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Childhood
Princess Margaret was born August at Glamis Castle, in Scotland. She was youngest daughter George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The princess was christened in the chapel at Buckingham Palace. Her godfather became Edward VIII, and godmother Ingrid, nee Princess of Sweden, Queen of Denmark a few years later. In 1936, her uncle Edward VIII abdicated and Margaret's father became king. Throughout her childhood, she was brought up with her sister by her mentors. During World War II, Margaret remains at Windsor Palace despite numerous bombings in London.
Love
Wedding
Life
Margaret, nicknamed the "rebellious princess" because of her scandalous behavior, she becomes a regular in London clubs and willingly appears in the company of rockers, with a glass of alcohol and a long mouthpiece in her hand. Since the eighties, she has had serious health problems. The press claims that she smokes up to 60 cigarettes a day and is addicted to gin.
In 2002, Margaret dies of apoplexy.
In , a daring film comes out, " Princess Margaret, a love story”, about the life of the Princess, describing all the rumors that circulated about her during her lifetime: drug use, promiscuity with men and even women.
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Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister, Princess Margaret Rose, was born on August 21, 1930 at Glamis Castle in Scotland. The future Countess of Snowdon from the Windsor royal family will live to be 71 years old and will die of a stroke on February 9, 2009. Like the understudies of space crews, her destiny was to always remain in the queen's shadow.
Both sisters were born on the 21st, four years apart. Only the eldest Elizabeth - in April, and the youngest Margaret - in August. As children, their parents raised them together, and the girls were friendly. Margaret's life changed dramatically in December 1936 when King Edward VIII abdicated due to his morganatic marriage to Bessie Wallis Warfield. His brother George VI, the father of Elizabeth and Margaret, becomes king.
Contemporaries of Her Royal Highness believed that Margaret was spoiled by her parents, especially her father, who allowed her liberties that are usually not allowed for a 13-year-old teenager of royal blood, such as staying up until dinner. King George spoke of Elizabeth as his pride and Margaret as his joy.
During the Second World War, the sisters, despite the bombing of London, remained at Windsor Palace and did not leave for Canada. Margaret was considered too young to entrust her with any business. The teenager continued to learn lessons and improve in singing and playing the piano. In 1950, former royal governess Marion Crawford published biographies of Elizabeth and Margaret. In a book called The Little Princesses, she described Margaret's "light-hearted antics" and her "funny and outrageous ... antics." The royal family was appalled by what they considered Crawford's unceremonious intrusion into their private lives and breach of trust, as a result, people close to the monarch ostracized Bonn.
Fifty-six-year-old George VI died suddenly on February 6, 1952. Margaret was heartbroken and doctors put her on sedatives for insomnia. By that time, her longtime acquaintance Peter Townsend had been appointed Comptroller of the Household of her mother's court and offered her hand and heart to the sister of the Queen of England. He was 16 years older than Margaret and had two children from a previous marriage. Under the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, this required the consent of the Queen. In addition, in 1936 Anglican Church refused to register a remarriage for divorced. After several years of romance, Margaret publicly announces her breakup with Peter "in view of duties to her country".
And before that eccentric, Margaret set off in all serious ways. Among her many fans were, according to rumors, Billy Wallace (Billy Wallace), Scottish aristocrat Colin Tennant (Colin Tennant) and John Turner (John Turner), later Prime Minister of Canada. On May 6, 1960, Margaret married her one-year-old, English photographer and director Anthony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, who received the title of the first Earl of Snowdon due to this. Armstrong-Jones invented the electric wheelchair, for which in 1971 he received patent number 1230619 ("Mobile aids for people with disabilities").
Margaret's circle of acquaintances expanded. In addition to aristocrats, she began to communicate with bohemians and representatives of big business. Her responsibilities included charitable work. The Earl and Countess of Snowdon loved to experiment with fashion styles. In this marriage, Margaret gave birth to a son and a daughter. Both children, at her request, were born by caesarean section. David, Viscount Linley was born November 3, 1961. Lady Sarah - 1 May 1964 The marriage lasted 16 years and all this time was on the verge of collapse, as the media constantly wrote about. The scandals were accompanied by drinking, drug use and adultery. On July 11, 1978, the couple divorced. The reason could be Anthony's bisexuality.
Princess Margaret is the subject of many books in her homeland, her biographies are published, which, as a rule, are not translated into other languages. Quite a lot of both documentary and feature films are being shot about her life. In them, Princess Margaret is presented at different ages and in different episodes. In the 2010 Oscar-winning film The King's Speech! (The King's Speech) the role of little Princess Margaret was played by eight-year-old English actress Ramona Marquez. In the melodrama A Royal Night Out, released in 2015, the teenager Margaret was played by actress Bel Powley .
The princess started smoking at the age of 15. On January 5, 1985, part of her left lung was removed. Margaret quit smoking in 1991, but continued to suffer from binges. In 1993, she was hospitalized with a diagnosis of pneumonia. In early 1999, as a result of an accident in the bathroom, the princess suffered severe burns on both legs. I had to transfer to a wheelchair. Princess Margaret died at the King Edward VII Hospital in London. The farewell ceremony took place on February 15, 2002, exactly on the 50th anniversary of her father's funeral. Unlike most other members of the Windsor royal family, Princess Margaret's body was cremated and her ashes were placed in her parents' grave.
This is exactly what happened with Princess Margaret, the younger sister of the British Queen Elizabeth II. Despite the splendor and luxury of her existence, the "reserve princess" has always suffered from loneliness. Faktrum publishes a selection of facts from the biography of the princess.
1. In the early years of their lives, the sisters were very close. But when, due to the abdication of their uncle Edward VIII, their parents had to ascend the throne, the girls' lives changed dramatically. There was a spirit of rivalry between the sisters. Elizabeth was destined to become queen, so she began endless lessons on the structure of a constitutional monarchy. Margaret remained out of work.
Photo source: Kulturologia.ru
2. The real shock for the princess was the death of her father, King George VI, at the age of 56. The mother suddenly moved away from everyone, wearing mourning, Elizabeth II was swallowed up by royal obligations, and the 21-year-old Princess Margaret felt that no one needed her.
3. The first scandal associated with the name of the princess happened in 1953. On June 2, during the coronation of Elizabeth II, Margaret had the imprudence to brush off the ashes from the uniform of Captain Peter Townsend. The press regarded this gesture as meaningful and defiant.
In fact, the relationship between them lasted for many years. The princess wanted to marry the captain, but he was divorced and had two children. The sister, the archbishop and parliament opposed such a statement, since the royal person did not have the right to marry a divorced person. Margaret was given an ultimatum: in the event of marriage with Captain Townsend, she was deprived of all royal privileges and life support.
Two years later, Princess Margaret appeared on television and publicly abandoned her intention to marry the captain, citing her obligations to her country.
4. After that, Margaret became embittered and decided that now the whole point of her life would be fun. She began to drink and lead a wild life. Her behavior in in public places became extraordinary: the days began with the fulfillment of royal obligations at endless receptions, trips to the theater, and ended invariably in nightclubs.
5. Despite the intolerable character, Princess Margaret was gladly received in any establishments. She was attractive: marble skin, thin waist, sensual mouth. Every outfit in which she appeared was immediately printed in magazines, and then copied by fashionistas.
6. The princess flirted with the most famous beauties of the time. She was not offended by jokes with obvious overtones. The princess declared: if one sister is a queen, a manifestation of goodness, then the second is destined to be the embodiment of evil and corruption - the queen of the night.
7. Despite numerous romances, no one suited Margaret's status as a groom. This was very depressing for the girl. In 1959, photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones asked for the hand of the 29-year-old princess. This led to yet another resonance, as the last time a royal married a commoner was 450 years ago. Queen Elizabeth II nevertheless agreed to the marriage, wishing her sister female happiness.
8. Unfortunately, this relationship did not bring the princess the desired peace, and after 18 years of marriage, she filed for divorce. From this marriage, Margaret had two children: David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, born November 3, 1961, and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, born May 1, 1964.
9. Margaret was nicknamed the "rebel princess" because of her scandalous behavior: she was a regular in London clubs and willingly appeared in the company of rockers, with a glass of alcohol and a long mouthpiece in her hand. Since the eighties, she has had serious health problems. The press claims that she smokes up to 60 cigarettes a day and is addicted to gin.
10. Last years Margaret were deeply tragic. As a result of an accident where she scalded her legs, the princess was confined to a wheelchair. She died on February 9, 2002 from a stroke.
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City under one roof
The brilliant life of Margaret Rose of the House of Windsor was like a supernova, but what a beautiful flash it was. She was born on the night of the perfect storm and was her father's favorite daughter. Then he was not yet a king, or even an heir to the first line. And Margaret grew up as the youngest, but no less significant child in the life of her parents. And then a lot of things happened at once: the abdication of Uncle Edward from the throne for the American Wallis, the coronation of her father, George VI, and, worst of all, the sudden realization that she would always have to be the shadow of her older sister - the crown princess now and the queen in the future. Walking slightly behind Elizabeth, and not holding hands, as before, taking bows after her ... To her credit, she never envied Elizabeth, she was oppressed only by the role of her sister's "train". And Margaret decided: if she cannot become a queen, then she will be a royal star.
Drawing attention to herself was not a problem for the princess - she was incredibly pretty, in her own way Audrey Hepburn (with whom they were almost the same age), but only more interesting, because of royal blood. At the age of 18, she was already actively interested in fashion and chose clothes based on her own preferences. And at the age of 21 she was already the main guest of all London shows of French couturiers. Christian Dior put on a show for Princess Margaret, and she showed New Look style on the covers of magazines and paraded in the most fashionable styles of outfits at official events in which she was obliged to take part as the daughter of a king.
She was not yet 22 when her father suddenly died, the only person who understood her feelings - the feelings of a “spare”, because he himself lived in this status most of his life. From that moment on, an unbridgeable gulf formed between her and Elizabeth. Life in Buckingham Palace was over - according to tradition, it became the home new queen, Elizabeth hurried to move her mother to Clarence House. And along with her, her younger sister was sent there.
It is said that it was then that an affair began between the princess and Captain Peter Townsend, the head stable of the late king. But perhaps it all started much earlier. They had known each other for many years, he taught her how to ride, took her on horseback rides, looked after her safety on trips, and the fact that Margaret once saw in this handsome mature man more than a friend is not at all surprising. They gave themselves away by chance - at one of the events, Margaret, on impulse, brushed a speck of dust from his clothes, and reporters noticed this. It was not difficult to pull the string and unwind the ball: the 22-year-old sister of the Queen is in love with the groom! It is difficult to imagine a more unfortunate set of circumstances in the biography of the chosen one of the princess: a commoner, divorced, two children, 16 years older. Only one thing saved from immediate booing - in the past, Colonel Royal Air Force Townsend was a World War II hero.
For three years, the whole of Great Britain, and after it the whole world, with undisguised and ruthless attention, watched the development of relations between the princess of the blood and the commoner. It was a difficult period in Margaret's life. Peter was sent "in exile" (as he himself described it) - to serve outside the country. Margaret plunged headlong into royal duties: travel around the country and beyond - to the former British colonies. Invariably brilliant, dressed in the latest fashion, she was one of the most photographed women of royal blood (later this title will pass to Diana). She put herself under the cameras - for him, so that he, being far from her, could see how beautiful she was, and how true to his love. At that time, whoever revolved around the English rose, but she was indifferent to courtship, she was waiting for her to turn 25.
Peter was divorced, and the Church, which was headed by elder sister, such a marriage did not approve. But at 25, Margaret could already disobey. To do this, it was only necessary ... to renounce his family and give up titles. However, she was bluntly told that her act could be the beginning of a new crisis of the monarchy, and the British monarchy could not survive the second shock to its foundations in 20 years. When you are only 25, and not only your family, but the whole society is pressing on you, and the press rinses your name, calling you a traitor to the memory of your father, it is difficult to make the right choice.
The denouement took place at the end of 1955. Margaret and Peter spent the last weekend before the decision was made together. They were even photographed by the paparazzi - her leaving the house, and him - doomedly standing at open door looking after her. As it turned out decades later, on that last evening, Margaret and Peter swore to each other that they would not connect their lives with someone else, since they were not destined to be together. A couple of days later, the princess spoke to the people, announcing that she was forever abandoning the idea of \u200b\u200bmarrying Captain Peter Townsend. The kingdom breathed a sigh of relief. And the star Margaret began her journey towards sunset.
“But is she really grieving?” - The rhetoric of the newspapers changed dramatically the morning after Margaret's speech. Those who only yesterday urged the princess to remember a duty that is higher than personal aspirations, now that she heard them, slandered her: “Well, of course, the privileges for a spoiled girl turned out to be more important than the love of a commoner.” Margaret endured these mockeries stoically. But she didn't forgive anyone. For example, the day when the queen and her husband gave an official festive reception in honor of the 10th anniversary of their marriage, Margaret chose to spend with a friend in the theater, having shown up only late in the evening and had not been at the celebration for even an hour. So she took revenge on her sister for her broken dreams of happiness.
Background. Over the weekend, I bought this book on the "flea market" and, taking the opportunity, scanned it. You can find a lot of photos of the princess on the net, among them a lot of great pictures, but I decided to post only those that the royal family selected for this publication. Apparently it was these pictures that they considered necessary for this moment.
Princess Margaret Rose (Eng. Margaret Rose; August 21, 1930 - February 9, 2002) was born on August 21, 1930 at Glamis Castle, in Scotland. She was the youngest daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The princess was christened in the chapel of Buckingham Palace. Her godfather was her father's older brother, the future Edward VIII, and her godmother was Ingrid, nee Princess of Sweden, Queen of Denmark a few years later.
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret
1935
Princess Margaret is five years old and attends the wedding of her uncle the Duke of Gloucester to Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott. Before that, there were persistent rumors that Margaret was deaf and mute, which dispelled only the first public speaking at the wedding
1936
In 1936, her uncle Edward VIII abdicates to marry an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, and Margaret's father becomes king.
1937
May 12, 1937 Margaret attends the coronation of her father George VI
1938
Princess Margaret and her mother aboard the Victoria and Albert
1939
The King and Queen return from a trip to Canada in July and Margaret is celebrating her ninth birthday. Then there was the war...
1940
All that year, the sisters remained at Windsor Castle despite government pressure to evacuate to Canada. Lord Hailsham demanded that Prime Minister Winston Churchill evacuate the princesses to Canada, but their mother responded with the famous phrase: “The children will not go without me. I will not leave the king alone. And the king will never leave England."
1941
Princess Margaret in the garden on a May day
1942
Princess Margaret becomes a member of the Kingfisher patrol. Her uncle and godfather Prince Georg dies in a plane crash
1943
Thirteen-year-old Princess Margaret as "Princess Roxanne" in the Christmas pantomime "Aladdin" staged at Windsor Palace.
1944
This year, Princess Margaret made her first public speech during the Royal Windsor Races and attended a ball at Buckingham Palace for the first time.
1945
She celebrates VE Day and appears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her family and Prime Minister Winston Churchill
1946
This year, she participates in all social events from the victory day celebration to the opening ceremony of the Marine Rally.
1947
This year, Princess Margaret and the rest of the royal family took a ship to the coast of South Africa.
1948
The year of her parents' silver wedding, Margaret turned 18. Unfortunately, the planned trip to Australia and New Zealand was delayed due to the king's deteriorating health.
1949
At the end of April, the princess went on her first European trip. She visited the island of Capri and Naples, Sorrento, Rome, Florence, Venice, Siena and other famous Italian cities. Two days in Switzerland and four in Paris completed her "big tour"
1950
This year, for the first time, Princess Margaret took an active part in haute couture events and participated in all official receptions on the occasion of the arrival of distinguished guests.
1951
This year passed under the sign of continuing active social activities and in cases related to the management of the strange due to the ongoing illness of his father. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and had major operation. Margaret was appointed one of the state councillors.
1952
In February, her father died and her sister Elizabeth ascended the throne.
1953
Queen Mary died this year. Princess Margaret meets Captain Peter Townsend. Although not a noble, Peter is a member of the Royal air force Great Britain. Thus, he is admitted to Buckingham Palace and within the royal family. Meanwhile, he is divorced and has children, which makes the project of marriage with Princess Margaret impossible: the Anglican Church, royal traditions forbid marriage with a divorced person
1954
The Princess continues to carry out public errands and visits British troops in Germany. She also participates in official events on the occasion of the visit of the King and Queen of Sweden.
1955
Princess Margaret publicly announces her separation from Peter "in view of duties towards her country". Her trip aboard the ship "Britain" to the British colonies of the Caribbean created a sensation throughout the West Indies.
1956
This year the princess traveled to East Africa
1957
In the photo, Princess Margaret participates in the laying of the foundation of the new church of St. Mary in London
1958
This year was marked by regular official visits to numerous countries of the world
1959
Princess Margaret remains immersed in social life, but finds time to meet Anthony Armstrong-Jones, a photographer, a descendant of a small Welsh noble family, who received the title of Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley. They met in the summer of 1958 at a relative's wedding, and in the fall they danced at the Halloween ball at the Dorchester Hotel. In December 1959, Armstrong-Jones asked Elizabeth II for Margaret's hand in marriage.
1960
On May 6, 1960, life in England stopped - on TV from Westminster Abbey the wedding was broadcast, which was watched by another 300 million people. With a bouquet of orchids, Norman Hartnell's deep V-neck silk gown with pearl beads, and a veil held by a diamond Poltimore Tiara from the Queen Victoria collection, the bride was, as the newspapers wrote, "a masterpiece of style and hairdressing."
She was accompanied by eight friends and her beloved nephew, little Prince Charles, dressed in a traditional Scottish kilt. The young couple spent their honeymoon riding the royal yacht Britannia around the Caribbean. Margaret Colin Tennant's friend Lord Glenconnor showed her Mustic Island, which he purchased in 1958. And when the princess could not hide her admiration, the lord gave her four hectares of this paradise land as a wedding gift. In London, the princess and her husband were given Kensington Palace to live in.
The first public appearance of the newlyweds in public
This concludes the holiday almanac, but at the end of the holidays there were, alas, a lot of other things. Here is what they write about the princess on the Internet (not the best article, in the spirit of a "caravan of stories", but oh well)
“In May 1961, Margaret's pregnancy was officially announced, and in October, a month before the birth of their first child, David, Armstrong-Jones was awarded the title of Earl of Snowdon.
With the advent of her son, Margaret's life almost did not change, only her circle changed - now there are almost no aristocrats left in it, they were replaced by bohemia: an aspiring actress, the future "Bond girl", Swedish Britt Ekland, her husband, comedian Peter Sellers, dancers Rudolf Nureyev and Margo Fontaine, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, writer Edna O'Brien, hairdresser and stylist Vidal Sassoon, designer, miniskirt maker Mary Quant and hippy chic inspiration, Thea Porter, whose bright oriental robes are worn by Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins...
It was a happy time - as if the strict world of her past, with bitter experiences and a failed relationship with Captain Townsend, retreated into the shadows, and gave way to the world of fashion, style and the art of living. In Hollywood, the couple had breakfast with Frank Sinatra, chatted with Gregory Peck, the princess tested her spell on Paul Newman. In those golden days there were many parties - in Sardinia, the Costa Esmeralda and St. Tropez. There, Margaret looked younger, sexier, happier than ever ... In May 1964, the Snowdons had a daughter, Sarah. Her godfather was Snowdon's Cambridge friend Anthony Burton, who was permanently residing in Bordeaux.
Almost every week, Margaret opened exhibitions, auctions, charity concerts, horse races, went on official visits, was present as a representative of the royal house at weddings, christenings and funerals, visited the colonies and Commonwealth countries on official visits. Snowdon was far from being assigned the main role in this highest protocol.
The princess's servants did not accept Anthony Armstrong-Jones for a long time, believing that the hostess's marriage to some photographer "with a dog's face and in frayed jeans" was a monstrous misalliance. Every morning the maid, who had served Margaret since childhood, entered the couple's bedroom with breakfast. And each time on the tray she had only one cup of coffee and only one glass orange juice- for Margaret. And Anthony complained to the dregs that he was being treated as if he had been picked up in the gutter.
The summer of 1965 was the last happy vacation that Anthony and Margaret spent together.
In 1966, while Snowdon was in India, she began an affair with Anthony Barton, who at that time finally settled in Bordeaux and began, with the help of an uncle, to manage the two family estates of Leoville-Barton and Langoa-Barton. Snowdon this double cheating- friend and wife - very upset. And she fell in love with a gentleman winemaker so much that she even confessed her feelings on the phone to Burton's wife Eva. But then both marriages were saved.
In the late 60s, Margaret and Lord Snowdon barely spoke to each other. On her 39th birthday in 1969, the Snowdons began to bicker loudly in a nightclub. He, having lost his temper, in the presence of guests began to put out cigarettes on her evening dress. “I have never seen someone congratulate the birthday girl like that,” American writer Gore Vidal commented on this scene without hiding sarcasm. The photographer left notes on the table, one of which was titled "Twenty Reasons I Hate You." Friends said that the spouses "exchange insults like shots." These scenes were reminiscent of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
In the early 70s they living together went downhill, Margaret's style also changed. The retro style that adorned her so much in the late 50s has waned. She looked squat in casual tweed suits, neither mini-skirts nor ethnic outfits suited her, and the famous shirt dresses of the 70s sat on her baggy.
In high-platform shoes, with luxurious family jewelry that clearly did not fit a strict suit, and an invariable miniature handbag, which she did not let go even when she met guests, she gradually became an anachronism. (An American journalist once quipped, "Who is that walking around the house with a wallet?") In those years, she rarely left the ranks of the most tastelessly dressed celebrities. In the list compiled by the American critic Robert Blackwell, she was invariably given a special place: he called her “an ugly waitress from a roadside cafe of the 1950s”, then “a chaos of glamorous brands”, then “the curse of world fashion”. He called her 1973 wardrobe the pinnacle of bad taste, commenting that the sight of Margaret "makes Londoners wish there was no more fog in their city." She was number one on Blackwell's list that year.
Her love of whiskey was already legendary. For breakfast, she appeared with the same glass of Famous Grouse. During official visits, a specially assigned waiter with an ashtray followed her from room to room. Friends under various pretexts rejected her invitations to Kensington Palace, "because she will drink, and we will be stuck there until the evening."
The only place where Margaret felt safe was Mustik Island. All the years of marriage and many years after the divorce, Lord Snowdon could not hear either the name of Colin Tennant or the name of the island: after all, only Margaret was given as a wedding gift Mustik!
In 1972, theater designer Olivier Messel built a 10-room coral-colored bungalow for Margaret with access to an isolated bay. A new villa with a swimming pool, terraces, stunning views of the Caribbean Sea and the Grenadines Islands was named Les Jolies Eaux "Wonderful Waters". This house she called "the only real home on earth and the best haven outside of London." In addition, far from the paparazzi, she could organize any, the most informal and unrestricted parties. Private concerts with Elton John and Mick Jagger, dinners with champagne, caviar and lobsters, and her invariable gin and tonic were on everyone's lips in those years. Margaret didn't seem to care. public opinion. “We need to meet with young people - the rest of the applicants are either busy or have died long ago,” Margaret liked to say in those years.
In September 1973, at the estate of her old friend Colin Tennant, the Princess met Roderick, "Roddy" Llewellyn, in Scotland. The long-haired hippie turned out to be 17 years younger than her, and, of course, was without certain occupations. Upon discovering that the young man had arrived undressed for a swim in the warm pool, the Queen's sister took the young man to the store and chose British flag-colored swimming trunks for him. The next day they were seen in the vicinity of Glasgow - she bought him a sweater. Journalists spread the sensation all over the world, but this news looked so absurd that they simply refused to believe it then! Llewellyn and Margaret vacationed together on the Mystique in 1974, where they attended a week-long 50th birthday party for Colin Tennant. The culmination of the evening was a performance by Mick Jagger and a special "golden reception", to which the tanned princess appeared draped in gold brocade.
Two years later, in 1976, the Sunday Times published photographs of the bikini-clad princess in the arms of her young lover on Mustica. These pictures again immediately flew around the world. And when the enraged Anthony Armstrong-Jones demanded an official retraction, the princess's personal household secretary advised him not to be ridiculous, because his wife's relationship with Luvellin had been going on for quite some time. The princess was informed by phone that the frenzied Lord Snowdon had finally left her house. She was still on her island. Her reaction was calm: “He left? All the better. This is the best news you have ever given me,” she told her secretary.
In March 1976, it was officially announced that the couple would live separately - with the corresponding remark from Queen Elizabeth II that "she is very sorry about what happened." In the newspapers, Margaret was called "expensive", "scandalous", "extravagant" and "useless". In 1978, the Snowdons divorced - this was the first divorce in the English royal family in 400 years since the time of Henry VIII. She spent the next years between London and Mustique, living on the island like a shipwrecked Robinson who lost everything he had ever had. AT free time she swam in the sea, lay in a sun lounger, solving crosswords in The Times. Roddy constantly visited her Caribbean villa, who from time to time helped the neighbors to landscape their bungalows. The press called the princess "tedious", "spoiled", "lounging" and "irritable". Elizabeth II excluded her from the number of guests of honor and refused to pay the annual 219 thousand pounds laid down for the maintenance of a member of the royal house. In the year of her 50th birthday, Roddy Llewellyn announced his engagement to a fashion dressmaker. But it seems that this fact did not upset Margaret: “If his engagement hadn’t happened, I would have been stuck in this story for a long time.”
She was increasingly sick, complained of feeling unwell, while not parting with either cigarettes (in those years she smoked 60 cigarettes a day) or Famous Grouse whiskey.
In Los Angeles, she met the Queen of Hollywood, Elizabeth Taylor. Having seen the Krupp diamond on her hand, weighing 33.19 carats, she did not hesitate to call it vulgar. Taylor restrained herself and with a fake smile suggested that Margaret try on the ring. And when the princess could not hide her admiration, the queen of Hollywood triumphantly said: “Now that it is on your arm, it doesn’t look so vulgar anymore, does it?”
The press called Margaret "inattentive" and "insensitive". Even close friends complained that sometimes she behaved with people as if she said - "there is no need to be nice to these people, they are just subjects of my sister." She could not forget that she had once been second in line to the throne, always with the shadow of a queen in her speech and demeanor.
In 1985, Margaret underwent lung surgery. The doctors were truly alarmed, they knew that four monarchs - Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII and the princess's own father, George VI - had died of smoking-related illnesses. But even the operation did not force Margaret to part with the lighter.
In 1991, her health began to decline dramatically. Her loneliness became habitual and boring - she more and more went into the shadows. Cynical, dissatisfied with nothing and never satisfied, by the end of her life she was known more as Prince Charlie's favorite aunt - the always grumbling "Charley's aunt", an aging, far from paramount character of the royal family, eleventh in line for the throne, a "monster" and " rude."
In 1999, Les Jolies Eaux was sold by Margaret's son David Lynley for £1 million. Margaret from this news struck the first stroke. The alcohol was done away with, two thousand cigarettes were returned to the suppliers, and Margaret never used the lighter again. Wanting to cheer up her sister, Elizabeth invited her to the theater, which she always loved, but Margaret unexpectedly refused. It was then that the queen said: "It seems that my sister has lost interest in life." In March 2001, Margaret suddenly stopped seeing objects. At the celebration of the 101st birthday of the Queen Mother, she appeared in a wheelchair with a swollen face, which was covered by large dark glasses.
On the first day of the new year 2002, Elizabeth II canceled her daily ritual of riding a horse and came to sit with her sister. Things seem to be on the mend...
But another blow soon followed. On the morning of February 9, 2002, Princess Margaret died in her sleep, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. When her coffin, covered with a blue and purple cloth with white lilies, was taken out of the hospital, a few terist onlookers asked: “What happened? Is the queen mother dead? Not? Princess Margaret? Has she survived to this day?
