Princess Margaret – the other spare heir
To mark 20 years since her passing, we take a look at the wild life of the Queen’s younger sister
Before Prince Harry, there was another spare heir struggling with their place in the palace. Princess Margaret, who died 20 years ago, was, like Harry, never out of the headlines. Kerry wrote about her life for The Sunday Telegraph. Here’s an extract:
“To many people, Princess Margaret was the black sheep of her generation of royals. But that reputation did not necessarily trouble her,” read her obituary in the New York Times, after she passed away aged 71 on February 9, 2002. After all, she once reportedly said, “Disobedience is my joy.”
But while Harry broke free of royal restraints, Margaret, when faced with the choice of giving up her title to marry the man of her choice, chose to stay.
Margaret’s love for royal equerry Group Captain Peter Townsend, was revealed when she was spotted brushing the fluff off his shoulder at her sister’s coronation in 1953. The newspapers were abuzz with the romance, but like Meghan Markle, Peter was divorced. Unlike in 2018 when Harry wed Meghan, it was seen as scandalous.
In 1955, the Queen informed Margaret the government said in order to marry Peter, she must renounce her title. She “laid herself on the altar of duty in the best traditions of her family,” said royal biographer Robert Lacey.
Margaret was born on August 21, 1930, at Glamis Castle, the second daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York. She and Elizabeth were famous princesses of the day – the public couldn’t get enough of the pretty identically-dressed pair.
“When my sister and I were growing up, she was made out to be the goody-goody one,” Margaret later told author Andrew Duncan. “That was boring, so the press tried to make out that I was wicked as hell.”
They spent the war together at Windsor Castle – Margaret said, “we packed for the weekend and stayed for five years,” – and famously enjoyed a night of anonymity when they broke out of Buckingham Palace and joined the crowds during V.E. celebrations.
But being anonymous was never something that appealed to Margaret, a great beauty. Her 21st birthday portrait by Cecil Beaton, resplendent in her Dior gown, looks straight out of a fairy-tale.
But she was legendary for her imperious and often appalling behaviour. When she met Twiggy, the model introduced herself saying, “I’m Lesley Hornby, ma’am, but people call me Twiggy,” to which she replied, “How unfortunate,” before turning her back.
Margaret was determined to do things her way – she bought her own tiara she wore at her wedding to photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960. The Poltimore Tiara proved the better investment, as the marriage ended in divorce in 1978. As her marriage crumbled, she took lovers, including Roddy Llewellyn, 17 years her junior, whom she was snapped with at her villa in Mustique. It caused a sensation, as did her divorce. Roddy later said he had simply “followed his heart.”
But eventually, her love of drinking and smoking took its toll. Margaret’s health began to decline and by 2002 she was wheelchair-bound. Following a series of strokes, three days after the Queen’s golden anniversary of her accession, she died with her children, Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto, at her side.
The Queen heads to Sandringham
The Queen has travelled to Sandringham, where she is traditionally based for the anniversary of her accession. February 6 marks 70 years since the Queen took the throne, but also, of course, the date her beloved father King George VI died at Sandringham. Usually, the Queen spends Christmas there and stays until February 6, but she was not able to do so this year because of Covid.
She will base herself in Wood Farm on the estate - a modest property, near the sea and Norfolk village of Wolferton - a favourite bolt-hole for the family. It was here Prince Philip chose to spend his retirement, showing you can have all the palaces in the world, but nothing compares to cosy comfort.
Catherine’s eye on the tiger
It’s not always easy pulling off wearing animal-print, unless you are Carole Baskin, but the Duchess of Cambridge was pure Tiger Queen on Wednesday, in a leopard-print dress by Derek Lam. She teamed the dress, currently on sale for £255, with a black belt and Ralph Lauren suede boots. She was visiting mental health service Shout 85258, where she spoke to volunteers.
On Thursday, Prince William revealed some parenting secrets when he told game designers at Bafta that Prince George loves playing computer games, but he and Catherine have to “regulate screen time” for their children. “At the moment it’s trying to regulate the gaming… monitoring screen time,” he said.
Andrew wants a trial
In news that will probably prove a trial to the rest of the Royal Family, Prince Andrew is continuing his fight against sexual abuse allegations made by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, on Wednesday issuing a 73-point rebuttal to the civil case and demanding a jury trial to defend himself. “Prince Andrew hereby demands a trial by jury on all causes of action asserted in the complaint,” it states.
The next stage would be for the Duke of York to undergo a lengthy deposition by lawyer David Boies, in London. It is understood a date has been given for this. According to the Telegraph, senior members of the Royal Family have urged Andrew to settle the case, but he has told friends he is determined to prove his innocence.
Camilla’s murder mystery
We love the Duchess of Cornwall’s book club. Her first pick of the year is Magpie Murders, by Anthony Horowitz, a classic whodunnit, also about to appear on-screen with Lesley Manville and Alan Conway. The series streams on BritBox UK February 10. The author shared his secrets with the duchess on The Reading Room Insta, here.
Her next pick is Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell, which is a Royal List fave!