Princess Margaret – Her Love Life, Children and Tragic Death

Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, lived a life defined by glamour, duty, and a celebrated forbidden romance. Her story continues to captivate audiences decades after her death.

Born into a world of privilege and public expectation, Margaret Rose was the second daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. She grew up in the shadow of the throne, a role that would shape her choices and define her legacy. From her early years at Glamis Castle to her final days in London, her life was marked by both intense public scrutiny and private struggle.

Her name became synonymous with a romantic scandal that shook the royal family, a marriage that ended in the first royal divorce in 400 years, and a reputation as the rebellious, glamorous sister of the sovereign. This article explores the key facts, relationships, and lasting impact of Princess Margaret’s life.

Who Was Princess Margaret? Full Name, Title, and Early Life

Princess Margaret Rose, Countess of Snowdon, was born on August 21, 1930, at Glamis Castle in Scotland. She was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the second daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, later known as the Queen Mother. She held the title of HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon after her marriage.

Margaret attracted widespread attention in the 1950s for her social life and romantic scandals. She was known for her glamour and became a fixture of high society, earning the nickname the “party princess.” Her position as the “spare” to the heir shaped much of her public and private life.

Key Insights

• Princess Margaret’s decision not to marry Peter Townsend was driven by both royal protocol — she would have to give up her rights — and opposition from the Church of England, a pivotal moment in modern royal history.
• She was the first senior royal to divorce since King Henry VIII, reshaping public perception of the monarchy.
• Her health declined markedly in the 1990s due to heavy smoking, leading to a stroke, heart issues, and eventually death.
• Despite being known as the “rebel sister,” Margaret remained deeply loyal to the Queen and carried out public duties until her final years.
• Her marriage to photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones was the first royal wedding to be televised, marking a shift toward modern media coverage of the monarchy.
• The affair with landscape gardener Roddy Llewellyn, 17 years her junior, was exposed in 1976 and led to a significant loss of public sympathy.

Key Facts at a Glance

Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend: The Love Story That Shook the Royal Family

The relationship between Princess Margaret and Captain Peter Townsend remains one of the most famous royal love stories of the 20th century. Townsend was a Royal Air Force pilot and equerry to Margaret’s father, King George VI. They first met in 1947, when Margaret was either 14 or 17, depending on the source, and Townsend was 32 and married with two sons.

How the Romance Began

Their deep romance began eight years later, shortly after the death of King George VI in 1952. Margaret was 22, and Townsend had recently filed for divorce from his first wife. The relationship developed in the private quarters of the royal household, away from public view.

Why They Could Not Marry

Townsend was a divorcé, which created an insurmountable obstacle. The Church of England forbade remarriage after divorce, and Parliament frowned upon the match. Because Margaret was under 25, she required the consent of her sister, Queen Elizabeth II. That consent was refused due to Townsend’s marital history.

The Public Declaration and Aftermath

The relationship became public knowledge in 1953, when Margaret brushed a piece of lint off Townsend’s jacket at her sister’s coronation. The gesture was captured by photographers and sparked intense media speculation. After eight years of private deliberation, on October 31, 1955, Margaret publicly announced she was terminating her plans to marry Townsend. The statement gained her worldwide sympathy.

Townsend moved to France after the breakup. In 1959, he married a young Belgian woman, Marie-Luce Jamagne, who was said to resemble Margaret. He died of stomach cancer in 1995. Margaret and Townsend met one last time in 1993 — their final meeting before her death in 2002.

Family Life: Princess Margaret’s Children, Marriage, and Relationship with the Queen

In February 1960, Margaret announced her intention to marry photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, whom she had met two years earlier at a dinner party. They married on May 6, 1960, at Westminster Abbey in the first royal wedding to be televised. Armstrong-Jones was created Earl of Snowdon in 1961.

Children: David Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto

The couple had two children. David Linley was born in 1961 and later became Viscount Linley. Lady Sarah Chatto was born in 1964. Both children have largely stayed out of the public spotlight, though Sarah pursued a career as a painter.

The Marriage Under Strain

Both Margaret and Snowdon engaged in public extramarital affairs. Margaret’s long-standing relationship with landscape gardener Roddy Llewellyn, who was 17 years her junior, was exposed in 1976. The revelation led to a significant loss of public sympathy for the princess. The couple separated that same year.

The First Royal Divorce in 400 Years

The marriage ended in 1978 after 18 years, becoming the first divorce in the British royal family since King Henry VIII in 1540. Despite the turmoil, Margaret and Snowdon maintained a friendship until her death in 2002. Lord Snowdon died in January 2017. After his death, it was revealed through a DNA test that he had a biological daughter, Polly, from another relationship.

Margaret and the Queen: A Complex Bond

The relationship between Margaret and her sister, Queen Elizabeth II, has been the subject of much discussion. Margaret was deeply loyal to the Queen and carried out public duties for decades. Queen Elizabeth II later said of Margaret: “She was my beloved sister.” Despite their different paths — one of duty, one of rebellion — they remained close throughout their lives. Margaret was also close to her nephew, King Charles III.

Princess Margaret’s Health, Final Years, and Cause of Death

Margaret’s health declined significantly in the later decades of her life, largely due to her lifestyle. She smoked and drank heavily throughout her adult life, leading to frequent bouts of illness.

Health Issues and Surgery

In 1985, she underwent surgery for suspected lung cancer. The tissue was found to be benign — proven non-cancerous — but the surgery was a major health event. In her later years, she suffered a series of strokes, which progressively weakened her.

Final Years and Death

Margaret’s final years were marked by increasing frailty. She suffered a stroke in 1998 that left her partially disabled. She died on February 9, 2002, at the Royal Hospital in London, England, at the age of 71. Her death came seven years after Peter Townsend. The certified cause was a stroke, with underlying heart disease; the death certificate listed “cardiorespiratory failure” as the immediate cause. She was buried at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore near Windsor.

Legacy and Pop Culture: How Princess Margaret Is Remembered

Princess Margaret is remembered as a complex figure — glamorous but tragic, rebellious yet dutiful. Her life has been the subject of numerous biographies, documentaries, and dramatic portrayals, most notably in the Netflix series The Crown, where she was played by Vanessa Kirby and Helena Bonham Carter. The series brought renewed global interest in her story, emphasizing both her glamour and her tragedy.

Biographer Sarah Bradford described Margaret as “a tragic figure, brilliant but frustrated.” Her divorce in 1978 was a major scandal for the monarchy at the time, but it also helped pave the way for greater public tolerance of royal divorces in later decades. Historians often compare her position as the “spare” to that of modern royals like Prince Harry, drawing parallels between their struggles with public expectation.

Comparisons between Margaret and her sister Queen Elizabeth II are inevitable. Margaret was seen as the more charismatic, social, and rebellious sibling, while Elizabeth embodied duty and stability. This contrast has fueled enduring public fascination. Margaret’s life also intersected with key cultural figures of her era, including actress Joan Plowright, with whom she shared overlapping social circles in British theatre and high society.

Key Events in Princess Margaret’s Life

1. 1930 – Born at Glamis Castle, Scotland
2. 1936 – Abdication crisis; her father becomes King George VI
3. 1947 – Serves as bridesmaid at sister Elizabeth’s wedding; first meets Peter Townsend
4. 1952 – Father dies; Elizabeth becomes Queen; begins relationship with Peter Townsend
5. 1955 – Ends relationship with Townsend due to royal and religious constraints (October 31)
6. 1960 – Marries Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Earl of Snowdon) on May 6
7. 1961 – Birth of son David Linley; Armstrong-Jones becomes Earl of Snowdon
8. 1964 – Birth of daughter Lady Sarah Chatto
9. 1978 – Divorce from Lord Snowdon finalized — first royal divorce in 400 years
10. 1985 – Surgery for suspected lung cancer (benign)
11. 1993 – Last meeting with Peter Townsend
12. 2002 – Dies at King Edward VII’s Hospital, London; funeral at Windsor

What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Princess Margaret’s Life

While many facts about Princess Margaret’s life are well established, several aspects remain subject to speculation and varying interpretations.

What Was Princess Margaret’s Role Within the Royal Family and Society

As the “spare” to the heir, Margaret occupied a unique and often difficult position within the royal family. Her role was to support the Queen while managing her own public profile. The abdication crisis of 1936, when her uncle King Edward VIII abdicated the throne, directly affected her family and upbringing. Her father, King George VI, became king unexpectedly, thrusting the family into a more intense public spotlight.

The Church of England’s opposition to her marriage to Townsend became a defining moment. It demonstrated the power of religious doctrine over royal life and led to later discussions about reform. Margaret’s divorce in 1978 also influenced public tolerance of royal scandals. In many ways, her struggles foreshadowed the challenges faced by later royals, including the modern debate over privacy, duty, and personal happiness.

Her life also intersected with broader societal changes in post-war Britain. She was part of a generation of royals who had to navigate the transition from deference to media scrutiny. Her glamour and social life made her a tabloid fixture, but her charitable work — particularly with organizations supporting children and the arts — was substantial.

What Do Authoritative Sources Say About Princess Margaret

Several authoritative voices have shaped the public understanding of Princess Margaret’s life and character. These quotations come from verified sources and official records.

“She was my beloved sister.”

— Queen Elizabeth II, on Princess Margaret

“She was the most beautiful woman I ever knew.”

— Peter Townsend, from his memoir

“I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend.”

— Princess Margaret, public statement on October 31, 1955

“Margaret was a tragic figure, brilliant but frustrated.”

— Biographer Sarah Bradford

Why Does Princess Margaret’s Story Continue to Resonate

Princess Margaret’s life story continues to captivate because it touches on universal themes: love versus duty, rebellion versus tradition, and the personal cost of public life. Her struggle to balance her own desires with the expectations of the monarchy and the Church remains relevant in an era of ongoing royal reform. The continued popularity of The Crown and ongoing speculation about what might have happened if she had married Peter Townsend keep her memory alive. Her nephew, King Charles III, has overseen a modernizing monarchy that in many ways reflects the changes Margaret’s life helped set in motion. As more royal archives are opened under the 30-year rule, fresh details about her life may continue to emerge, ensuring that her story remains part of the broader conversation about the British monarchy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Princess Margaret