Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret – Life, Roles & Legacy
Learn about Princess Margaret (1930–2002) — the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II — her early years, controversies, public service, personal life, style, and lasting influence.
Introduction
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002), was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II.
Often portrayed in the public imagination as the royal who straddled duty and desire, Margaret’s life was marked by glamour, romantic scandal, health struggles, and a keen engagement with the arts and charitable work.
Early Life & Family
Princess Margaret was born at Glamis Castle in Scotland on 21 August 1930, the first royal born in Scotland in over 300 years. Margaret Rose Windsor.
At birth, she was fourth in line to the throne. Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI), and her mother was Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later known as the Queen Mother).
When her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated in December 1936, her father ascended the throne and her sister Elizabeth became heir apparent.
Margaret was educated privately at home (along with Elizabeth) and had early instruction in music, dancing, riding, and languages.
Public Life & Royal Duties
Role & Charitable Patronages
Margaret undertook many public and ceremonial duties as a senior royal. She was patron or president of over 80 organisations, particularly in children’s charities, arts, ballet, and welfare.
She was enthusiastic about music and ballet, and in 1957 became the first President of the Royal Ballet (with her sister the Queen as Patron).
Margaret made numerous foreign tours representing the Crown, including to the Caribbean, Africa, Australia, Canada, Japan, and China.
“Margaret Set” & Public Image
From youth, Margaret’s social life attracted intense media attention. In the 1950s, she and her circle of young aristocrats and socialites became known as the “Margaret Set”, celebrated for glamour, nightlife, and youthful rebellion.
Her style was also influential: she cultivated a striking fashion sense, often engaging with designers (notably Christian Dior) and was regarded as a fashion icon of her time.
The Peter Townsend Affair & Marriage
One of the most well-known episodes of Margaret’s life was her romance with Group Captain Peter Townsend, a divorced RAF officer and former equerry to her father.
After considerable pressure, Margaret issued a public statement in October 1955 announcing she would not marry Townsend.
Later, Margaret met Antony Armstrong-Jones (Lord Snowdon). They married on 6 May 1960, and she became Countess of Snowdon. David, Viscount Linley (born 1961) and Lady Sarah Chatto (born 1964).
The marriage was troubled, with both partners engaging in extramarital affairs. They separated in 1976 and divorced in 1978. Margaret did not remarry.
Health Struggles & Later Years
Margaret was a heavy smoker most of her adult life, and her health deteriorated over the years.
From 1998 to 2001 she experienced multiple strokes, and her mobility and faculties declined. 9 February 2002 in London, aged 71.
Personality, Strengths & Contradictions
Margaret was often described as witty, impulsive, glamorous, and intellectually sharp, but she also struggled with the constraints of royal duty and media scrutiny.
Gore Vidal once remarked she was “far too intelligent for her station in life,” reflecting how she frequently chafed against expectations.
Her relationships, her resistance to purely ceremonial roles, and her pursuit of art and culture marked her as one of the more dynamic and controversial royals of the 20th century.
Legacy & Cultural Impact
-
Margaret’s life has been portrayed dramatized in popular culture (for instance in The Crown) and remains a subject of fascination.
-
Her fashion and style influence persists, and exhibitions of her wardrobe and jewelry have been mounted in royal and cultural institutions.
-
She drew attention to the limits placed on royal women, and her story often is invoked in discussions of duty vs personal desire in monarchy.
A recently reported (controversial) claim in a forthcoming biography suggests she may have suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome due to her mother’s drinking during pregnancy, which the author speculates contributed to mood swings and other traits — though this is speculative and not broadly accepted.