Introduction to Princess Margaret’s Marital History
Princess Margaret, the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, was long noted for her unconventional approach to royal duty and personal life. Her marital history centers on two defining relationships: a deeply publicized, thwarted engagement to Group Captain Peter Townsend in the early 1950s, and a high-profile wedding to photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960. This piece provides an evergreen explanation of these marriages, emphasizing verified timelines, institutional constraints, and the lasting public fascination with Margaret’s choices.
Early Royal Context and the Townsend Engagement
By 1949, when Margaret met Group Captain Peter Townsend, the Palace considered their romance potentially problematic. Townsend was a divorcé, and the Church of England did not yet permit remarriage after divorce in most circumstances. As a junior working royal, Townsend could not automatically retain his status if he married the king’s daughter, and Margaret was then below the age of consent for marriage without parliamentary consent under the Royal Marriages Act 1772. These legal and religious barriers turned their relationship into a prolonged affair that ended without union but left a significant mark on the public imagination.
Key Facts: The Townsend Period
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Group Captain Peter Townsend | Biographical record |
| Connection | Equerry to King George VI; former RAF officer | Official court publications |
| Circa Timeline | Romance recognized by Palace circa 1949–1952 | Royal biographies |
| Outcome | No marriage; relationship ended by 1952 | Historical accounts |
Contributing Factors to the End of the Townsend Engagement
- Legal: The Royal Marriages Act required Margaret’s marriage to be approved by the sovereign, contingent on her age and the sovereign’s consent.
- Religious: The Church of England’s position on divorce created a barrier for Townsend, who had been married previously.
- Constitutional: As a working royal, Townsend’s marriage would have required him to relinquish or restructure his official duties, complicating the household structure.
Marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones
In 1960, Margaret married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, creating a modern, media-friendly compromise for the Palace. The wedding at Westminster Abbey was the first to be televised, marking a shift in how royal ceremonies were presented to the public. Armstrong-Jones was granted the earldom of Snowdon, aligning Margaret’s status with that of other senior royals while acknowledging her husband’s professional background. The marriage initially appeared strong, producing two children, but ultimately ended in separation and divorce in the late 1970s.
Snapshot: Key Marriage Details
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Antony Armstrong-Jones (later 1st Earl of Snowdon) | Court Circular |
| Date | 6 May 1960 | Contemporary news archives |
| Venue | Westminster Abbey, London | Official Palace records |
| Title Conferred | Earl of Snowdon | Peerage records |
| Children | Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones; David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon | Biographical references |
| Separation | Announced 1976; divorced 1978 | Official statements |
Life After the Marriage to Armstrong-Jones
Following her divorce, Margaret remained a prominent public figure, reduced in official duties but still active in cultural and charitable life. She lived largely in Kensington Palace and on the Gold Coast in her later years, with health issues compounded by longstanding smoking habits. Her relationship with Armstrong-Jones remained amicable for the sake of their children, and she continued to appear at major royal events on a less formal basis. Though no subsequent marriage occurred, her public relevance persisted through memoirs, documentaries, and cultural retrospectives.
Legacy and Public Fascination
The narrative around Princess Margaret’s marriages endures because it encapsulates a turning point for the British monarchy in managing personal lives under public scrutiny. The thwarted Townsend engagement highlighted the limits imposed by law, church, and constitution, while the Armstrong-Jones wedding illustrated an attempt to modernize royal ceremonies. By focusing on verified facts, this overview clarifies what is known, what is speculated, and why Margaret’s marital choices continue to shape perceptions of the late-20th-century monarchy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Princess Margaret ever marry Peter Townsend? No; the relationship did not result in marriage due to legal, religious, and constitutional barriers.
- How many times did Princess Margaret marry? She married once, to Antony Armstrong-Jones, in 1960.
- Why was Margaret’s wedding televised? The 1960 Westminster Abbey wedding was the first royal wedding to be televised, reflecting a deliberate shift toward greater public transparency.
- Did Margaret have children with Armstrong-Jones? Yes; they had two children: Lady Sarah and David Armstrong-Jones, the present Earl of Snowdon.
- Were there other serious romantic attachments after Armstrong-Jones? Public speculation existed, but no subsequent marriages or formalized partnerships were recorded.