Princess Margaret: Her Life In Pictures In Memoriam

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was born on August 21st, 1930 to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The gorgeous Margaret was the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II.
Her presence in the Royal family kept things exciting and fresh and her romantic life sparked major change in Royal traditions.

The Princess had her whole world turned upside down when her uncle King Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorced American socialite. Because Edward abdicated, suddenly Margaret's father George VI became king and her elder sister Elizabeth became next in line to inherit the throne.

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Her father's sudden change from Duke to King spurred an entire lifestyle change for Margaret who was moved with her sister into Buckingham Palace. Margaret's room even overlooked the Mall!

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Margaret and her sister we always very close, often partaking in plays and meals together, both thrown into public scrutiny suddenly.

Princess Margaret was known to be the life of parties, having perfected her piano playing and singing skills. King George famously said of his daughters "Elizabeth is my pride, Margaret is my joy."

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Princess Margaret had met Royal Air Force Officer, handsome Peter Townsend, who served as her father's Equerry and became her mother's Comptroller. It was clear Margaret was smitten with the decorated pilot as the two were seen together quite often and at her sister's wedding to Prince Philip.

Unfortunately, because Peter was divorced, she would need permission from the Queen to marry because the Church of England would not recognize a marriage after divorce. He had proposed to her but many were afraid their marriage would look bad for the Royal family. Even Winston Churchill who was once encouraging of the union gave in to the pressures of tradition and recommended the Queen to not allow the marriage to take place. The Queen even started a process to amend the Royal Marriages Act so her sister could be happy.

Unfortunately, the pressures were too much for Margaret who issued a statement on October 31st, 1955 saying "I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend. I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage. But mindful of the Church's teachings that Christian marriage is indissoluble and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before others."

Princess Margaret had continued to do her best to keep her public image, but also grew a huge fan base because of her independent actions. She was more openly playful, smoke cigarettes in public when it was still illegal for women to do so, and inspired thousands with her fashion style.

Princess Margaret met Anthony Armstrong-Jones in 1958 at a dinner party and the two became engaged the following year. Reportedly, she accepted the day after her former flame Peter Townsend told her he was going to marry Marie-Luce Jamagne. Margaret and Armstrong-Jones had done a great job of hiding their romance so the tabloids were shocked when they announced their engagement.

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Anthony Armstrong-Jones and Princess Margaret married on May 6th, 1960 at Westminster Abbey. Their wedding was the very first to be broadcast on television!