Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (1930-2002)

[Russophile]

Copy that. I think everybody gave her a lot of leeway, well, except Prince Philip. He's always had a different code to live by.

 

[Vasillisos Markos]

Not only Prince Philip. It seems Queen Mary was not enamored of Margaret's behavior even as a young girl. Maybe she saw a streak of rebellion which would manifest itself as Margaret grew older.

 

[la_noblesse]

Oh we have heard all about it, however NOBODY could cut Royally like Margaret! What a woman!

C'est exact, dear Russophile. What an interesting discussion all of you, Margot has always been my favorite topic!

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

I have a soft spot for Margaret. First I HATE how the media, perhaps its just the British media; constantly put the label of the heir being the good one, and the second child being the bad one. It really angers me at how closeminded it is as well as hurtful to the person being labeled like that.
Party Flirty Princess Margaret
Randy Andy
Wild Red haired drug taking Prince Harry
No wonder the last on that list opened a can of whoop a** on the press. Anyway, not only does Margaret have the unfortunate life of being second best to her sister, but she was also denied marrying the man she loved.

 

[IloveCP]

Margaret was a very beautiful woman.She looks like her mother but has her fathers eyes.

 

[Diarist]

. Didn't Margaret make some comment about her mother being a mere aristocrat whereas Margaret was born a Royal Highness?

I don't know about Princess Margaret havint said this, but interestingly have seen this remark attributed to Princess Michael of Kent but about the Queen Mother: allegedly [and note, I said allegedly, because who really knows whether such a remark was made] when Princess Michael was complaining about the 'unfairness' of Prince Michael NOT being on the Civil List [as it was then - now the Queen reimburses family expenditure], Princess Michael said that both her husband's parents were 'Royal Highnesses', whereas the Queen Mother was only a mere aristocrat'.

I have no way of knowing whether PMK did make such a remark or not, but if she did, then she was in one sense perhaps slighly misled because many Scots maintain their old aristocratic families are far more grander than the BRF!!!!!!

Alex

 

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi,

I do like and admire Princess Michael; she lives her life as she sees fit, remarks and all; but I often wonder if the statements attributed to her are accurate or evn real....

No matter - at the time The Queen Mother was "Her Majesty" and that makes her royal....

Larry

 

[IloveCP]

Here is an interesting story about her:

Scandalous Women: Royal Princess, Royal Scandal - the sad life of Princess Margaret

 

[Bundtrock]

How Did Princess Margaret React To Princess Anne Divorce/Remarriage in 1992?

I remember that it was reported that Princess Margaret was forced to end her relationship with the then divorced Peter Townsend, back in 1955, due to significant considerations of a social and religious nature at that time.

it has been reported in the Mail Online, last updated on November 8, 2009, that the Queen may not have forced her to do so, after all.

Princess Margaret rejected marriage to Townsend 'because she was unsure, not out of duty' | Mail Online

It has crossed my mind that with The Princess Royal both divorcing and remarrying in 1992, that there might have been some ill feelings in the difference of treatment of the two situations on Princess Margaret's part?

Does anyone have any information or opinions that they would like to share on this topic, please?

 

[Zonk]

Is best not to speculate on Margaret's thoughts on the mattter....if anyone has anything to contribute and can cite some sources that would be welcomed.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

All around it is so sad to see such a beautiful and lively woman be destroyed by her station in life as well as her choices.

 

[Iluvbertie]

By 1992 Margaret herself had been divorced so no problems with Anne being divorced.

Her feelings about Anne being able to remarry - well we will probably never know. I don't recall any suggestions that Margaret herself wanted to remarry after her divorce and was denied so the situations aren't comparable.

We could speculate I suppose but...

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

Just finished watching on Youtube a docudrama called The Queen, I believe it was made by the BBC. And in part 5 it is mentioned that those opposed to Prince Charles marrying Camilla were The Queen Mother (of course) and Princess Margaret. I was really surprised about Margaret being opposed to it, does anyone know of why when she was a divorce herself?

 

[Mermaid1962]

Perhaps she had a personal dislike for Camilla? Also, I believe that Princess Margaret was sympathetic to Diana's plight until the 90s.

And in part 5 it is mentioned that those opposed to Prince Charles marrying Camilla were The Queen Mother (of course) and Princess Margaret. I was really surprised about Margaret being opposed to it, does anyone know of why when she was a divorce herself?

 

[IloveCP]

Just heard two most glorious anecdotes about Princess Margaret.

1. Apparantly, Lord Snowdon was bisexual. Some gushing American hostess once asked HRH, "How is the Queen?" to which Margaret replied; "Which one? My sister, my mother or my husband".

2. The last days of the Princess's life were quite hard. She was in constant pain and was truly suffering. She turned not to prayer but to Batman, which she watched on endless videos supplied by ITV and the BBC.

We shall never see her like again.

Batman? Who knew....

 

[IloveCP]

It's been ten years since she died.Here are interesting articles:

The Fabulous Princess Margaret

Princess Margaret: Royal Rocker | The Royal Universe

A very contrary Princess - why did the charming Margaret turn into the most unpopular royal? | Mail Online

 

[Duchessmary]

May she RIP

 

[Artemisia]

From DM article:

One omission from the obituaries on Princess Margaret’s private secretary Lord Napier, who has died aged 81, concerns his crucial role in the fraught conclusion of Margaret’s marriage to Lord Snowdon.
In the summer of 1976, Margaret abruptly announced she was getting divorced while her husband was in Australia with Lucy Lindsay-Hogg. But as Snowdon flew back to Heathrow, Margaret realised he would head to Kensington Palace, where the couple lived with their two children, David and Sarah. The hapless Napier was dispatched to intercept Snowdon. ‘It was extremely delicate,’ says a friend. ‘Napier liked Snowdon and Snowdon liked him. He was faced with telling him to find somewhere else to go. Not a nice thing to have to do.’ Snowdon was diverted to his mother’s apartment in Belgravia and the Queen later bought him a palatial grace-and-favour Kensington house — now worth £12 million.

Richard Kay: Baronet's lady and the handyman | Mail Online

 

[Artemisia]

Princess Margaret told Taylor diamond was vulgar

As Taylor's career faltered, the lack of roles was softened by her ownership of the world's two most famous diamonds and largest pearl. Such feelings are, of course, relative. Many's the woman for whom the pain of leaner years has been lessened by the knowledge she's got a bracelet from Argos.
Among the star's gaudiest items was the vast Elizabeth Taylor diamond. Princess Margaret dared to tell Taylor she thought it vulgar. The actress asked her to try it on. "Not so vulgar now, is it?" she gloated. It'd have served her right if it had been eaten by a Corgi.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

Don't know if there is a thread on her husband, but is it true that Tony A. Jones had his first child with another woman when he was on the path of becoming engaged to Margaret?
Every time I read about Princess Margaret I want to go back and do a "do over" with her. Let her go to school and be educated.

 

[Andrew_Goodchild]

I expect some of you are already aware, but the BBC have released a copy of Margaret's interview with Desert Island Discs from the early 80's. A interesting interview and some interesting choices of music.

Princess Margaret - Desert Island Discs

 

[Artemisia]

Did Mick Jagger have an affair with Princess Margaret? They shared wild parties in London and Mustique and friends said she was smitten. No wonder the Queen is still haunted by the question

At the core of the Queen’s distaste for Jagger was something far more personal: his relationship with her free-spirited younger sister. Time and time again, the monarch had intervened to cover up potentially scandalous revelations that would have linked Princess Margaret with the bad boy of rock. One of these concerned an outrageous party at which drugs were served — and which led to Margaret being rushed to hospital.

 

[Madame Royale]

Margaret was very beautiful, but I get the impression she'd have been a particularly difficult indavidual at the best of times. Rather spoilt and self centred.

Without doubt she knew how to make things difficult for her sister on occasion.

 

[Dman]

Princess Margaret Radio interview - YouTube

 

[Artemisia]

KGB finally admits it bugged the Royal Family by placing listening devices in Princess Margaret's ashtray

Soviet spies have admitted using bugging devices on the Royal Family and former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Secret agents from the KGB targeted Princess Margaret in the 1960s, attaching listening aids to her lighter, cigarette case, ashtrays and telephones. According to the Sunday Express, they homed in on the Princess during a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark in 1964.

Knowing how KGB operated, this doesn't surprise me in the least. In fact, I would be extremely surprised if all senior political figures (royal families included) of all more or less important countries weren't bugged at some point. KGB was very efficient in that respect.

 

[Iluvbertie]

I too am not surprised and I am sure that the RF knew or at least suspected this was happening and took some precautions - just as I hope all senior political figures do today as I believe that there are many agencies with the capability and desire to bug many places.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

How Princess Margaret roughed it with only 4 courses and no caviar | Mail Online

 

[An Ard Ri]

Princess Margaret married the photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey on the 6th of May 1960.


HRH The Princess Margaret's Wedding (1) - YouTube

 

[LadyGabrielle]

So I am curious, what ever happened to the Princess Margarets supposed love child? He was supposedly given permission to see her will or something? Anyone hear what the outcome was?

 

[Valerie Rose]

Dman - thankyou for the link to that radio interview ["Desert Island Discs"] with Princess Margaret, above at post #221 - it was absolutely delightful to hear her speak and to learn a little about her.