It wasn't in her Will. It was a letter of Wishes, which (IM not a legal expert) hasn't got the force of a Will. she wrote a letter of wishes asking that part of her fortune should be distributed to her godchildren and the SPencer family ignored this, just giving the 17 Godchildren token presents.Really? I never knew this. Which wishes in Diana's will were ignored? And how come they got away with that..without having their heads chopped off by the ultra-loyal Di-brigade...
If true I think the whole idea of a pact that neither would marry after their romance finished was a mad one anyway on Peter and Margaret's behalf. I believe Margaret was in love with Tony Armstrong-Jones but perhaps had doubts about his ability to be faithful, given his lifestyle up till then. Those doubts turned out to be justified, but she was nearly 30 and probably wanted to settle down and have children.
The whole thing was very sad, but given Margaret's temperament and upbringing I do wonder whether, if she had been permitted to marry Peter Townsend, the marriage would have lasted. I just can't see Princess Margaret settling down to a restricted lifestyle in Europe with not much money, relatively speaking, and a husband who was a private citizen.
I have read that Townsend in old age and in an extremely happy second marriage, would refer to those times with a perceptible sense of relief that things had turned out the way they had.
At the time of his father's death I believe Giles Townsend, the elder son from Peter's unhappy first marriage spoke to newspapers implying that his mother Rosemary had been wronged and that she had turned to another man in consolation.
She had become the guilty party in the divorce, it was implied, because it was unthinkable that Princess Margaret could be sued as co-respondent. Giles was about eleven at the time of his parent's divorce and was obviously sympathetic to his mother, Rosemary, who later married twice more. I don't know the truth of any of it, but it's logical, I suppose, that Rosemary may have guessed that her husband, who was away from her for long periods of time as Equerry to the King, was in love with another woman.
Despite their separation, Princess Margaret did not believe she and Antony Armstrong-Jones would divorce. She was surprised when Lord Snowdon asked to dissolve their marriage. Margaret said she would not stand in his way, especially if he wanted to remarry.
I dont beleive she woudl have been happy had she had to give up "royal duties" (such as she did - she was never the most active royal) and to live quietly as the wife of an ordinary man. The RF could have made sure she had enough money to befit her status as an ex royal who had been brought up in luxury, but It would not have been the same as what she would have as a princess and the attention and service she got as a royal. And Im sure she would have been bored and resentful when she didnt have the same status or luxury.If true I think the whole idea of a pact that neither would marry after their romance finished was a mad one anyway on Peter and Margaret's behalf. I bel
I have read that Townsend in old age and in an extremely happy second marriage, would refer to those times with a perceptible sense of relief that things had turned out the way they had.
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Their marriage was not only bad but, if I remember correctly, there was domestic violence involved.
she wuodl not have had to give up her title of princess or HRH. or her place in the succession. however, had she married a divorced man back then it is likely that she would have been taken off the Civil list and not done royal duties, and had to retire into a pirvate life.love with her lfiestyle.
Having to give up the title of Princess, the status of HRH, her Civil List allowance and her place in the line of succession? Not in a million years.
We're talking about the same woman who demanded to have a servant standing next to her at all times during receptions with an ashtray in hand so she didn't have to look for a place to flick her cigarettes.
she wuodl not have had to give up her title of princess or HRH. or her place in the succession. however, had she married a divorced man back then it is likely that she would have been taken off the Civil list and not done royal duties, and had to retire into a pirvate life.
It's very likely that Margaret would have been left some money from her father's will and from Queen Mary's. Also, no doubt her mother and sister would have helped her privately. However, it would have still been a way of life without many of the luxuries she had been used to as a King's daughter.
Margaret was left penniless on King George's death. The bulk of his estate went to the Queen Mother.
That's why she was given a Civil List allowance in 1952, otherwise she would have to live with handouts from her mother and her sister.
On another note, is it true that even Princess Margaret's children had to call her "Your Royal Highness" in public?
I know she would drop friends if they ever failed to address her as Ma'am.
That wouldn't surprise me in the least - public life was still very formal in Britain during Margaret's lifetime and she was very conscious of her place in the family as The Queen's only sibling. It's only been in the past few years that The Queen's grandchildren have Formality still reigns in public.