From a young age, Princess Margaret displayed an independent spirit, sharing much of her youth in London with her sister, Elizabeth, under the guidance of their governess, Marion Crawford.

Noted for her striking beauty, Margaret’s paramour, Peter Townsend, described her as a girl with extraordinary and intense beauty, encapsulated in her petite frame. He remarked on her large purple-blue eyes, generous, sensitive lips, and a complexion as smooth as a peach. According to Townsend, Margaret possessed the ability to evoke both hearty laughter and deep emotional connection.

In 1947, during King George VI’s inaugural international trip to South Africa, Peter Townsend, a WWII veteran and member of the king’s household, accompanied the royal family. Despite Townsend initially viewing Princess Margaret, 16 years his junior, as a spoiled schoolgirl, their relationship evolved during the journey, leading to a secret love affair. The public became aware of their romance in 1953 during Margaret’s sister’s coronation when she publicly flicked lint off Townsend’s jacket, causing international headlines.

After Peter Townsend’s divorce, the path to marrying Princess Margaret became complicated due to her position as third in line to the throne and the requirement for Queen Elizabeth’s consent, especially because Margaret was not yet 25 years old. Townsend was sent to Brussels to delay matters, leading to a two-year separation as various entities, including the press, the public, the church, and Parliament, weighed in on their relationship.

Upon Townsend’s return in 1955, Margaret, now 25, could marry without her sister’s approval, but Parliament remained an obstacle. Prime Minister Anthony Eden informed Margaret that marriage to Townsend would result in the loss of all royal privileges and income. On Halloween 1953, Margaret announced her decision not to marry Townsend, citing her awareness of the possibility of a civil marriage but prioritizing her duty to the Commonwealth and the Church’s teaching on the indissolubility of Christian marriage.

Following her decision not to marry Peter Townsend, Princess Margaret resumed her active social life. Prior to her involvement with Townsend, Margaret had been associated with numerous men, and she continued to attract a range of suitors.

In 1958, Margaret entered into a discreet relationship with the charismatic commoner and photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones. The couple announced their engagement in 1960, a development that occurred shortly after Townsend proposed to another woman.

Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones exchanged vows on May 6, 1960, in a historic ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Their wedding marked the first royal nuptials broadcast on national television, drawing an audience of anywhere from 20 million to 300 million people, depending on the source. Thousands lined the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the event.

Following their marriage, Armstrong-Jones, initially a commoner, was granted a royal title by Elizabeth and became the Earl of Snowdon.

Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones experienced an initially happy marriage, welcoming two children, David and Sarah. However, by 1964, their relationship began to deteriorate. Armstrong-Jones engaged in multiple affairs with other women, while Margaret had an affair with her longtime friend Anthony Barton and also with Robin Douglas-Home, who tragically took his own life 18 months after their involvement ended.

The couple, both aware of each other’s infidelities, struggled with unhappiness and frequently engaged in alcohol-fueled arguments. During times of separation, they corresponded with remarkable honesty about their concerns. Armstrong-Jones, in one letter to Margaret, expressed his disapproval of her late-night drinking and encouraged open communication. Margaret, facing deepening unhappiness, reportedly coped with excessive drinking, weight gain, and flirtatious behavior, at times seemingly to make Armstrong-Jones jealous and affirm her own attractiveness.

To escape the challenges of her marriage and royal duties, Princess Margaret frequented the island of Mustique. As a wedding gift, she received 10 acres of land on this Caribbean island, where she built a lavish villa. Mustique became a retreat where she often enjoyed parties with various lovers.

The island’s celebrity residents, including Mick Jagger, Billy Joel, and David Bowie, fueled rumors about Princess Margaret’s romantic connections. She was linked romantically to several celebrities, including Mick Jagger and actors Peter Sellers and Warren Beatty, adding to the speculation surrounding her personal life.

In the mid-’70s, Princess Margaret initiated a relationship with Roderic Llewellyn, a 28-year-old gardener, during her visits to her Mustique villa. Despite their significant age difference, their affair persisted over the years.

There was a tumultuous period when Llewellyn temporarily left Margaret, leading to a reported incident where she took a handful of pills. The couple eventually reconciled, and their photos on the island were later published in tabloids, causing a public uproar.

The affair sparked public criticism, with many accusing Margaret of neglecting her royal duties for the relationship. Llewellyn, in turn, became the subject of mockery, exacerbated when he attempted to launch a singing career, further adding to the public’s skepticism and amusement.

In 1971, alleged sexually explicit photos of Princess Margaret were said to be stored in a safe deposit box at a Lloyds Bank branch in London, showcasing the princess on Mustique. Following a bank robbery, the press was instructed not to cover the incident.

The movie “The Bank Job” portrays MI5, the British intelligence agency, breaking into the bank to prevent the release of compromising pictures. The script was reportedly inspired by recorded conversations between the robbers using walkie-talkies, documented by ham radio enthusiast Robert Rowlands. While the 2008 film doesn’t explicitly mention Princess Margaret, the implications are clear.

Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones separated in 1976, and when their formal divorce was finalized in 1978, it marked the first royal divorce since Henry VIII in the 1500s. Buckingham Palace issued a statement:

“Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and the Earl of Snowdon, after two years of separation, have agreed that their marriage should be formally ended. Accordingly, Her Royal Highness will start the necessary legal proceedings.”

Despite their divorce, Margaret and Armstrong-Jones maintained a friendly relationship. Armstrong-Jones remarried in 1978, but later faced various scandals, including the revelation of a potential love child conceived during his marriage to Princess Margaret.

Princess Margaret adopted smoking at the age of 17, with her distinctive long cigarette holder becoming her trademark. At times, she reportedly smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day, often spending hours in bed each morning chain-smoking before beginning her day with a “vodka pick-me-up.” Additionally, she had a penchant for whisky and gin.

These habits took a toll on her health, leading to frequent throat infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other ailments. In 1985, she underwent lung surgery to remove a portion, and she eventually quit smoking in 1991. However, she continued to indulge in drinking. Princess Margaret passed away in 2002 after suffering a stroke.