Biography of Princess Margaret Windsor. Princess Margaret: star and death of the first beauty of the British Kingdom

Princess Margaret Rose attracts the attention of not only her idols, but also people from other countries. Her person is interesting, because everyone wants to know how the life of a member around which a lot of rumors and passions raged.

Princess Margaret: biography

In Scotland, on August 21, 1930, the second daughter of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was born at Glams Castle. Soon, in the chapel of Buckingham Palace, the little princess was christened. Her father's older brother, who later became Princess Ingrid of Sweden, were godparents Margaret. When the girl was six years old Edward VIII renounced royal power, and her father took the throne.

She and her older sister Elizabeth were brought up by mentors throughout their childhood and received a good education. When did the second World War, London was constantly bombarded, but despite this, Margaret remained at Windsor Palace.

Princess character

Princess Margaret (sister of Elizabeth II) was distinguished by her bright character, wit and cheerful nature. In addition, she was very beautiful, she was fascinated by fashion and art. She also enjoyed spending time in cheerful companies. This made Margaret very different from Elizabeth, who was mainly focused on being trained in royal duties. junior princess is considered the first girl in the royal family who rebelled against the boring way of English elite society.

Passionate Romance

When the princess was 23, she met 39-year-old Peter Townsend and fell in love. Because he was a captain, he had security clearance at Buckingham Palace. The couple began a stormy romance, but at the same time, Princess Margaret did not have the right to marry him. This man was already married and recently divorced. He also had children from this marriage. Royal ordinances and the Church of England did not allow marriage to a divorced person. The entire royal court was outraged, since Townsend was both older than the young princess and previously married. Of course, Margaret had one opportunity to stay with her beloved, but for this she would have to wait until the age of 25, in which case she could sign a waiver of the title of princess. It also meant that no more funds would be allocated for its maintenance. But Princess Margaret was a rebel in her youth, and therefore such threats did not frighten her. It is worth noting that twenty years ago her uncle did just that for the sake of his beloved. He renounced the throne and all privileges, married an American who was divorced from her ex-husband.

Other obstacles

But another complication arose regarding their romance. The captain was sent to serve in Belgium, where he was supposed to spend two years. The royal family expected the princess's passion to subside. But the relationship of the couple, on the contrary, gained momentum. This information was leaked to the press, and the news about their romance was on the cover of every newspaper.

One woman named Emma Johnson, who worked at the store at the time, shared her memories. She said that this news was discussed everywhere - in every apartment, shop, pub. For the girls of the country, Princess Margaret became their idol, as she showed that it is necessary to fight for your love, and also that you can arrange your life the way you want, and not the way it is prescribed.

End of her romance

When the service ended and Peter returned to London, all the women were waiting for the continuation of their love. Everyone was sure that Margaret, as was her nature, in spite of everything, would marry her beloved. But some time later, an unexpected message was broadcast on the BBC that the princess broke off her relationship with the captain and decided not to marry him. For most people in the country, it was incredible fact. Many girls just sobbed, and the men were angry with the captain. Everyone was sorry, because they understood that Princess Margaret (Elizabeth II's sister) was forced to make these sacrifices for the sake of her duties to the country. So the stormy, unusual romance was over. Most likely, Margaret was dissuaded from this love with logical convincing words by her mother, as well as her older sister.

Press attention

Unusual, as for a member of the royal family, the behavior led to the paparazzi becoming intrusively interested in her life. They sought to learn as much as possible about the personal life of the princess. So, Margaret was seen several times with a Canadian statesman John Turner.

Margaret's wedding

But in the end, the princess married photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones. This man was of noble origin and eventually received the title of Viscount Linley and Earl of Snowdon. The marriage took place on May 6, 1960. The magnificent ceremony took place in Westminster Abbey. To the altar for the wedding, Princess Margaret walked with the Duke of Edinburgh, her sister's husband. She was wearing a chic wedding dress, as well as a diamond necklace inherited by Queen Mary (her grandmother), Lady Poltimore's tiara, purchased at auction by the Queen (her mother). Often after her wedding, Margaret appeared in this jewelry.

Unfortunately, this marriage broke up. took place in 1978. After the divorce, the princess had several hobbies that quickly passed, and serious relationship she didn't turn on anymore.

Princess Margaret's children

From this marriage two children were born. In 1961 (November 3), Margaret gave birth to their first child, David. And in 1964 (May 1), daughter Sarah was born.

Lady Sarah rose to fame by being the main bridesmaid at Prince Charles's wedding,

Sarah, daughter of Princess Margaret, married in 1994 Daniel Chatto, who was an actor. The couple met on the set in India, where the lady worked as a dresser. Their wedding took place in a small church in London, where only 200 guests were invited.

About the life of Margaret

Because of her unusual behavior, Margaret became known as the "rebellious princess". Even the birth of children did not calm her active disposition. She still preferred noisy companies. With her cheerful friends, she loved to relax in her own estate, which is located in the Caribbean Sea, on the island of Mastic. She was also seen more than once in the company of rockers, and she also loved to visit London clubs, where she always relaxed with alcohol. Margaret herself said more than once that she was fond of gin. But she also caused damage to her health by heavy smoking. According to the press, she could smoke up to 60 cigarettes in one day.

This lifestyle, of course, left its mark on the health of the princess. Already in the 80s she had serious illnesses.

Rebel until the last breath

“Margaret, Princess of Great Britain, died in London on Saturday at the age of 71” - this was the headlines of the morning newspapers in 2002. The cause of death was a third stroke.

Before closing her eyes forever, Margaret expressed her will regarding her funeral. The princess wished to be cremated. Margaret's legendary rebellious spirit was also manifested in this statement, since the history of the royal family remembers only traditional burials.

Only the closest relatives of the royal family gathered at the funeral service. Also, the queen, who at that time was 101 years old, arrived by helicopter from her estate to say goodbye to her daughter. Margaret herself wished that at the last meeting with her there were only close people. Her wish was taken into account.

The ashes of the princess after the cremation were buried near the same place where King George VI, her father, was buried. It was also the will of Margaret, who said that she did not want to rest in a gloomy cemetery near windsor castle. Although her great ancestors, such as Queen Victoria and

Memories of a younger princess

The death and burial of Margaret by the British practically went unnoticed. Modern subjects of Elizabeth II know little about her family, as well as about herself. Although for several decades Margaret was the center of public attention, and a lot of passions raged around her. For her people, she was a symbol of rebellion and a free spirit. At one time she was considered the most attractive in the family, but now in the memory of many Margaret will remain an old woman in wheelchair who is addicted to alcohol and cigars.

The brilliant life of Margaret Rose of the House of Windsor was like a supernova, but what a beautiful flash it was. She was born on the night of the perfect storm and was her father's favorite daughter. Then he was not yet a king, or even an heir to the first line. And Margaret grew up younger, but no less significant child in the lives of their parents. And then a lot of things happened at once: the abdication of Uncle Edward from the throne for the American Wallis, the coronation of her father, George VI, and, worst of all, the sudden realization that she would always have to be her shadow older sister – crown princess now and queens in the future. Walking slightly behind Elizabeth, and not holding hands, as before, taking bows after her ... To her credit, she never envied Elizabeth, she was oppressed only by the role of her sister's "train". And Margaret decided: if she cannot become a queen, then she will be a royal star.

It was not a problem for the princess to attract attention - she was incredibly pretty, in her way Audrey Hepburn (with whom they were almost the same age), but only more interesting, because royalty. At the age of 18, she was already actively interested in fashion and chose clothes based on her own preferences. And at the age of 21 she was already the main guest of all London shows of French couturiers. Christian Dior put on a show for Princess Margaret, and she showed New Look style on the covers of magazines and paraded in the most fashionable styles dresses at official events in which she was obliged to take part, being the daughter of the king.

She was not yet 22 when her father suddenly died, only person who understood her feelings - the feelings of a "spare", because he himself lived in this status most of his life. From that moment on, an unbridgeable gulf formed between her and Elizabeth. Life in Buckingham Palace was over - according to tradition, it became the home of the new queen, Elizabeth hastened to move her mother to Clarence House. And along with her, her younger sister was sent there.

It is said that it was then that an affair began between the princess and Captain Peter Townsend, the head stable of the late king. But perhaps it all started much earlier. They had known each other for many years, he taught her how to ride, took her on horseback rides, looked after her safety on trips, and the fact that Margaret once saw in this handsome mature man more than a friend is not at all surprising. They gave themselves away by chance - at one of the events, Margaret, on impulse, brushed a speck of dust from his clothes, and reporters noticed this. It was not difficult to pull the string and unwind the ball: the 22-year-old sister of the Queen is in love with the groom! It is difficult to imagine a more unfortunate set of circumstances in the biography of the chosen one of the princess: a commoner, divorced, two children, 16 years older. Only one thing saved him from immediate booing - in the past, a colonel in the Royal Air Force, Townsend was a hero of the Second World War.

For three years, the whole of Great Britain, and after it the whole world, with undisguised and ruthless attention, watched the development of relations between the princess of the blood and the commoner. It was a difficult period in Margaret's life. Peter was sent "in exile" (as he himself described it) - to serve outside the country. Margaret plunged headlong into royal duties: travel around the country and beyond - to the former British colonies. Invariably brilliant, dressed in the latest fashion, she was one of the most photographed women of royal blood (later this title will pass to Diana). She put herself under the cameras - for him, so that he, being far from her, could see how beautiful she was, and how true to his love. At that time, whoever revolved around the English rose, but she was indifferent to courtship, she was waiting for her to turn 25.

Peter was divorced, and the Church, headed by the elder sister, did not approve of such a marriage. But at 25, Margaret could already disobey. To do this, it was only necessary ... to renounce his family and give up titles. However, she was directly told that her act could be the beginning of a new crisis of the monarchy, and the British monarchy could not survive the second shock to its foundations in 20 years. When you are only 25, and not only your family, but the whole society is pressing on you, and the press is rinsing your name, calling a traitor to the memory of her father, it is difficult to make the right choice.

The denouement took place at the end of 1955. Margaret and Peter spent the last weekend before the decision was made together. They were even photographed by the paparazzi - her leaving the house, and him - doomedly standing at the open door, looking after her. As it turned out decades later, on that last evening, Margaret and Peter swore to each other that they would not connect their lives with someone else, since they were not destined to be together. A couple of days later, the princess spoke to the people, announcing that she was forever abandoning the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bmarrying Captain Peter Townsend. The kingdom breathed a sigh of relief. And the star Margaret began her journey towards sunset.

“But is she really grieving?” - The rhetoric of the newspapers changed dramatically the morning after Margaret's speech. Those who yesterday urged the princess to remember a duty that is higher than personal aspirations, now that she heard them, slandered her: “Well, of course, the privileges for a spoiled girl turned out to be more important than the love of a commoner.” Margaret endured these mockeries stoically. But she didn't forgive anyone. For example, the day when the queen and her husband gave an official festive reception in honor of the 10th anniversary of their marriage, Margaret chose to spend with a friend in the theater, having announced only late in the evening and not having been at the celebration for even an hour. So she took revenge on her sister for her broken dreams of happiness.

Biography of Princess Margaret sad story about the fact that even the inhabitants of royal houses are lonely, that even the title, wealth and fame do not at all guarantee ordinary happiness and love. The life of Princess Margaret Rose passed in the shadow of her sister (the current Queen of Great Britain). However, despite this, Margaret managed to be remembered by the whole world for her love of freedom, courage and even some eccentricity, unusual for the inhabitants of Windsor.

Childhood and youth

Margaret Rose was born on August 21, 1930 at Glamis Castle in Scotland. The girl was youngest daughter and . Godfather Margaret was her paternal uncle, who later became King Edward VIII, and the godmother was the Swedish princess Ingrid (in the future, the Danish queen). When Margaret was six years old, Edward renounced the throne, and the girl's father became king. This moment was a turning point in the fate of Margaret.

AT early childhood Margaret and Elizabeth were inseparable. The girls spent a lot of time together and could not imagine life without each other. However, after the father ascended the throne, a spirit of rivalry appeared between the sisters.

At first it was not obvious, but soon the elder Elizabeth had to study the intricacies of politics and the political system, court etiquette and other palace nuances necessary for the future queen. Margaret was out of work.

The situation became more complicated after the death of the girls' father. The mother, having put on mourning, withdrew into her own experiences. Elizabeth was absorbed in palace obligations, and Margaret felt herself useless and lonely.

Queen's sister

This state of affairs oppressed Margaret: by nature, the girl got a cheerful character, a cheerful disposition and sociability. In addition, the princess was very beautiful and skillfully emphasized the dignity of her appearance. fashionable outfits and cosmetics. Later, Margaret will often be compared to an actress. Such interests were considered bad manners in the royal family: the princess was supposed to be more serious and think about palace duties, and not about dresses and parties.

The sisters were very different in this - the stiff Elizabeth attached a lot of importance to the established regulations, rules and etiquette. Margaret, on the other hand, took pleasure in going against the odds, shocking relatives and the public. Perhaps, with such a rebellion, the girl tried to attract the attention of loved ones, which she lacked so much after the death of her father.

Pretty quickly, Margaret won the glory of the "rebellious princess." Before last days she did not consider it necessary to deny herself any pleasures. The princess was repeatedly caught in London clubs and pubs. There was even talk of Margaret's alcoholism. Notes constantly appeared in the press that the princess was not averse to drinking. In addition, she smoked two packs of cigarettes a day. Such intemperance in bad habits seriously crippled Margaret's health and influenced her later life.

Personal life

The personal life of Princess Margaret developed rapidly and intensely. At the age of 23, the girl met the captain of the British fleet, Peter Townsend. The man was 16 years older than the princess, but this did not become an obstacle for lovers. Unfortunately, palace rules did not allow Margaret to marry her chosen one. The fact is that Townsend was divorced, in addition, he had children from his first marriage.

These relationships are outraged royal family. On the part of Margaret, it was unheard of impudence and the height of indecency to agree to a relationship with a divorced man who, moreover, was much older.

However, the discontent of the family did not frighten the girl, and the romance was gaining momentum. Margaret decided to wait until her 25th birthday: at that age, she could officially renounce her title and marry her lover like an ordinary woman. It was on this path that the uncle of the girl, who sacrificed the throne for the love of a divorced woman, went in his time.

However, the situation did not turn out the way Margaret wanted. Soon Captain Peter Townsend was sent to serve in Belgium, where the man was to stay for two years. The princess's family hoped that the girl's love would subside, and she would forget about her lover. Thanks to this love story, Margaret became the idol of the women of the country: gossip was passed from mouth to mouth, many hoped for a happy ending to the novel.

The reality turned out to be more prosaic. When Peter Townsend returned to England, Margaret announced her decision to leave. Most likely, the girl was forced to take this step by the pressure of her mother and sister, who were opposed to the reckless, in their opinion, act of the princess.

What happened changed Margaret. The princess seemed to have decided not to spare herself and went into all serious trouble. The press talked about the girl's numerous novels, and her photos with new and new gentlemen appeared on the spreads of publications. Finally, Margaret did get married. The photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones became the chosen one of the wayward beauty. The wedding took place on May 6, 1960.

This marriage, unfortunately, broke up. In 1978, the princess divorced her husband. Over the years life together Margaret gave birth to two children - son David and daughter Sarah. It was Lady Sarah who, years later, became a bridesmaid at the wedding and. Margaret had four grandchildren.

Death

The last years of Margaret were tragic: the princess was very lonely. The woman's health became worse and worse - addiction to alcohol and tobacco made itself felt. A couple of years before her death, a misfortune happened: Margaret scalded her feet in the bathroom. After this incident, the princess practically did not get up on her feet, moving in a wheelchair.

On February 9, 2002, Princess Margaret passed away. Doctors said the cause of death was a stroke. But even after her death, Margaret was able to impress the inhabitants of Britain and members of the royal family, expressing a desire to have her body cremated. The ashes of the rebellious princess are buried next to the grave of her father.

Memory

The name of Princess Margaret has repeatedly appeared in the movies. In 2005, the film "Princess Margaret, a love story(Princess Margaret, A Love Story). The picture was based on rumors and gossip, for which the princess did not get tired of giving reasons. Three years later, the film directed by Roger Donaldson, The Baker Street Robbery, was released.

Here, the plot was also based on the provocative actions of Margaret, about which the criminals allegedly became aware. They want to steal dirt on the princess in order to blackmail members of the royal family. The main roles in the film were played by Saffron Burroughs.

And in 2016, Peter Morgan's TV series The Crown was released, which reveals the history of the royal family. After the first season, the project was awarded the Golden Globe Award and received positive feedback from both critics and viewers. Princess Margaret was played by actresses and. Ben Miles plays Peter Townsend. Also participating in the filming (in the role of young Elizabeth), John Lithgow (who played), Jeremy Northam.

It's hard to imagine, but some sixty years ago, the British monarchy was shaken high-profile scandals, and the queen prayed only that another article mentioning her family would not appear in the yellow press. The main instigator of this lawlessness was Margaret, the younger sister of Elizabeth II.

Meghan Markle is called the main violator of the foundations of the British royal family and they still wonder how Elizabeth II allowed her grandson to marry a foreign commoner, and even a divorced one. Knowledgeable people well remember that once in similar circumstances, she did not bless the relationship of her younger sister - Princess Margaret.

She was in all respects a bright woman and her beauty (in the British sense) easily overshadowed Elizabeth II, but in Everyday life had to settle for a supporting role.

Fans called her " English rose”, However, she was definitely not a sissy and was famous for her very sharp spikes. Margaret was reputed to be impulsive, quick-tempered and always said what she thought right to her face. Her aristocratic arrogance was often so excessive that even close friends could not get used to it. There were many rumors about this eccentric person, and it was not the royal behavior of the princess that gave rise to them.

She drank a lot, smoked from the age of 15 and recklessly started fleeting novels.

Contemporaries of Her Majesty believed that Margaret was spoiled by her parents, allowing her much more than her sister. However, many believe: big role in difficult fate this forgotten woman was played by Elizabeth II herself.

sister's shadow

Elizabeth and Margaret were born on the 21st, four years apart (the eldest in April 1926, the youngest in August 1930). Since childhood, they were very friendly, but the environment noted how different the girls were. Their father also emphasized this, calling Elizabeth his pride, and Margaret his joy.

Everything went wrong after the death of George VI and his accession to the throne eldest daughter. The last threads of sisterly love were broken. All attention was focused on Elizabeth, who became queen at the age of 26, and Margaret felt like no one needed.

Young girl and adult man

There was only one person next to her - Peter Townsend. She fell in love with a handsome officer, a hero of the Second World War, who often visited their house, as a teenager. She was 14, he was 16 years older - what kind of relationship can we talk about? Nevertheless, the years went by, and their affection for each other only grew stronger, until it turned into an adult, mutual, true love.

The couple was forced to hide their romance, but one day everyone found out about it. During one event, Margaret and Peter gave out a characteristic intimate gesture - the girl brushed a speck of dust from her companion's shoulder. This was seen by the journalists present in the hall, and the next morning a devastating article appeared in one of the British newspapers.

There was no question of a wedding: the man was divorced, he had two children in his arms. Plus, he's a commoner. Elizabeth herself was against such a union, who, if desired, could easily rewrite the law and allow her sister to marry her beloved. Instead, she put forward an ultimatum to Margaret: in the event of marriage with Townsend, she was deprived of all royal privileges and life support. The unfortunate girl did not dare to repeat the fate of her famous uncle (Edward VIII, who renounced the throne for the sake of the American actress Wallis Simpson) and publicly abandoned her intention to marry the captain, citing her obligations to her country.

Bad habits and dirty rumors

Rumor has it that it was the painful breakup with Townsend that pushed Margaret onto a crooked path. Yes, she always loved to have fun, but, left without her beloved man, she seemed to have broken the chain - she became a regular at nightclubs, from where she returned only in the morning. The princess became addicted to alcohol (she preferred “male” whiskey to light sparkling), smoked up to (!) 60 cigarettes a day, as a result of which part of her lung was later removed.

This lifestyle gave rise to a lot of different gossip. However, they spoiled the mood only for Elizabeth II - Margaret herself did not care about them. The media did not skimp on epithets, calling the queen's younger sister "spoiled", "annoying" and "cynical".

The princess always answered the same thing: "If one sister is a queen, a manifestation of goodness, then the second is destined to be the embodiment of evil and corruption - the queen of the night."

There were even rumors that Margaret was sleeping with her sister's husband, Prince Philip. It has long been said about him that he does not miss a single skirt. But what led the princess? Most likely, a banal desire to take revenge on the one who deprived her main love all my life, not allowing me to marry Townsend.

A wedding that made history

Years passed, Margaret was already thirty, and she remained an unmarried girl. She was not interested in parties that were beneficial for the royal family; romances with men who ended up in the royal bed were fleeting. The only one who was able to attract her attention was the photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones.

Another commoner! But the way the princess looked at him and how happy she was with him melted the heart of Elizabeth II, and the queen agreed to the marriage. True, she asked to postpone the ceremony scheduled for mid-February - the birth of Prince Andrew was expected soon, and the wedding of her younger sister should not have overshadowed this event.

On May 6, 1960, life in the UK came to a standstill - for the first time in the history of the royal family, the wedding of Princess Margaret, which took place in Westminster Abbey, was broadcast on television.

The bride was dressed in an unusually modest (for herself) wedding dress, created by the chief royal couturier Norman Hartnell. Her outfit, diamond Poltimore tiara (from the Queen Victoria collection) and a bouquet of miniature orchids created a beautiful, but not pompous look. So that everyone understands, it was not the queen who got married, but the princess.

Britain does not remember this

The marriage, which lasted 18 years, could hardly be called successful: two difficult characters and big egos got along worse and worse, and soon not only Anthony, but Margaret herself began to have affairs on the side.

So she turned her attention to close friend her husband, Anthony Burton. The feelings for him were so strong that Margaret, not at all embarrassed, began to call his wife and talk in detail about how much her husband loves. We don’t know how, but Eva Barton managed to win back the faithful, and Margaret, instantly forgetting about him, went in search of another victim.

Soon, long-haired hippie Roderick Llewellyn appeared on her way, who turned out to be 17 years younger than our heroine. In the future, he will become a well-known landscape designer in narrow circles, and at the time of the meeting with the royal person, his main passion was fun and alcohol. With Margaret, Roddy (as his relatives called him) rested at fashionable resorts, attended private parties with the participation of world celebrities - in general, he enjoyed life.

This “Dolce Vita” lasted for two whole years, and then The Sunday Time journalists managed to get photos of 46-year-old Margaret in the arms of a young and hot lover. A Sound of Thunder! Elizabeth II, tired of the antics of her younger sister, refused to pay her the annual 219 thousand pounds sterling assigned to the maintenance of members of the royal family, and her husband, finally seeing the light, said he was leaving. It was the first divorce in the British royal family in 400 years! And how many of them will be after ...

Forgotten style icon

On the eve of her fiftieth birthday, Margaret lost her status not only as a married lady, but also as a style icon. Since the mid-1970s (it was then that her family life went downhill) Margaret rarely left the ratings of the most tastelessly dressed celebrities. Fashion critics called her "the curse of world fashion." One of them even said: "the sight of Margaret makes Londoners regret that there are no more fogs in their city." According to these ruthless experts, the princess looked squat in fashionable tweed suits, mini-skirts (and she especially loved them) did not suit her at all, and shirt dresses hung baggy.

What a blow these words were for the one sung by Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent! These two creators of fashion Margaret adored and wanted to spit on the fact that members of the English royal family should go out in the outfits of British fashion designers. Unlike the older sister, the younger one could afford much more experimentation in clothing. Moreover, once she did pose without her. Unthinkable for royalty but it really was. In 1965, then-loving and beloved husband Andrew photographed Margaret in a bath with a diamond tiara on her head. The one she wore on her wedding day.

Ugly ending to a beautiful life

Despite the splendor and luxury of her existence, the "spare" princess always suffered from loneliness. She felt it especially strongly in last years life.

In 1991, she had her first stroke. I immediately had to forget about alcohol and cigarettes, which, to the surprise of all relatives, Margaret did. She no longer went to parties, and they invited her there less and less. Men began to lose interest in this once beautiful, but now “extinct” and lost her glamorous radiance woman. And Margaret herself began to lose interest in life.

The reason for this was an accident that happened to her in 1998. While taking a bath, the princess burned her feet badly. The injury was so serious that the freedom-loving woman could now move only in a wheelchair. At the end of 2001, Margaret stopped distinguishing objects, and in early 2002 she was taken to the hospital, where she died on February 9. The funeral was attended by family members, including the 101-year-old Queen Mother.

• Margaret did her own makeup and (!) invited the hairdresser to her place twice a day
• Her height was only 155 centimeters, so the princess always wore shoes with heels and had a special lining on the seats in cars
• Being spoiled in everything, Margaret had a very unpretentious taste in food: she hated oysters and black caviar, and ordered the simplest food like stew and mashed potatoes
• Margaret's grandson (her son only daughter Sarah) became a bodybuilder

Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, was no stranger to controversy and scandal, much to the chagrin of her royal relatives. Unlike her quiet and correct sister, Margaret was outgoing and independent. Her romantic relationships, especially her potential marriage to Peter Townsend, garnered national attention and caused more than enough scandals in her life.

Margaret liked to socialize, smoke and be on the verge of a foul to the point that British intelligence had to pull off a bank robbery to save her reputation.

Princess Margaret was born the king's granddaughter

Princess Margaret Rose Windsor was born on 21 August 1930 to Albert Frederick Arthur George, also known as Prince Albert and later King George VI, and Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon. She was their second daughter, born four years after her sister Elizabeth.

At the time of her birth, her grandfather, George V, was the King of England. He died in 1936 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward. However, King Edward VIII abdicated less than a year later to marry an American divorcee named Wallis Warfield Simpson. As soon as Edward VIII retired, Margaret's father became King George VI. Margaret and her sister had always been royalty, but now they were the king's daughters.

Princess Margaret was an energetic young girl

Princess Margaret was an independent spirit with young years. She spent most of his youth with his sister Elizabeth in London, where they were both educated under their governess Marion Crawford.

Upon learning that her father had become king, Margaret reportedly told her sister, “Does that mean you will be the next queen?” Elizabeth replied, "Yes, someday." “Poor you,” Margaret pitied her.

The princess was considered attractive and her future lover, Peter Townsend, described her as "an unusual girl, with a bright beauty, ... large violet-blue eyes, generous, with sensual lips, and skin as smooth as a peach ..."

Her secret relationship with Peter Townsend began shortly after World War II.

In 1947 the King and his family made their first international trip to South Africa. On this trip, Peter Townsend accompanied the king as a member of his family. Townsend was a World War II veteran, married and had two children. He first met Margaret when she was a teenager. He believed that Princess Margaret, who was fifteen years his junior, was nothing more than a spoiled schoolgirl.

The princess and Townsend spent a lot of time together and soon fell in love, entering into a secret relationship. The relationship became public in 1952, when, during her sister's coronation, Margaret shook the fluff off Townsend's jacket. The gesture made international headlines by making their romantic relationship public.

Peter Townsend divorced his wife in 1953 on the grounds that she was involved with another man. Once he got divorced, he was free to be with the princess... in theory. But the Church and Parliament did not approve of this relationship, especially since Margaret was third in line to the throne (behind her nephew and niece, Charles and Anna). Townsend proposed to Margaret and she agreed, but until she was 25 years old, the Queen had to consent to this marriage. Townsend was sent to Brussels and the couple spent the next two years separated.

When Townsend returned to England in 1955, Margaret was already 25 years old and allowed to marry without her sister's approval. However, Parliament did not sign the marriage contract. The Prime Minister, Anthony Eden, told Margaret that if she married Townsend, she would be deprived of all the privileges of a princess and lose her income. In October 1953, Margaret announced her decision:

I would like it known that I have decided not to marry Captain Peter Townsend. I know that, subject to my waiver of inheritance rights, I might be able to conclude civil marriage. But, mindful of the Church's teaching that Christian marriage is inseparable, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have decided to place these considerations above others.

She became engaged to her future husband shortly after Townsend proposed to another woman.

After Princess Margaret chose not to marry Townsend, she continued to choose men. Soon Margaret entered into a secret relationship with photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones, a charming "commoner". The two married in 1960, shortly after Townsend proposed to a Belgian woman who looked like a princess to a great extent.

Margaret and her husband started cheating on each other soon after they got married.

Margaret and Anthony were an outgoing couple. Their first few years of marriage were happy and they had two children, David and Sarah.

By 1964, their marriage began to fall apart. Armstrong-Jones had several affairs with other women, and Margaret had an affair with her longtime friend Anthony Barton. She also had an affair with Robin Douglas-Home, who committed suicide eighteen months after their separation.

Both the princess and Armstrong-Jones were unhappily married. When drunk, they fought, and when sober, they just tried to stay away from each other.

They were both aware of the other's infidelities, and when Armstrong-Jones traveled, they corresponded with each other with the utmost honesty. As Margaret's misfortune deepened, she reportedly began drinking, gaining weight, and flirting excessively. “Sometimes she almost threw herself at men,” said one of her friends. It was partly done to make Tony jealous, partly to prove to herself she was still attractive."

Margaret has been linked to Peter Sellers and Mick Jagger among others.

When Margaret wanted to escape her duties, she often came to the Isle of Mustique. The princess received 10 acres of land in the Caribbean as a wedding gift, built a luxurious villa on the island and often hung out there with her lovers. Mick Jagger, Billy Joel, and David Bowie were also at the island home. Margaret has been in love with many celebrities, including Peter Sellers, Mick Jagger, and Warren Beatty.

Her affair with Roderick Llewellyn made headlines

In 1973, Princess Margaret began an affair with Llewelyn Roderick, a 28-year-old gardener. She first invited him to her villa on Mustique in 1974, and they continued their relationship for many years. At one point, Llewellyn left the princess and she reportedly took a handful of pills. The lovers reconciled and soon photos of them together on the island were published in newspapers, causing a public outcry. It was believed that Margaret neglected her royal duties for the sake of her lover. The couple soon separated.

To steal compromising photos of the princess, British intelligence robbed a bank

In 1971 candid photos Princess Margaret was allegedly kept in a safe deposit box at the Lloyd's Bank branch in London. The photos were given to the princess and after the robbery, the press was told not to report the crime.

A film was made based on this crime. "The Baker Street Robbery", which features as a representative British intelligence MI5 broke into the bank and stole the photos to prevent their publication. The film never mentions Princess Margaret's name, but the allusions are clear.

Her divorce was the first in the royal family in 400 years.

Princess Margaret and Armstrong-Jones separated in 1976. When they officially divorced in 1978, it was the first royal divorce since the divorce of Henry VIII.