Forbidden love and revenge marriage: how was the fate of Margaret Rose - rebel princess
'10.05.2021'
Source: ADME
Spectacular, charismatic and sharp-tongued Margaret was born to shine, but her life only seemed like a beautiful fairy tale. ADME.
Among aristocrats and members of royal families, there have always been many interesting and bright personalities. And about the fate of Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, one could shoot a heartbreaking melodrama.
Margaret Rose was born to George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Until some time, their family did not claim the throne and lived a fairly measured life of aristocrats, but in 1936, George's older brother King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry the divorced Wallis Simpson. So Margaret's father became king, and her sister Lilibet, as she was called at home, became the direct heiress.
The sisters were completely different: the future Queen Elizabeth, correct to the core, appreciating order and traditions, and the troublemaker Margaret. Both daughters were equally loved in the family, but the eldest was now being prepared for the royal title, and the youngest was to remain forever in the shadows, maintain distance and etiquette, and take obeisances after her sister.
Over time, Margaret turned into a real beauty: fashion magazines vied with each other to pose for the covers, she was compared with the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, and fashion houses organized special shows only for the princess. She is said to have included the painter Pablo Picasso and the writer John Fowles among her fans.
The world for Margaret shook again when her beloved father suddenly died: he understood her feelings like no one else, because he himself lived most of his life as a spare. Elizabeth became queen, and the sisters grew more and more distant from each other, and Margaret, along with her mother, moved from Buckingham Palace to Clarence House. At about the same time, the girl began to grow closer to the young captain Peter Townsend, who served at court.
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During the coronation of Elizabeth II, Margaret brushed the ashes from Townsend's uniform, which caused a real scandal: the newspapers were full of headlines that an affair began between the young people. This turned out to be true, only these two could not get married. The situation was aggravated not only by the difference in position and age, but also by the fact that the captain was divorced, which means that he could not marry the princess. And if her sister, Queen Elizabeth II, agreed to approve the marriage, then the church was categorically against it.
They decided to send the captain to serve in Belgium for 2 years, while Margaret remained in London. All this time, the lovers continued to maintain a relationship, but a lot of gossip and rumors soared around them. The newspapermen called Peter nothing but a "groom", the church was against marriage, and ordinary people rather condemned this unequal union. Margaret was a very young and inexperienced girl who had to withstand very severe pressure from both society and her family.
After her 25th birthday, Margaret announced that she would not marry Townsend and would fulfill her duty to the country. One can only guess how difficult it was for a young girl to erase love from her life forever.
The breakup with Peter hit Margaret hard, and she plunged into a bohemian lifestyle: parties, parties and fashionable receptions followed one after another. She began to drink and, as a result, talk too much, including in public. There was no end to the suitors, but not all of them matched the princess in status.
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Four years after the final break with Peter, Margaret found out that he was marrying, and even a girl who looked like her as two drops of water. Without thinking twice, the princess herself offered to marry photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones, with whom she had been in contact recently. And again the scandal: the last time a royal married a commoner 450 years ago. This time, Margaret did not give in and obtained permission for the marriage. They got married in 1960.
The bride chose a dress that is simple, but very beautiful and laconic. The wedding was magnificent and was notable for the fact that a wedding of this level was broadcast live for the first time. Soon, children were born in the family: son David and daughter Sarah.
It was difficult for two bright and temperamental personalities to get along under one roof, and in general, getting married to spite the former was not a very good idea. The family finally disintegrated after 18 years, and thus Margaret created another precedent for the royal family: before, divorces were not welcome.
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Over the years, Margaret's character became more difficult. ГThey say that when she met the actress Elizabeth Taylor, the princess noted that her ring looks vulgar. Margaret became addicted to alcohol and cigarettes: despite her high status in society and financial well-being, there was always a wound in her soul that she could not heal, and she felt dissatisfaction with life until the end of her days.
By the way, after many years, Margaret and Peter met. It happened in the 90s during a dinner with the queen. Then the princess said that over the years, Peter has not changed at all, "except that his hair turned gray."
Princess Margaret passed away at the age of 71 from a stroke. Despite all the problems, Queen Elizabeth II has always loved her sister. At the funeral, she sat for a long time at the coffin and did not hide her tears.
