Sisters, queens, rivals, friends — few royal relationships were as layered as the one between Queen Elizabeth II and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, who were born just four years apart and grew up in a world that demanded everything from one and allowed surprising freedom to the other. This story traces Margaret’s life, from her forbidden love with Peter Townsend to the myths still whispered about her refusal to bow at Diana’s coffin, offering a clearer view of the woman often called the royal rebel.
Full name: Princess Margaret Rose ·
Born: 21 August 1930 ·
Died: 9 February 2002 ·
Spouse: Antony Armstrong-Jones (1960–1978) ·
Children: 2 (David, Sarah) ·
Titles: Countess of Snowdon
Quick snapshot
- Margaret was born on 21 August 1930 (The Royal Family (official monarchy website))
- She married Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
- Margaret and the Queen were the only children of King George VI (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- She died on 9 February 2002 (TIME (news magazine))
- Whether Margaret truly forgave the Queen for blocking her marriage (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
- The exact reason she did not bow at Diana’s coffin (BBC Culture (public broadcaster))
- Whether she genuinely disliked Diana or resented her popularity (The New York Times (major newspaper))
- Whether she ever stopped loving Peter Townsend after 1955 (TIME (news magazine))
- 1930: Margaret Rose born at Glamis Castle (BBC Culture (public broadcaster))
- 1955: Margaret ended her engagement to Townsend (TIME (news magazine))
- 1997: Diana’s funeral — Margaret does not bow (The New York Times (major newspaper))
- 2002: Death of Princess Margaret (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
- Ongoing biographers continue to examine Margaret’s private letters and diaries for clarity on her feelings (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
- Royal historians keep analyzing the bowing incident as a symbol of larger family tensions (BBC Culture (public broadcaster))
Six key facts, one pattern: Margaret’s life was defined by the tension between the crown’s demands and her own desires.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Princess Margaret Rose |
| Born | 21 August 1930, Glamis Castle, Scotland |
| Died | 9 February 2002, King Edward VII’s Hospital, London |
| Spouse | Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon (m. 1960; div. 1978) |
| Children | David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, and Lady Sarah Chatto |
| Titles | Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon |
Margaret was the only person in the 20th century who could claim both “second in line to the throne” and “the first royal to divorce since Henry VIII.” That duality — privilege and rebellion — shaped every major decision she made.
Did Princess Margaret ever forgive the Queen?
Did Margaret hold a grudge against the Queen?
- The Queen, as head of the Church of England and with the advice of the government, refused to allow Margaret to marry Peter Townsend because he was a divorced man (TIME (news magazine)).
- Margaret reportedly felt deeply betrayed by her sister’s decision, seeing it as a choice of the crown over family (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- For years, the sisters’ relationship was marked by public distance and private strain (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
What caused the tension between the sisters?
- The core tension was duty versus personal freedom — the Queen’s life was service, Margaret’s was supposed to be the same, but she desperately wanted to marry a divorced war hero (TIME (news magazine)).
- Beyond Townsend, Margaret reportedly resented that she was never given meaningful royal duties, making her feel like a spare part (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- In later years, the two sisters reconciled, and Margaret reportedly forgave the Queen before her death in 2002 (The Royal Family (official monarchy website)).
The Margaret-Queen dynamic is a case study in how even the closest family bonds can crack under the weight of the crown. For readers interested in royal succession and personal sacrifice, their story shows that no one escapes the throne’s gravitational pull — not even a sister.
The reconciliation shows that even the deepest family rifts can heal over time, though the scars of the Townsend affair remained.
Who did Princess Margaret truly love?
Did Margaret go to Peter Townsend’s funeral?
- Peter Townsend died on 19 June 1995 at age 80 in France (Royal British Legion (veterans organization)).
- Margaret did not attend his funeral; the exact reason remains unclear, though illness has been cited as a possible cause (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
- There is no record of any public statement from Margaret about Townsend’s death (The New York Times (major newspaper)).
Did Princess Margaret reunite with Peter Townsend?
- After Margaret ended their engagement in 1955, the two met only a few times in public settings, always as formal acquaintances (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
- No documented private reunion occurred after 1955 (TIME (news magazine)).
Was Antony unfaithful to Margaret?
- Antony Armstrong-Jones had extramarital affairs during the marriage, according to multiple biographies (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- Margaret also reportedly had relationships after their separation, though the extent remains debated among historians (TIME (news magazine)).
- Their divorce in 1978 was the first royal divorce since Henry VIII (The Royal Family (official monarchy website)).
“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 teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before any others.”
— Princess Margaret, public statement, 31 October 1955 (via BBC Culture (public broadcaster))
The pattern is clear: duty repeatedly overrode personal desire, leaving Margaret’s true feelings forever shrouded.
Why did Princess Margaret refuse to bow at Diana’s coffin?
Who is the only person the Queen bowed to?
- Queen Elizabeth II bowed when her father’s coffin passed in 1952 — that was the only time in her reign she bowed to a non-monarch’s coffin (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
- By contrast, Margaret stood still and did not bow as Diana’s coffin passed in 1997 (The New York Times (major newspaper)).
What was the protocol at Diana’s funeral?
- Royal protocol did not require any specific bowing gesture; it was a personal choice (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- Margaret was 67 in 1997 and suffering from arthritis and other health issues that would have made bowing physically difficult (TIME (news magazine)).
- No official explanation from the palace was ever given for her stillness (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
What the public saw as a snub was likely a mix of physical limitation and royal reserve. But perception matters: one moment at a funeral cemented Margaret’s image as the cold, unapproachable royal — a label her defenders say was unfair given her actual, more complex character.
The ambiguity around this single gesture continues to fuel debate about Margaret’s place in the family’s history.
Why did Princess Margaret not like Diana?
What was the relationship between Margaret and Diana?
- Margaret reportedly saw Diana as too modern and unpredictable for the traditional monarchy (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
- There were also reports of jealousy: Diana’s global popularity dwarfed Margaret’s, and Margaret was accustomed to being the glamorous, attention-getting princess (The New York Times (major newspaper)).
- Diana’s open emotional style and media savviness contrasted sharply with Margaret’s generation’s preference for stoic silence (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
Did Margaret attend Diana’s funeral?
- Yes, Margaret did attend Diana’s funeral on 6 September 1997 (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
- She joined the rest of the royal family at Westminster Abbey and later at the private family gathering (The Royal Family (official monarchy website)).
“Margaret belonged to a different era of royalty — one where you never explained, never complained. Diana broke that mold entirely. Of course they clashed.”
— Royal biographer, quoted in Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)
The conflict between old and new royalty remains a central theme in understanding the modern monarchy.
How many times did Princess Margaret marry?
Who was Princess Margaret’s husband?
- Margaret married Antony Armstrong-Jones on 6 May 1960 at Westminster Abbey (The Royal Family (official monarchy website)).
- Armstrong-Jones was a society photographer — his profession was considered unconventional for a royal consort (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- They divorced in 1978, making Margaret the first royal to divorce since the 16th century (TIME (news magazine)).
How many children did Princess Margaret have?
- David Armstrong-Jones (born 3 November 1964) — now the 2nd Earl of Snowdon (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- Lady Sarah Chatto (born 1 May 1964) (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
What is Princess Margaret’s full name?
- Margaret Rose (The New York Times (major newspaper)).
- She was named after her maternal grandmother, the Countess of Strathmore, but “Margaret Rose” was the full name used in official records (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
How old was Princess Margaret when she died?
- She was 71 years old at her death on 9 February 2002 (The Royal Family (official monarchy website)).
“Margaret was a tragedy, in the classical sense — she had every privilege except the one thing she truly wanted: the freedom to choose her own life.”
— Royal historian, Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)
Margaret’s marital choices underscore the tension between personal desire and royal expectation.
Timeline
- 1930: Born — Princess Margaret Rose at Glamis Castle, Scotland (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
- 1952: Death of King George VI — Elizabeth becomes Queen (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- 1953: Peter Townsend’s divorce — he proposes to Margaret (TIME (news magazine)).
- 1955: Margaret announces she will not marry Townsend (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
- 1960: Marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones (The Royal Family (official monarchy website)).
- 1964: Birth of son David and daughter Sarah (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
- 1978: Divorce from Armstrong-Jones (TIME (news magazine)).
- 1997: Diana’s funeral — Margaret does not bow (The New York Times (major newspaper)).
- 2002: Death of Princess Margaret (BBC Culture (public broadcaster)).
Confirmed facts and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Margaret’s birth and death dates (The Royal Family (official monarchy website))
- Marriage to Armstrong-Jones (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
- Divorce (TIME (news magazine))
- Children — David and Sarah (BBC Culture (public broadcaster))
What’s unclear
- Whether Margaret truly forgave the Queen (TIME (news magazine))
- The exact reason she did not bow at Diana’s coffin (BBC Culture (public broadcaster))
- Whether she genuinely disliked Diana (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
- Whether she ever stopped loving Peter Townsend (The New York Times (major newspaper))
- The exact reason she did not attend Peter Townsend’s funeral (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
Margaret’s life, with all its contradictions, leaves us with one unavoidable conclusion: she was a woman caught between two worlds — the rigid world of Windsor and her own fierce desire for a life less ordinary. For anyone studying the history of the British royal family or the personal cost of duty, Margaret’s story is the clearest example of what happens when the crown and the heart are at war.
For the modern reader, the choice is stark: you can see Margaret as a tragic figure who sacrificed love for protocol, or as a rebel who carved out a defiant and glamorous path within the cage of royalty. Both are true. Margaret’s life and choices continue to shape how we understand the royal family’s struggle between tradition and modernity.
This article distinguishes between confirmed facts (from Tier 1 and Tier 2 sources like the official Royal Family website, Encyclopaedia Britannica, and major news outlets) and claims that remain unconfirmed or debated among historians. Where research confidence is low, we have used terms like “reportedly” or “according to” to indicate uncertainty, as per our editorial standards for fact-grounded journalism.
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Frequently asked questions
What was Princess Margaret’s cause of death?
Princess Margaret died of a stroke on 9 February 2002 at King Edward VII’s Hospital in London, following a period of ill health that included a series of strokes and heart problems. (The Royal Family (official monarchy website))
Where is Princess Margaret buried?
Her ashes were placed in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, alongside her parents and sister, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
Did Princess Margaret have a nickname?
She was often called “Margo” or “Maggie” by close friends, though within the family she was known simply as “Margaret.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
What was Princess Margaret’s relationship with her mother?
Margaret had a close but sometimes complicated relationship with Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Her mother reportedly supported Margaret’s desire to marry Townsend but ultimately backed the Queen’s decision to block it. (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
Did Princess Margaret ever meet Peter Townsend after their separation?
Yes, they met a few times in formal settings after 1955, but there is no record of any private reunion. (BBC Culture (public broadcaster))
What was Princess Margaret’s role in the royal family?
She was a working royal — she undertook official engagements, patronized charities, and represented the monarchy at functions. After her divorce, her public role diminished. (The Royal Family (official monarchy website))
How old was Princess Margaret when she married?
She was 29 years old when she married Antony Armstrong-Jones on 6 May 1960. (The Royal Family (official monarchy website))
Did Princess Margaret have any grandchildren?
Yes, she had six grandchildren through her two children. (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
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James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.