Life in the shadow of a sister: how did the fate of the "reserve princess" Margaret, the younger sister of Elizabeth II. Sister of Elizabeth II: the bright and tragic life of Princess Margaret Princess Margaret and her husband

The first scandal happened with Margaret Rose, Princess of York in 1955: the younger sister of Elizabeth II, almost married the royal equerry, sixteen years her senior, father of two children and also divorced. The sister queen, parliament and the church, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, opposed Margaret's marriage to officer Peter Townsend, considering it a monstrous misalliance, moreover, not a single member of the royal family was married to a divorced partner! In the autumn of 1955, the BBC interrupted its transmissions to broadcast a statement by Margaret, who notified the nation of the end of a twelve-year relationship with Captain Townsend. The lovers parted. The tabloids, having lost interest in the "spare princess" and "abandoned younger sister", left her alone for a while ... But what the paparazzi, who were hungry for sensations, could not see in Margaret, they saw the editors of the fashion and beauty sections. In 1956, 26-year-old Margaret, transformed into a dark-haired beauty with huge blue eyes and a sensual mouth, appeared on the list of the most stylish people in the world. In this prestigious list, Margaret was mentioned second only to Grace Kelly. Not only the royal daughter, the sister of the queen, and after the birth of Prince Charles, the third in line for the throne, but as it soon became clear to everyone, the first beauty of the kingdom! Petite, thin, with a beautiful figure, she became the inspiration for the New Look style. Her outfits were instantly published in women's magazines, and then copied by fashion dressmakers across the country. She was dazzling in exquisite hats and evening dresses Norman Hartnell and Victor Stiebel. Wherever she went, she was accompanied everywhere by a crowd of secular admirers, who became known as the "Margaret set." Offended by her mother and sister, Margaret insisted on her resettlement in Kensington Palace, where she created an alternative court from her friends and where there was no place for formal dresses and tuxedos. In the evenings, her blue Rolls-Royce left the palace gates and headed towards Soho. Almost every day she returned from the clubs in the morning. With a brightly painted mouth, large violet eyes, a dazzling smile, high-combed auburn hair, flawless marbled skin for which the women of the Windsor family were so famous, she resembled both a Hollywood star and a classic nineteenth-century aristocrat. Shades of lipstick, perfumes and cocktails, tulips, gladioluses, roses were named after her. But, receiving up to twenty marriage proposals a year, at the age of 30 Margaret was never married. None of her admirers corresponded to the status of the spouse of the “royal sister” - the princess did not dare to challenge this decision of her crowned relatives. But when the pretty, witty and very talented society photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones began to hoot after her, Margaret unexpectedly showed firmness for everyone. They met in the summer of 1958 at the wedding of a relative, and in the fall they already danced at the Halloween ball at the Dorchester Hotel. In December 1959, Armstrong-Jones asked Elizabeth II for Margaret's hand in marriage. On May 6, 1960, life in England came to a halt - a wedding was broadcast on TV from Westminster Abbey, which was watched by another 300 million people. With a bouquet of orchids, Norman Hartnell's deep V-necked silk gown with pearl beads, and a veil held by a diamond Poltimore Tiara from the Queen Victoria collection, the bride was, as the newspapers wrote, "a masterpiece of style and hairdressing." She was accompanied by eight friends and her beloved nephew, little Prince Charles, dressed in a traditional Scottish kilt. The young couple spent their honeymoon riding the royal yacht Britannia around the Caribbean. Margaret Colin Tennant's friend Lord Glenconnor showed her Mustic Island, which he purchased in 1958. And when the princess could not hide her admiration, the lord gave her as wedding gift four hectares of this heavenly land. In London, the princess and her husband were given Kensington Palace to live in. In May 1961, Margaret's pregnancy was officially announced, and in October, a month before the birth of their first child, David, Armstrong-Jones was awarded the title of Earl of Snowdon. With the advent of her son, Margaret's life almost did not change, only her circle changed - now there are almost no aristocrats left in it, they were replaced by bohemia: an aspiring actress, the future "Bond girl", Swedish Britt Ekland, her husband comedian Peter Sellers, dancers Rudolf Nureyev and Margo Fontaine, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, writer Edna O'Brien, hairdresser and stylist Vidal Sassoon, designer, miniskirt maker Mary Quant and hippy chic inspiration, Thea Porter, whose brightly colored oriental robes delight worn by Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins ... It was a happy time - as if the strict world of her past, with sorrowful experiences and a failed relationship with Captain Townsend, receded into the shadows, and gave way to the world of fashion, style and the art of living. In Hollywood, the couple had breakfast with Frank Sinatra, chatted with Gregory Peck, the princess tested her spell on Paul Newman. In those golden days there were many parties - in Sardinia, the Costa Esmeralda and St. Tropez. There, Margaret looked younger, sexier, happier than ever ... In May 1964, the Snowdons had a daughter, Sarah. Her godfather Snowdon's comrade from Cambridge, Irishman Anthony Barton, who permanently resided in Bordeaux, became. Almost every week, Margaret opened exhibitions, auctions, charity concerts, horse races, went on official visits, was present as a representative of the royal house at weddings, christenings and funerals, visited the colonies and Commonwealth countries on official visits. Snowdon was far from being assigned the main role in this highest protocol. The princess's servants did not accept Anthony Armstrong-Jones for a long time, believing that the hostess's marriage to some photographer "with a dog's face and in frayed jeans" was a monstrous misalliance. Every morning the maid, who had served Margaret since childhood, entered the couple's bedroom with breakfast. And each time she had only one cup of coffee on the tray and only one glass of orange juice for Margaret. And Anthony complained to the dregs that he was being treated as if he had been picked up in the gutter. The summer of 1965 was the last happy vacation that Anthony and Margaret spent together. In 1966, while Snowdon was in India, she began an affair with Anthony Barton, who at that time finally settled in Bordeaux and began, with the help of an uncle, to manage the two family estates of Leoville-Barton and Langoa-Barton. Snowdon this double cheating- friend and wife - very upset. And she fell in love with a gentleman winemaker so much that she even confessed her feelings on the phone to Burton's wife Eva. But then both marriages were saved. In the late 60s, Margaret and Lord Snowdon barely spoke to each other. On her 39th birthday in 1969, the Snowdons began to bicker loudly in a nightclub. He, having lost his temper, in the presence of guests began to put out cigarettes on her evening dress. “I have never seen someone congratulate the birthday girl like that,” American writer Gore Vidal commented on this scene without hiding sarcasm. The photographer left notes on the table, one of which was titled "Twenty Reasons I Hate You." Friends said that the spouses "exchange insults like shots." These scenes were reminiscent of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? In the early 70s they living together went downhill, Margaret's style also changed. The retro style that adorned her so much in the late 50s has waned. She looked squat in casual tweed suits, neither mini-skirts nor ethnic outfits suited her, and the famous shirt dresses of the 70s sat on her baggy. In high-platform shoes, with luxurious family jewelry that clearly did not fit a formal suit, and an invariable miniature handbag, which she did not let go even when she met guests, she gradually became an anachronism. (An American journalist once quipped, "Who is that walking around the house with a wallet?") In those years, she rarely left the ranks of the most tastelessly dressed celebrities. In the list compiled by the American critic Robert Blackwell, she was invariably given a special place: he called her “an ugly waitress from a roadside cafe of the 1950s”, then “a chaos of glamorous brands”, then “the curse of world fashion”. He called her 1973 wardrobe the pinnacle of bad taste, commenting that the sight of Margaret "makes Londoners wish there was no more fog in their city." She was number one on Blackwell's list that year. Her love of whiskey was already legendary. For breakfast, she appeared with the same glass of Famous Grouse. During official visits, a specially assigned waiter with an ashtray followed her from room to room. Friends under various pretexts rejected her invitations to Kensington Palace, "because she will drink, and we will be stuck there until the evening." The only place where Margaret felt safe was Mustik Island. All the years of marriage and many years after the divorce, Lord Snowdon could not hear either the name of Colin Tennant or the name of the island: after all, only Margaret was given as a wedding gift Mustik! In 1972, theater designer Olivier Messel built a 10-room coral-colored bungalow for Margaret with access to an isolated bay. A new villa with a swimming pool, terraces, stunning views of the Caribbean Sea and the Grenadines Islands was named Les Jolies Eaux "Wonderful Waters". This house she called "the only real home on earth and the best haven outside of London." In addition, far from the paparazzi, she could organize any, the most informal and unrestricted parties. Private concerts with Elton John and Mick Jagger, dinners with champagne, caviar and lobsters, and her invariable gin and tonic were on everyone's lips in those years. Margaret didn't seem to care. public opinion. “We need to meet with young people - the rest of the applicants are either busy or have died long ago,” Margaret liked to say in those years. In September 1973, at the estate of her old friend Colin Tennant, the Princess met Roderick, "Roddy" Llewellyn, in Scotland. The long-haired hippie turned out to be 17 years younger than her, and, of course, was without certain occupations. Upon discovering that the young man had arrived undressed for a swim in the warm pool, the Queen's sister took the young man to the store and chose British flag-colored swimming trunks for him. The next day they were seen in the vicinity of Glasgow - she bought him a sweater. Journalists spread the sensation all over the world, but this news looked so absurd that they simply refused to believe it then! Llewellyn and Margaret vacationed together on the Mystique in 1974, where they attended a week-long 50th birthday party for Colin Tennant. The culmination of the evening was a performance by Mick Jagger and a special "golden reception", to which the tanned princess appeared draped in gold brocade. Two years later, in 1976, the Sunday Times published photographs of the bikini-clad princess in the arms of her young lover on Mustica. These pictures again immediately flew around the world. And when the enraged Anthony Armstrong-Jones demanded an official retraction, the princess's personal household secretary advised him not to be ridiculous, because his wife's relationship with Luvellin had been going on for quite some time. The princess was informed by phone that the frenzied Lord Snowdon had finally left her house. She was still on her island. Her reaction was calm: “He left? All the better. This is the best news you have ever given me,” she told her secretary. In March 1976, it was officially announced that the couple would live separately - with the corresponding remark from Queen Elizabeth II that "she is very sorry about what happened." In the newspapers, Margaret was called "expensive", "scandalous", "extravagant" and "useless". In 1978, the Snowdons divorced - this was the first divorce in the English royal family in 400 years since the time of Henry VIII. She spent the next years between London and Mustique, living on the island like a shipwrecked Robinson who lost everything he had ever had. AT free time she swam in the sea, lay in a sun lounger, solving crosswords in The Times. Roddy constantly visited her Caribbean villa, who from time to time helped the neighbors to landscape their bungalows. The press called the princess "tedious", "spoiled", "lounging" and "irritable". Elizabeth II excluded her from the number of guests of honor and refused to pay the annual 219 thousand pounds laid down for the maintenance of a member of the royal house. In the year of her 50th birthday, Roddy Llewellyn announced his engagement to a fashion dressmaker. But it seems that this fact did not upset Margaret: “If his engagement hadn’t happened, I would have been stuck in this story for a long time.” She got sick more and more often, complained of feeling unwell, while not parting with either cigarettes (in those years she smoked 60 cigarettes a day) or Famous Grouse whiskey. In Los Angeles, she met the Queen of Hollywood, Elizabeth Taylor. Having seen the Krupp diamond on her hand, weighing 33.19 carats, she did not hesitate to call it vulgar. Taylor restrained herself and with a fake smile suggested that Margaret try on the ring. And when the princess could not hide her admiration, the Queen of Hollywood triumphantly said: “Now that it is on your arm, it doesn’t look so vulgar anymore, does it?” The press called Margaret "inattentive" and "insensitive". Even close friends complained that sometimes she behaved with people as if she was saying - "There is no need to be nice to these people, they are just subjects of my sister." She could not forget that she had once been second in line to the throne, always with the shadow of a queen in her speech and demeanor. In 1985, Margaret underwent lung surgery. The doctors were truly alarmed, they knew that four monarchs - Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII and the princess's own father, George VI - had died of smoking-related illnesses. But even the operation did not force Margaret to part with the lighter. In 1991, her health began to decline dramatically. Her loneliness became habitual and boring - she more and more went into the shadows. Cynical, dissatisfied with nothing and never satisfied, by the end of her life she was known more as Prince Charlie's favorite aunt - the always grumbling "Charley's aunt", an aging, far from paramount character of the royal family, eleventh in line for the throne, a "monster" and " rude." In 1999, Les Jolies Eaux was sold by Margaret's son David Lynley for £1 million. Margaret from this news struck the first stroke. The alcohol was done away with, two thousand cigarettes were returned to the suppliers, and Margaret never used the lighter again. Wanting to cheer up her sister, Elizabeth invited her to the theater, which she always loved, but Margaret unexpectedly refused. It was then that the queen said: "It seems that my sister has lost interest in life." In March 2001, Margaret suddenly stopped seeing objects. At the celebration of the 101st birthday of the Queen Mother, she appeared in a wheelchair with a swollen face, which was covered by large dark glasses. On the first day of the new year 2002, Elizabeth II canceled her daily ritual of riding a horse and came to sit with her sister. That case seemed to be on the mend ... But soon another blow followed. On the morning of February 9, 2002, Princess Margaret died in her sleep, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. When her coffin, covered with a blue and purple cloth with white lilies, was taken out of the hospital, a few terist onlookers asked: “What happened? Is the queen mother dead? Not? Princess Margaret? Has she survived to this day?

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 independent in spirit from a young age. 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 much like a princess.

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 on a Caribbean island as a wedding gift, built a luxurious villa on the island, and often hung out with her lovers there. 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 photographs of Princess Margaret were allegedly kept in a safe deposit box at a 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.

In beauty and charm, as well as in her ability to present herself in high society, she was in no way inferior to English princess"Lady Dee" In addition, the representative of the Windsor dynasty, who was a "reserve" contender for the British throne, possessed such qualities as friendliness, goodwill, responsiveness, which attracted the attention of her inner circle. Also, many considered her a trendsetter, and some perfume smells, shades of lipstick were named after this beauty with radiant eyes. One way or another, Princess Margaret was the pride of all England, but, unfortunately, until a certain time. At some point, she turned into a rebel, and her name began to appear frequently in the press, which described in detail the scandals with her participation. There was also a period when Princess Margaret became addicted to alcohol and showed promiscuity in relations with the opposite sex.

Then the “reserve” heir to the English throne began to be overcome by illnesses and ailments, after which few people remembered her. Nevertheless, the biography of Princess Margaret is of great interest to historians. She lived her life brightly and richly. Let's dwell on this in more detail.

Years of childhood and youth

Princess Margaret was born on August 21, 1930 at Glamis Castle in Scotland. At the time of her birth, she was the fourth contender for English throne. Her father was the future King George VI, and her mother came from a noble Scottish family, Bowes - Lyon. Princess Margaret was four years younger than her sister Elizabeth, who later inherited the British crown. In childhood, they were very friendly with each other, but after a while, the relationship of the two contenders for the throne became more estranged. Margaret was christened at Buckingham Palace. The stepfather of the "reserve" princess was Edward VIII (British monarch) and future queen Denmark - Ingrid.

Upbringing

It should be noted that both Elizabeth and Margaret were equally surrounded by parental care and affection.

The girls were raised by a governess, Marion Crawford, so there was no need for them to attend school. But the quality of the knowledge gained was carefully monitored by the mother of the princesses.

Margaret is already early years tried to be the center of attention. She began to spend a lot of time dancing and singing, wanting to surprise the court audience with her solo performances.

Regarding the role of George VI in the education youngest daughter, it should be noted that he allowed her a lot and often indulged her whims. For example, Princess Margaret in her youth could stay up until dinner. However, such indulgence of the father left its definite imprint of a negative quality. Already at the age of fifteen, the youngest daughter of the king began to smoke, and notes of disobedience and waywardness began to appear more and more clearly in her character. However, after a little time, her father began to turn a blind eye to the capriciousness of the girl even more after the events that occurred in 1936. It was then that Edward VIII lost his crown due to entering into a morganatic marriage. England was ruled by George VI, the parent of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Moreover, the latter was already second in line to the throne.

During World War II

When Hitler began to conquer one European country after another, there was a real threat to the lives of the British royal family. Winston Churchill, at the insistence of Lord Hailsham, recommended that the monarchs leave the castle and save their daughters, sending them to the safety of Canada. However, the queen abandoned this idea, because she did not want to part with her daughters for a minute. As a result, the family took refuge in the dungeon of the family castle. It was very difficult to survive the everyday life of the war, which was accompanied by constant hunger and cold. Everyone was completely unaware of the future.

However, the story of Princess Margaret did not end there.

After victory

Only in 1945, on a day significant for the whole world, the royal family of England went out onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace to rejoice at the Great Victory and greet their subjects. Shortly thereafter, Princess Margaret (sister of Elizabeth II) began to go out and study public affairs. Elegant and stylish, she showed a genuine interest in fashion and art.

The era of the 50-60s

During this period of time, the youngest daughter of Gorg VI proved to be almost the first beauty british kingdom. Her stylish and luxurious outfits, attractive appearance, sophisticated demeanor, like a magnet, attracted the attention of men. And Princess Margaret (sister of Elizabeth II) was in complete awe of what can thrill men's hearts. happened in her life big love but in the end she was unhappy. Perhaps that is why the youngest daughter of the king went into all serious trouble and began to do things that later seriously tarnished her "reputation". The turn to an “anti-social” lifestyle also took place because the princess lost her beloved father, who died in February 1952. Margaret was very upset by this loss, and for the first time after the death of George VI, she could not sleep at night, so the doctors recommended that she take sedatives. And then she began to drown grief in strong drinks.

Personal life

Margaret had both fleeting romances and long-term relationships that eventually came to naught.

She was a romantic and refined nature, so failures on the love front were perceived by the princess very painfully. One way or another, but Margaret's personal life was filled with both bright and inexpressive moments.

Russian officer

Even seven years before her marriage, the “reserve” princess did not deny herself the pleasure of completely plunging into the maelstrom of love passions.

In 1953, a naval parade was planned in honor of the fact that Elizabeth II took the royal throne. On this solemn event not only ships of the national fleet were invited, but also foreign ships, among which was the Russian cruiser Sverdlov. The ship was commanded by an officer of the Baltic, captain of the first rank Olympy Rudakov. A few days after the celebration, British newspapers were already writing about him. And he really surprised everyone then. Firstly, he managed with pinpoint accuracy, without maps and a pilot, to bring the ship to the parking lot where foreign ships were based. The captain managed to draw attention to himself one more time. During the queen's bypass of the formation of ships, each ship was obliged to greet the royal person with one volley from a cannon. But Olympia Rudakov's team saluted three times and greeted Elizabeth II with a loud "Hurrah!" And although the protocol was violated, the queen liked such an unusual congratulation from the Russians. Moreover, while honoring the persons who serve in the Navy, she was the first to approach Rudakov and handed the medal to the officer.

The crew of the Russian cruiser and Olimpiy Ivanovich were invited to the coronation ball, which was organized at the Royal Naval Barracks. The commander of the Sverdlov spent time with great pleasure at the event with the participation of the queen herself. But after some time, Rudakov was informed that Elizabeth II wanted to dance with him. Naturally, he agreed. Well, after that, the queen introduced her younger sister Margaret to Olympia Ivanovich. Soon the captain of the Russian cruiser was already waltzing with the "reserve" princess. Then he retired to a personal audience with the royal special, and soon after he returned to the ship, he received a luxurious bouquet of roses. Such an unambiguous gift was made by Princess Margaret (Elizabeth's sister). The attention of a woman of "royal" blood somewhat discouraged the Russian officer, who ordered the flowers to be taken to the cockpit, as he suffered from allergies. But after some time, Margaret herself unexpectedly came aboard the Sverdlov, surprised by the absence of donated roses. She began to scold the butler for not following the delivery process, but Olympy Ivanovich stood up for the servant. He thanked the princess for such a "royal" gift and said that he had distributed flowers to the sailors. The girl stopped being angry and said she would send more flowers.

At the next meeting, Princess Margaret (Elizabeth's sister) herself told the captain that she was not indifferent to him. However, the captain was mindful of the consequences that communication could provoke. Soviet man with a representative of a bourgeois country. Rudakov began to come up with pretexts to move away from the royal person, because he did not want to harm his own career. However, Princess Margaret (English) only increased the pressure, in an effort to win the heart of the Russian captain. She even invited Olympia Ivanovich on a trip to her native places. But the special officer, who was on the Russian cruiser, demanded that Rudakov call Moscow to receive further instructions. As a result, the captain was ordered to leave the border of a foreign state in two days.

Olympia Ivanovich's career did not suffer, but Princess Margaret (Elizabeth's younger sister) received a spiritual wound from failed love.

English pilot

However, the youngest daughter of George VI very soon again became a prisoner of her own feelings. After a failure on the love front with a Russian officer, she liked the pilot Peter Townsend, who served at the royal court. After some time, Margaret (Princess of Great Britain) was already thinking about him all 24 hours a day. But on the way to her happiness there were obstacles, and insurmountable ones. Why couldn't Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend be together? Everything is very simple. First, there was a serious social inequality between them. Well, and secondly, her chosen one was divorced, and British customs, including royal traditions, did not approve of marriages with divorced people. To avoid gossip, Buckingham Palace decides to send Peter to work in Belgium, where he subsequently acted as military attaché. However, after the separation, Margaret remembered her lover, secretly hoping that they would be happy. And when Townsend returned to English capital, the local press immediately began scribbling notes about the alleged engagement. But, it never took place, because Princess Margaret, whose photo often flashed in British newspapers in the mid-50s, changed her mind about linking her fate with the pilot. She motivated her decision by her unwillingness to lose her royal prerogatives.

Marriage

The youngest daughter of George VI nevertheless married. The wedding took place in the spring of 1960. Her chosen one was the photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones. This man did not belong to a noble family. After the wedding, Margaret's husband received the titles of Viscount Linley and Earl of Snowdon. Was this marriage happy? As it turned out later, no. Anthony was burdened by the responsible mission of the spouse of the royal person. But in this union appeared heirs. Children of Princess Margaret: son David (b. 1961) and daughter Sarah (b. 1964).

Divorce

After a while, the relationship between the spouses gradually began to fade away. Anthony simply did not fit into the life that they used to lead in the royal palace. Social inequality was too great. The servants often ignored him and perceived him as: "a photographer with a dog face in frayed jeans." Chosen Margaret did not like her friends. And he complained to his friends that in the castle he was treated as if he had been picked up in the gutter. Increasingly, Anthony began to disappear on creative business trips and business trips in order to take a break from the hateful role of "prince consort". Well, Margaret soon began to cheat on her husband. She first fell in love with winemaker Anthony Barton. She then had an affair with the Prime Minister's nephew. Margaret even wrote to Love letters, which he then profitably sold at an auction in New York. Then she met actor Peter Sellers and again plunged into the pool of passions. Together they often went to restaurants and nightclubs. In general, in the late 60s, the youngest daughter of George VI and her husband practically did not communicate with each other.

The family idyll between Margaret and Anthony came to an end in 1976, and in 1978 they officially filed for divorce. This event immediately became the No. 1 topic on the pages of the English press. Shortly thereafter, scandals in the Windsor household began to happen with frightening regularity. And almost all of them became public property. Princess Margaret (the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II) began to lead a life that consisted of fleeting romances, entertainment nightlife, cheerful and noisy companies where whiskey and champagne flowed like water. She began to visit nightclubs almost daily, and many rockers appeared among her friends.

Fashion critics began to notice that one week the "rebellious princess" could look elegant and the next week she could wear awkward outfits. Retro - the style of clothing that suited her so well in the 50s, 20 years later looked already somewhat ridiculous. During that period, Margaret began to abuse whiskey.

last years of life

But the youngest daughter of George VI spent a lot of time not only on fun and entertainment. She was engaged in the promotion of art to the masses, being the head of the Royal Ballet. In addition, she chaired the National Committee for the Prevention abuse with kids. However, parties, active night life, alcohol and nicotine soon had a negative impact on health, so she began to appear less often in public.

Back in the mid-1980s, Margaret underwent surgery to remove the structure of her left lung, but she continued to smoke until 1991. In 1993, doctors diagnosed the "rebellious princess" with pneumonia. And six years later, Margaret had an accident in the bathroom, as a result of which she received serious burns of her lower extremities. So she ended up in a wheelchair. This tragedy provoked the first stroke. Then there was a second, a third...

Death

The fourth stroke was the last for Princess Margaret. She passed away in her sleep. It happened on February 9, 2009. A farewell service was organized at Windsor Castle. After that, the relatives performed last will the deceased, who wished that her body was cremated, and the ashes were buried next to her father's grave.

It is noteworthy that the death of the youngest daughter of George VI did not cause any serious emotions among ordinary Englishmen. Her death was not reported in detail in the newspapers. Nevertheless, the unusual biography of Princess Margaret still could not but intrigue historians, writers, directors. Her life story is detailed in fiction. Several documentaries and feature films about the fate of the "rebellious princess" were filmed. For example, in 2010, Tom Hooper's picture "The King's Speech!" was released, where the image of little Margaret went to a young girl - actress Ramona Markuse. Also, the viewer remembered the film "London Holidays", which was shot by Julian Jarrold in 2015. The director gave the role of the sister of Elizabeth II to actress Bel Powley.

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 unusually modest (for herself) wedding dress, designed by 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 a royal person, but it really happened. 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

When royalty ascends the throne, her name remains in history. But what happens to the other applicants? royalty. Unfortunately, their destiny is life in the shadow of their titled relatives. This is exactly what happened with Princess Margaret, the younger sister of the British Queen Elizabeth II. Despite the splendor and luxury of her existence, the "reserve princess" has always suffered from loneliness.

Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret

In the early years of their lives, the sisters were very close. But, when due to their uncle's abdication Edward VIII, it was necessary for parents to enter the throne, the life of girls has changed dramatically. There was a spirit of rivalry between the sisters. Elizabeth was destined to become queen, so she began endless lessons on the structure of a constitutional monarchy. Margaret was out of work.

Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister Princess Margaret

The real shock for the princess was the death of her father, King George VI, at the age of 56. The mother suddenly moved away from everyone, wearing mourning, Elizabeth II was swallowed up by royal obligations, and the 21-year-old Princess Margaret felt that no one needed her.

Princess Margaret and Captain Peter Townsend

The first scandal associated with the name of the princess happened in 1953. On June 2, during the coronation of Elizabeth II, Margaret had the imprudence to brush off the ashes from the uniform of Captain Peter Townsend. The press regarded this gesture as meaningful and defiant. In fact, the relationship between them lasted for many years. The princess wanted to marry the captain, but he was divorced and had two children. The sister, the archbishop and parliament opposed such a statement, since the royal person did not have the right to marry a divorced person.

Margaret was given an ultimatum: in the event of marriage with Captain Townsend, she was deprived of all royal privileges and life support. 2 years later, Princess Margaret appeared on television and publicly abandoned her intention to marry the captain, citing her obligations to her country.

"Rebel Princess" Margaret

After that, Margaret became embittered and considered that now the whole point of her life would be fun. She started drinking and driving wild life. Her behavior in public places becomes extraordinary: the days began with the performance of royal obligations at endless receptions, trips to the theater, and ended invariably in nightclubs.

Princess Margaret was considered a style icon

Despite the intolerable character, Princess Margaret was gladly received in any establishments. She was very attractive. Marble skin, thin waist, sensual mouth. Every outfit in which she appeared was immediately printed in magazines, and then copied by fashionistas.

The princess flirted with the most famous beauties of the time. She was not offended by jokes with obvious overtones. The princess declared: 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.

Princess Margaret in her wedding dress

Despite numerous romances, no one suited Margaret's status as a groom. This was very depressing for the girl. In 1959, photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones asked for the hand of the 29-year-old princess. This led to another resonance, because in last time a person of royal blood married a commoner 450 years ago. Queen Elizabeth II nevertheless agreed to the marriage, wishing her sister female happiness.

« spare princess» Margaret

Unfortunately, this relationship did not bring the princess the desired peace, and after 18 years of marriage, she filed for divorce. How much she drank and smoked cigarettes was already legendary. Friends refused under various pretexts to accept her invitations to the palace, because Margaret would start drinking, and they would be stuck until the evening.

Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Princess Margaret

The last years of Margaret were deeply tragic. As a result of an accident where she scalded her feet, the princess was chained to wheelchair. Her death came on February 9, 2002.
The life of the younger sister was bright, but tragic. The elder sister, Elizabeth II, went down in history as the longest-serving monarch.