Princess Margaret, known for her wit, glamour, and rebellious spirit, lived a life that oscillated between royal privilege and scandal. Born on August 21, 1930, at Glamis Castle in Scotland, she was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. Alongside her sister, she grew up in a close-knit family, referred to by their father as “we four.” As children, Elizabeth was content for Margaret to take the limelight, as Margaret’s playful nature often lightened the mood, balancing Elizabeth’s more reserved demeanor.
The trajectory of Margaret’s life shifted when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in 1936, making her father, George VI, the king. Consequently, Margaret and Elizabeth’s lives transformed as Elizabeth moved closer to becoming the future queen, while Margaret became the “spare” to the throne.
Margaret’s romantic life was marked by controversy, notably her engagement to Captain Peter Townsend in 1953. However, due to Townsend’s divorce, which was against the Church of England’s rules, Margaret’s sister, Queen Elizabeth II, did not grant permission for the marriage, ultimately leading to its dissolution.
Her subsequent marriage to photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 was the first royal wedding broadcast on television. Despite the grandeur of the occasion, their marriage was turbulent and eventually ended in divorce in 1978. Both Margaret and Armstrong-Jones engaged in extramarital affairs, contributing to the breakdown of their relationship.
Throughout the swinging ’60s, Margaret was a fixture in London’s social scene, often engaging in behaviors that drew criticism, including her smoking habit (up to 60 cigarettes a day) and her penchant for alcohol.
One of the most prominent scandals involved her relationship with Roddy Llewellyn, a man 17 years her junior, leading to the exposure of their affair and the eventual collapse of her marriage to Armstrong-Jones.
Margaret’s health declined in her later years due to her heavy smoking. She suffered several strokes, leading to mobility issues, difficulty swallowing, and impaired speech. In February 2002, Margaret passed away at the age of 71, following a final stroke and cardiac problems. She had meticulously planned her own funeral, opting for a simple and private ceremony, deviating from traditional royal customs by choosing cremation.
Princess Margaret’s life was marked by glamour, scandal, and personal strife, encapsulating the complexities of a royal figure navigating both privilege and personal struggles in the public eye.
