Long before Prince Harry made tabloid headlines by streaking in Las Vegas, and long before his father Prince Charles took high society aback by abruptly divorcing Princess Diana, there was Princess Margaret—Countess of Snowdon. Dubbed the original “wild child” of the royal family, Princess Margaret lived a colourful life filled with luxury, intrigue, and tumultuous relationships.
In her heyday, her controversial public image was often compared unfavourably to her older sister, Queen Elizabeth II. The queen was proper and modest, while her sister Margaret was impulsive and indulgent. However, that didn’t stop Princess Margaret from living her truth and setting new precedents for the royal family.
Born on August 21, 1930, four years after her older sister (and only sibling) Elizabeth, Princess Margaret has always been exceptional. Even the circumstances of her birth are rather atypical; having happened in Glamis Castle in Scotland, hers was the first royal birth to take place in Scotland in more than 300 years!
The princesses Elizabeth and Margaret grew up without having much pressure upon them to perform royal duties. However, that all changed when their uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry commoner Wallis Simpson. With their father (Edward VIII’s brother) George VI’s ascension to the throne, the princesses have suddenly found themselves thrust far forward in the line of succession.
Who Did Princess Margaret Marry?
This drastic change did not affect Princess Margaret as much as it has Elizabeth, who was next in line. She did not feel the need to find a husband so soon, and spent her youth studying privately with a governess. Soon after World War II ended she fell in love with Group Captain Peter Townsend, who was 16 years her senior.
A divorcee with 2 children, Townsend was considered by much of high society to be unsuitable as a husband to Princess Margaret. The Church of England refused to bless the engagement, and then newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II insisted that the couple wait for a year before tying the knot.
To further discourage the relationship, Townsend was posted to Belgium away from the Princess. There he met Marie-Luce Jamagne and fell in love. A day after being told of his intentions to marry Jamagne, Princess Margaret accepted the proposal of another suitor: the photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones.
Princess Margaret’s Marriage To Antony Armstrong-Jones
They married in 1960, and theirs was the first British royal wedding to ever be televised, with over 300 million viewers tuning in. She wore a famous Norman Hartnell-designed wedding gown, and paired it with the Poltimore Crown as a wedding tiara. Upon their marriage, Armstrong-Jones was gifted the title of “Earl of Snowdon”.
The relationship was marred by extramarital affairs by both parties; Princess Margaret’s infidelity was one of the things that made her character so polarizing. She had flings with such high-profile figures as Anthony Barton (a wine producer) and Robin Douglas-Home (a former prime minister’s nephew).
There are also unsubstantiated claims of affairs between the Princess and: Mick Jagger, Peter Sellers, Warren Beatty, David Niven, and Keith Miller (an Australian cricketer).
When news broke of Princess Margaret’s affair with Roddy Llewelyn, a man 17 years her junior, the Lord and Lady Snowdon publicly acknowledged the failure of their marriage. They divorced in 1978. Theirs was the first divorce to happen in the royal family since 1901, and is credited for the subsequent destigmatization of royal divorces.
In her later life, Princess Margaret fell victim to numerous illnesses, including cancer. This is certainly not helped by the fact that she started smoking cigarettes at 15, and would frequently smoke up to 60 sticks a day. On February 9, 2002, she died by the complications of the last of many strokes. She was 71.
Did Princess Margaret Have Children? Who Are Princess Margaret’s Children?
Soon after their marriage, the Lord and Lady Snowdon had 2 children: David Armstrong-Jones, and Sarah Chatto, neé Armstrong-Jones. David became the second Earl of Snowdon after his father’s death in 2017. Sarah, on the other hand, is referred to as Lady Sarah Chatto. Through her 2 children, Princess Margaret has 4 grandchildren.
Born November 3, 1961, David was titled ‘Viscount Linley’ at birth. He was fifth in line to the throne when he was born; currently, he is in the 20th spot. He and his sister inherited their father’s artistic inclinations. In middle school he developed a passion for arts and crafts, and in his late teens he studied woodworking in a small town in Dorset.
This education proved useful in his professional career. Soon after honing his skills in designing and producing furniture, he established his own company under the name David Linley. The company, now simply called Linley, offers bespoke upscale furniture to a high-profile clientele that includes Elton John and Valentino. Because of his close relationship to art and antiques, he was named a chairman of the auction house Christie’s from 2006 to 2015.
Thankfully, David has had a successful marriage, very much unlike that of his parents. He has been married to Irish noblewoman Serena Alleyne Stanhope (now the current Countess of Snowdon by marriage) since 1993. On their wedding day, the bride wore a Bruce Robinson wedding gown that closely resembled Princess Margaret’s.
The current Lord and Lady Snowdon have 2 children: Charles Patrick Inigo, the current Viscount Linley (titled so after his father’s accession to the Earldom of Snowdon), and Lady Margarita Elizabeth Rose.
Princess Margaret’s Daughter: Sarah Armstrong-Jones
Lady Sarah Chatto, born Sarah Armstrong-Jones, was born on May 1, 1964. Unlike her parents and brother, Lady Sarah has opted to live her life away from the limelight of being part of the royal family. However, she has been reported to be a favourite confidante of her aunt, Queen Elizabeth II.
Like her brother, Lady Sarah has inherited her father’s artistic talents. Even though being tutored by governesses has long been a tradition in the royal household, Lord Antony Armstrong-Jones chose to be more hands-on with the upbringing of his children. He taught them lessons in arts and crafts.
This proved beneficial for Lady Sarah; she is now an accomplished painter. She is also the current vice president of the Royal Ballet, a post she has held since 2004.
She married actor Daniel Chatto in 1994, with whom she has 2 sons: Samuel David Benedict, and Arthur Robert Nathaniel. Both young Chattos are currently enrolled at the University of Edinburgh.
Though Princess Margaret has lived an outrageous lifestyle as a royal, she is well-remembered for her beauty, wit, and fearlessness. Through her talented children and promising grandchildren, the legacy of this fiery noblewoman lives on.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
