be highly protective of her younger sister. While their paths diverged due to the crown, their bond as the only two siblings of the York family remained a constant in their lives.

Where is Princess Margaret buried?

Unlike most royals who are buried in tombs, Princess Margaret chose to be cremated. Her ashes were interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel within St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. She rests alongside her father, King George VI, and her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Did Princess Margaret really smoke as much as depicted in media?

Yes, historical accounts and biographies confirm that Princess Margaret was a heavy smoker for most of her adult life. This habit, along with her consumption of alcohol, is widely cited by historians and medical reports as a primary factor in her declining health and the strokes she suffered in her later years.