Princess Margaret Rose of York
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Princess Margaret was the younger daughter of King George VI and sister of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1955 she chose to remain a royal rather than marry divorcee Peter Townsend. She married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960; they divorced in 1978. She died of a stroke on 9 February 2002.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Princess Margaret — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Princess Margaret by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Princess Margaret — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
On 21 August 1930, Princess Margaret Rose of York was born at Glamis Castle in Scotland, the first British royal baby born in Scotland since the 17th century.
She was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. Her parents took over two weeks to choose her name, having expected a boy.
In 1955, Princess Margaret was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. She served as Colonel-in-Chief of the Highland Fusiliers of Canada, received honorary doctorates from the University of British Columbia and other institutions, and became the first President of the Royal Ballet.
She appeared as herself in several documentaries, including The Royal House of Windsor 2017 and A Queen Is Crowned 1953.
In the 1950s, Princess Margaret fell in love with Group Captain Peter Townsend, a divorced man. She chose to keep her royal privileges rather than marry him, a decision that affected her. In 1960, she married Antony Armstrong-Jones, later Earl of Snowdon, and they had two children: David, born in 1961, and Sarah, born in 1964. The couple divorced in 1978, making her the first British royal to divorce since Henry VIII.
She was a heavy smoker and had part of a lung removed in 1985, but continued smoking until the early 1990s. She died of a stroke in 2002.
Princess Margaret pioneered: the first royal to divorce in over 400 years and the first to be cremated. Her 2002 funeral was attended by 450 people, including actress Judi Dench and former boyfriend Roddy Llewellyn. Her life inspired the Netflix series The Crown, and she symbolized the tension between duty and personal happiness.
She was a patron of the arts, particularly the Royal Ballet, and her style made her a fashion icon of her era.
The complete filmography of Princess Margaret — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Princess Margaret — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Princess Margaret — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
The Queen Is the Only Person Who Can Put on a Tiara with One Hand, While Walking Down Stairs.
I Have Always Had a Dread of Becoming a Passenger in Life.
My Children Are Not Royal; They Just Happen to Have the Queen for Their Aunt.
When My Sister and I Were Growing Up, She Was Made Out to Be the Goody-goody One.
I Have as Much Privacy as a Goldfish in a Bowl.
I’m the Heir Apparent to the Heir Presumptive.
I Have No Intention of Telling People What I Have for Breakfast.
I Am Deeply Grateful for the Concern of All Those Who Constantly Prayed for My Happiness.
I Would Like It to Be Known That I Have Decided Not to Marry Group Capt. Peter Townsend. 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.
Little-known facts about Princess Margaret — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
The first royal to divorce since Henry VIII.
Group Captain Peter Townsend was the love of her life. She could not marry him because he was divorced, and she chose her royal privileges over him, a decision that affected her.
On the same day she received a letter from Peter Townsend announcing his engagement, she decided to marry Anthony Armstrong-Jones in October 1959.
Her parents took over two weeks to choose her name because they had expected a boy.
She died three days after the 50th anniversary of her father King George VI’s death.
A heavy smoker, she continued smoking even after having part of a lung removed in 1985. She gave up smoking in the early 1990s, though servants still smelled cigarette smoke in her apartment.
Her daughter Sarah Frances Elizabeth was born on 1 May 1964.
She was the first British royal baby born in Scotland since the 17th century.
She dated actor Warren Beatty.
She received honorary doctorates from Cambridge and Keele universities and became a Master of the Bench of Lincoln’s Inn. She served as Colonel-in-Chief of several military units, including the Highland Fusiliers of Canada.
Her son David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones was born on 3 November 1961.
She was Honorary Doctor of Music at London University.
In 1955 she was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, and in 1990 she received the Royal Victorian Chain from the Queen. She was also Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St John of Jerusalem.
Her funeral at St George’s Chapel was attended by about 450 people, including ex-boyfriend Roddy Llewellyn, actresses Judi Dench and Felicity Kendal, and singer Cleo Laine.
She was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II.
She is mother of David Armstrong-Jones and Sarah Armstrong-Jones.
She was a granddaughter of King George V and Queen Mary.
She was a great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Her grandchildren include Samuel Chatto born 1996, Arthur Chatto born 1999, Charles Armstrong-Jones born 1999, and Margarita Armstrong-Jones born 2002.
She was reportedly the first British royal to be cremated, so her ashes could be interred close to her father King George VI and other family members.
She was the first President of the Royal Ballet.
She was the daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
She was sister-in-law of Prince Philip and aunt of King Charles III, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward.
She was great-granddaughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.
She was mother-in-law to Daniel Chatto.
She was niece of King Edward VIII, the Princess Royal, Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester, Prince George Duke of Kent, and Prince John.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Princess Margaret.
Celebrities similar to Princess Margaret — same craft, ranked by reach.
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