Her wit was legendary—and often quite cruel. So much so that, upon seeing a woman feeding them in a public park, she walked over and began whacking them with an umbrella. The couple was perhaps too similar in some ways. "I had my chance and blew it with my big mouth, or she would have become Mrs. Wallace and I would have been able to handle her," he is quoted as saying. Nov 23, 2020 Mortality looms large … At the end of the night, whoever had ripped the most pieces of bread would win. When Armstrong-Jones wanted a divorce from his already estranged wife, it was up to Margaret’s private secretary, Lord Nigel Napier, to deliver the news over the phone. In quite an independent move at the time, she bought it herself at an auction for approximately $7,700. Christopher Warwick, the princess' authorized biographer, told The Telegraph that she'd been attempting to take a shower but had accidentally started a bath. The True Story of Princess Margaret's Divorce from Antony Armstrong-Jones. Townsend was married, but later divorced his wife and proposed to the princess. King George is thought to have passed away in his sleep in the early morning hours. Following the accident, the spokesman revealed to BBC News that Margaret was seen by a doctor before traveling back to London a week later. Princess Margaret, in full Princess Margaret Rose Windsor, countess of Snowdon, (born August 21, 1930, Glamis Castle, Scotland—died February 9, 2002, London, England), British royal, the second daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (from 1952 Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) and the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. In letters discovered decades later, Princess Margaret revealed to then-prime minister Anthony Eden in 1955 that she planned to meet with Peter Townsend in order to "properly decide" whether she could or could not marry him. She was his pet ... she was always allowed to stay up to dinner at the age of 13 and to grow up too quickly." If Queen Elizabeth II denied her request, Margaret could then petition Parliament after one year's time, but, as History highlighted, "that would have caused a scandal even more dramatic than her affair with a divorced man." The latest on royal families around the world. Just Margaret. "Princess Margaret scalded her feet in an accident on holiday in Mustique a few weeks ago," a Buckingham Palace spokesman further revealed to BBC News. She could be naughty," Christopher Warwick, author of the authorized biography Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts, revealed to The Cut. According to The Guardian, Margaret began smoking cigarettes as a teenager. The latest fashion news, beauty coverage, celebrity style, fashion week updates, culture reviews, and videos on Vogue.com. While The Crown has delivered a mostly accurate portrayal of Margaret's life, her real-life story is well worth knowing. A year after issuing a statement about ending her relationship with Townsend, Margaret accepted a marriage proposal from her friend Billy Wallace. "When you look at Princess Margaret, she never found the happiness she should have done," royal expert Ingrid Seward told Express. Photo: Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images. Although there was a water thermostat, it was apparently not working properly. As her marriage was collapsing in the '70s, Margaret was reported to have suffered a nervous breakdown. The True Story of Princess Margaret's 1985 Lung Surgery 'The Crown' stayed close to the truth for this storyline. "The first few years were wonderful," Anne de Courcy, author of Snowden: A Biography, confirmed to Town & Country. Later, Armstrong-Jones was hired to photograph Margaret — and their romance began. The night before, he spent time playing with his grandchildren, Charles and Anne, and dining with his beloved daughter Margaret. We explore what The Crown Season 3 got right about the royal split. Being the kid sister to the eventual queen was not without its challenges. "She was always completely in the shadow of her elder sister, because her elder sister was Queen. But her father was one of the only ones smitten by her. "The flings used to upset her a lot," Anne de Courcy, author of Snowden: A Biography, revealed to Town & Country. According to his biography, his death was later determined to be caused by a coronary thrombosis. Played by British actress Vanessa Kirby, Margaret was caught in a clash of … She lived an extravagant lifestyle: Her six-week honeymoon on the royal yacht Britannia, for example, cost $115,000 in 1960. "She expected her husband to be with her more, but one of Tony's strongest motivations was work," the author revealed. Princess Margaret began a secret relationship with Group Captain Peter Townsend in the early '50s. Princess Margaret's Tragic Real-Life Story, a secret relationship with Group Captain Peter Townsend. "They were both pretty strong-willed and accustomed to having their own way, so there were bound to be collisions," de Courcy explained. But, with their plan to marry, the couple couldn't keep it a secret forever. You can't comb through Princess Margaret's life and ignore all of the ways in which it was affected by tragedies, but that doesn't mean Margaret's life was all dark, all the time. “How unfortunate,” Princess Margaret retorted. If you're a fan of the series, you've already met Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister and only sibling, played by Vanessa Kirby in the first and second seasons and Helena Bonham Carter in Seasons 3 and 4, which are set during a dramatic time in the princess' life. 2005 BBC documentary about Princess Margaret and her relationship with Group Captain Peter Townsend According to The Evening Standard, Margaret caught her husband talking on the phone to a woman, and it was clear that they were more than just friends. However, thanks to The Crown, a whole new generation of royal watchers has been captivated by the (albeit fictionalized) tales of her outrageousness—like the time she posed with a tiara in a bathtub—as well as moments of tragedy: Who can forget about her doomed romance with Group Captain Peter Townsend? Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister, Princess Margaret spent ... Long before we were all obsessed with Meghan Markle, another royal stood in the glaring spotlight. I think that’s the best news you’ve ever given me.”, Royal protocol dictated that dinner couldn’t start until Princess Margaret arrived—which was a problem, because Margaret could be unfathomably late. By Emma Dibdin. “To many people, Princess Margaret was the black sheep of her generation of royals. She smoked, she drank, she had an affair with a man 17 years her junior. Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The daughter of one of the late king's courtiers added, "The King spoiled her dreadfully. That's not to say liberties are never taken, of course. "That is a polite way of saying that Mr. Lee will demand a cut in her salary, which is paid by Parliament, and possibly a change in her royal position," The New York Times noted. Here’s a tale from Love From Nancy: The Letters of Nancy Mitford, a collection of correspondence from the late British aristocrat: “Dinner was at 8:30 and at 8:30 Princess Margaret’s hairdresser arrived, so we waited for hours while he concocted a ghastly coiffure.”. Lindsay Denninger . https://orbviral.com/style/the-true-story-of-princess-margarets-1985-lung-surgery In the late '90s, it was reported that Princess Margaret suffered a terrible accident, leading her to be bedridden and under constant medical care. But the fact that rumors of one even exist is quite impressive. "I guess I'll be second best to my grave," a confidante of Margaret quoted her as saying. The princess' authorized biographer, Christopher Warwick, confirmed to The Cut that "Peter Townsend was not the great love of her life." Margaret was also a heavy drinker, which led to her developing hepatitis in the mid '80s. As are the reports that Picasso desperately wanted to marry her. According to a biographer, Theo Aronson, she once told the French poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau: “Disobedience is my joy.” Such seemed to be the motto of the queen’s younger sister, who, throughout her 71-year-long life, had a complicated persona. One oo the most "did that really happen" storylines worthy of a daytime soap is that of the tumultuous marriage of Princess Margaret and her husband, Lord Snowdon—a.k.a Antony Armstrong-Jones. On her wedding day, she wore the Poltimore Tiara—a diadem which came not from the Crown’s collection, but her own. GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES For several years, the couple were deliriously happy, and they … The princess issued a statement saying she'd "resolved" to put "the Church's teachings" about marriage and her "duty to the Commonwealth" above all else. Even Margaret and Princess Elizabeth II's governess, Marion Crawford, thought the young princess crowded out her older sister. “Who are you?” she asked. But that reputation did not necessarily trouble her,” reads Princess Margaret’s obituary in the New York Times. Netflix's award-winning historical drama has arrived in the 1980s, an era dominated by the marriage of Prince Charles (John O'Connor) and Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) as well as Prime … Princess Margaret was Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister and only sibling who seemed to experience many tough times throughout her life. Princess Margaret was beloved by her father, King George VI. In honor of the wild royal, we’ve compiled 11 outrageous stories about Princess Margaret, whose rebellious streak remains legendary to this day. All rights reserved. https://www.vanityfair.com/.../12/princess-margaret-the-crown-true-story According to The Telegraph, the couple never made a formal engagement announcement because their relationship ended soon after they'd gotten engaged. Throughout the first 25 minutes of the episode, scenes of these aging, disabled women are interwoven with those of Helena Bonham Carter’s According to The Telegraph, Margaret reasoned to her pals that it was better to marry "somebody one at least liked" than remain unmarried. But, unfortunately, the princess didn't get her happily ever after. Andrew Duncan, the author of The Reality of Monarchy, told the publication what Margaret once told him: "In my own humble way I've always tried to take some of the burden off my sister." The Queen's fun-loving younger sister Princess Margaret stole the show. Once, she demanded a motorcycle escort for a trip from Kensington Palace to Waterloo Station. They weren't revenge affairs, she just wanted to feel desired.". They thought Margaret should've married someone of her own class — not a "commoner.". "I remember my father despairing of her.". "Naturally, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon will continue to see each other on the same friendly basis as they have with each other over the last two years.". There were times when she was very, very lonely. Due to the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, Margaret would need to seek the queen's permission to marry. "The Queen of course knows I am writing to you about this, but of course no one else does, and as everything is so uncertain I know you will regard it certainly as a confidence," she revealed in one letter cited by The Telegraph. Portrayed flawlessly by Helena Bonham … "We really are trying to separate them a bit because Princess Margaret does draw all the attention and Elizabeth lets her do that," she's quoted as saying. Princess Margaret’s love affair with Peter Townsend, the squire of King George VI, has been documented several times before, both in the hit Netflix show The Crown or in books and programs on the perennial princess The Queen’s younger sister, who died in 2002, is now the subject of a BBC documentary, Elizabeth and Margaret: Love & Loyalty, airing on Saturday "He had a workshop in the basement of Kensington Palace, and while she was understanding of his work commitments, Margaret didn't realize it would take him away from her so much.". "She is now recuperating at Windsor," he said at the time, "but these things do take some time to heal." Margaret's funeral was held on the 50th anniversary of her father's death and at the same location, St. George's Chapel in Windsor. No last name. Every time someone said something cliché, either Margaret or Anthony would rip off a piece of bread and put it in the middle of the table. Christopher Warwick, the author of the princess' authorized biography, Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts, told The Cut, "The love of her life was one man, and he was the man who died before she was 22, and that man was her father, the king, whom she adored.". If Margaret were to marry a divorcee, it could appear as if Queen Elizabeth condoned divorce — something that was very much disapproved of by the Church of England. Members of the royal family live extraordinarily private lives, and, as such, there are just some things we're never going to really know about them. The princess passed away in 2002, and the British monarchy became a little less lively. Crawford even requested Margaret be excluded from parties so Elizabeth could attend without her. In the end, Margaret and Townsend broke up. In 1995, she took $10,000 worth of clothing for a weeklong trip to the United States. By Amy Mackelden. Two years later, Margaret met photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones at a dinner party. Featuring royals like Princess Margaret, Netflix's The Crown goes through great lengths to make the show as historically accurate as possible, despite being considered fictional. "They had a lot in common, there was banter between them — he would help her with her speeches." In 1961, before their relationship took a turn for the worse, Antony Armstrong-Jones and Princess Margaret welcomed their first child, David. That is, a loser. "At the time," History explained, "divorce was considered a major scandal, and it was unthinkable for a royal to marry both a commoner and a divorced man." Ad Choices. All … Despite Princess Margaret's decision to settle for Billy Wallace, the two did not marry. The Crown proves that Princess Margaret was a truly fascinating character—a witty, charismatic, rebellious, and glamorous woman with tremendous star power and an ever-present cigarette. And that's just the kinds of things they said about her before she filed for divorce. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Although Christopher Warwick, her authorized biographer, did confirm that Margaret ended up alone in the end, there is more to her story than just her failed relationships and heartbreak. Wallace apparently admitted to Margaret that he'd had a brief affair while vacationing in the Bahamas. Margaret said yes, but they continued to keep their romance quiet. She could be cheeky. "The queen, even when they were girls, always kept an eye on her sister because Margaret could be wayward. When bored at dinner parties, she and her husband, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, would play the bread game. https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/11/lyndon-b-johnson-princess-margaret Princess Margaret did not lose her royal title after divorcing Antony Armstrong-Jones, but she did lose — and miss out on — a lot of other things throughout her life. When the couple announced their engagement in 1960, royal courtiers were both shocked and displeased. Related Stories How Princess Margaret Created The Star Signs. Margaret ruled as regent Queen of Scotland for two years—but her secret marriage to the Duke of Angus caused problems. In 1962, Margaret's husband took a job as the artistic advisor for The Sunday Times. After the divorce announcement was made public, John Lee, a Labor Party legislator, said he planned to question Parliament about Margaret's titles and funds. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. "When my sister and I were growing up, she was made out to be the goody-goody one," The Queen, a 1996 biography of Queen Elizabeth II, quotes Princess Margaret as saying (via PBS' Frontline). And, because Margaret suffered from Raynaud's disease, a blood vessel disorder, it's thought she did not notice how hot the water was until it was too late. She had a luxurious—and ridiculous—morning routine. When news of her affair broke, a Member of Parliament dubbed Margaret a "parasite," while another labeled the princess "an embarrassment to the whole nation." The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. And, just as King George VI loved his girls, they, too, loved him. This is what happened when Princess Margaret allegedly met Twiggy at a dinner party. "The courtiers didn't like her much — they found her amusing but ... she used to keep her parents and everyone waiting for dinner because she wanted to listen to the end of a programme on the wireless," the courtier's daughter revealed. © 2021 Condé Nast. It seems, while Armstrong-Jones was away for work, he was also involved in a series of flings with other women. That is, until Margaret and her lover, landscape gardener Roddy Llewellyn, were photographed vacationing together in the Caribbean, and, before long, their images were plastered on the covers of tabloids. We may never know for sure, but you can't help but wonder if Margaret's ability to draw attention as a child was purposeful, a way to provide some relief to her older sister. "Nobody knew about their relationship, there wasn't a whisper about it," Anne de Courcy, author of Snowdon: The Biography, told Town & Country. After such reports surfaced, BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell noted the press had exaggerated the extent of the situation, but a painful mishap did indeed take place. On Feb. 6, 1952, King George died suddenly at the age of 56. "It's sad," Warwick told The Cut, "but the idea that she was a sad woman simply is not true. https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/dramatic-true-story-behind-princess-20890207 Although she loved her big sis dearly, Margaret also felt that she could never quite compare to the queen. It started with breakfast in bed at 9:00 a.m., “followed by two hours in bed listening to the radio, reading the newspapers (which she invariably left scattered over the floor), and chain-smoking,” according to Craig Brown’s book, Ma’am Darling. She signed her checks as “Margaret.” No title. These are obviously the grounds for divorce," the princess' spokesman told The New York Times. ", Although Margaret obviously did not agree with that assessment of her character, it's true that she and her sister were opposites. Still, ending the relationship couldn't have been easy — especially after the entire world knew of her and Townsend's affair. Because Armstrong-Jones was not seen as a suitable match for the princess, the press didn't think much of him attending parties with Margaret. Here, 10 salacious real-life stories that prove Princess Margaret was the British royal family's most rebellious and most hilarious member. On May 6, 1960, Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, who then became known as Lord Snowden, married. Some time before, the king had been diagnosed with lung cancer and had one of his lungs removed. After her father passed away, Margaret began to smoke even more — having as many as 60 cigarettes a day. Did Princess Margaret have an affair with Mick Jagger? After two years of separation and 18 years of marriage, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon formally announced their divorce on May 10, 1978. Princess Margaret hated squirrels. https://www.vogue.com/article/11-outrageous-stories-about-princess-margaret Then, at 12:30, it was time for a vodka pick-me-up. Although Margaret may have seemed like she was pushed into breaking off her engagement with Townsend, these letters prove that Margaret made the final decision. Both Armstrong-Jones and Margaret continued to have their separate affairs into the '70s, but they were able to keep their liaisons from the press. Soon after their second child, Sarah, was born in 1964, though, their relationship began faltering. Inside Princess Margaret and Roddy's Affair . The supermodel responded: “I’m Lesley Hornby, ma’am, but people call me Twiggy.”. It was as if they were hiding in plain sight. She loved to smoke and drink, so much so that, according to Ma’am Darling, she “tried to combine the smoking and drinking by gluing matchboxes onto tumblers, so she could strike matches while drinking.”. Soon after Princess Margaret's affair with Roddy Llewellyn was made public, Antony Armstrong-Jones and the princess announced their separation. Love From Nancy: The Letters of Nancy Mitford. Despite enduring all of her many tragedies, she did not give them the power to define her. In addition to drinking heavily, Margaret was a chain smoker. "The marriage has broken down and the couple have lived apart for two years. Warwick claimed that she was not "at all" this "sad [or] tragic character." That’s still up for debate. While Netflix's The Crown has delivered a mostly accurate portrayal of Margaret's life, her true story is well worth knowing. "This is the reason that [the royal family has] endured — they've never allowed us behind the palace walls.". And, as a result, colorful anecdotes about Princess Margaret are abundant. In The Crown season 4, Princess Margaret (Helena Bonham Carter) tells an entertaining story about meeting Philippines First Lady Imelda Marcos and the unexpected punchline has a ring of truth to it. Princess Margaret's life was not only marred by tragedy, but also by poor mental and physical health. The Crown season 3: True story behind Princess Margaret's trip to the US. The Story Behind The Crown‘s Queen Elizabeth & Princess Margaret Tale. "That was boring, so the press tried to make out I was wicked as hell. Some years later, in 1978, the couple revealed that they would be divorcing. King George VI was known to refer to his two daughters, Princess Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret, as "pride" and "joy," respectively (via Express). Margaret was especially close to the king. Princess Margaret's Kids Are Now Artists . Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, CI, GCVO, CD (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II.. She spent much of her childhood with her parents and sister. Two months later, she was thought to still be recovering from her injuries. Lord Snowden and Princess Margaret on their big day in 1960. And then work started to get in the way. To which the princess replied: “Thank you, Nigel. By the early aughts, Margaret had suffered a cancer scare, repeated migraines, the aforementioned hepatitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, and several strokes. And Princess Anne said she used to feel like an also-ran." But Lord Snowden wasn't the only one cheating. "She had some too," de Courcy confirmed, "but never as long as his. Here's the true story of Margaret's fascinating life, including what The Spanish Princess leaves out. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/.../princess-margaret-1985-lung-surgery But my goodness, she was a lady who loved life and enjoyed friends. "There's an interesting balance to be struck between trying to be truthful and authoritative and not being too syrupy," Matt Smith, the actor who stars as Prince Philip in Seasons 1 and 2, told Forbes. In 2002, after developing heart complications from a fourth stroke at the age of 71, Margaret died "peacefully in her sleep," Buckingham Palace revealed (via Time). "He used to look at her as if he couldn't believe this enchanting thing was his daughter," a courtier told The Telegraph. This is the tragic true tale of Princess Margaret. We've all gone through sad and unhappy times in our life and she was no different." "In terms of personalities, Elizabeth and Margaret were as different as chalk and cheese.".