princess margaret usa tour 1965

The Crown vs. Reality: What Princess Margaret’s U.S. Tour Really Looked Like

It’s no spoiler to say that season 3 of The Crown , which sees Olivia Colman take over for Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II, begins with the monarch reflecting upon her age. But her jealousy of Princess Margaret in episode 2, Margaretology , is about much more than the fact that her younger sister, played by a no-holds-barred Helena Bonham Carter, isn’t pushing 40 just yet; even Prince Phillip can’t help but comment that some Windsors are “dull,” and some are “dazzling,” when Margaret converts a number of Americans into so-called “Margaretologists” during her apparently glamorous 1964 royal tour of the U.S.—no matter that the Queen is well aware that the status of Margaret’s relationship with her husband, Lord Snowdon, is less than ideal. Not that you’d know it from The Crown , but the royals’ tour of America that year was less than ideal, too: Princess Margaret didn’t so much charm President Lyndon Johnson into rescuing the British economy as effectively pave the way for getting banned from returning to the U.S. for taking her visits too lightly, whether palling around with (and reportedly offending) A-listers like Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly or bringing along 75 pieces of luggage that weighed over a ton to do so. But were the tabloids actually more reliable than a fictional Netflix adaptation? That’s debatable, but there’s still a bit to learn from the photographs that were actually taken during the pair’s real-life trip. Join them from the White House to a ranch in Arizona, here.

Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret at the Lincoln memorial in Washington D.C. during their royal tour of America in November 1965.

Princess Margaret at the Hilton Hotel for a charity luncheon and fashion show in San Francisco during her and Lord Snowdon’s royal tour of America in November 1965.

Princess Margaret with Alfred Hitchcock on a set visit of his film Torn Curtain at Universal City Studios in California, during their royal tour of America in November 1965.

Guests chatting during a state dinner for Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon at the White House in Washington, D.C. during their royal tour of America in November 1965.

Julie Robinson and Harry Belafonte arriving to a party for Princess Margaret at the Four Seasons restaurant in New York during her royal tour of America in November 1965.

Lord Snowdon sitting on a fence next to Princess Margaret on a visit to a ranch in Arizona during their royal tour of America in November 1965.

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon in San Francisco during their royal tour of America in November 1965.

Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow arriving to a black-tie party for Princess Margaret at the Bistro Restaurant in Hollywood during her royal tour of America in November 1965.

President Lyndon Johnson dancing with Princess Margaret, while Lady Bird Johnson sits with Lord Snowdon at a state dinner for the royals during their visit to America in November 1965.

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon in San Francisco during their royal visit to America in November 1965.

Princess Margaret and Bob Hope at a ball for the World Adoption International Fund in Hollywood during their royal tour of America in November 1965.

Lady Bird Johnson and Princess Margaret pose for photographers inn the Queen’s room at the White House in Washington, D.C. during the royal tour of America in 1965.

Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret walking through Boac terminal in New York upon their arrival to the United States for their royal tour of America in November 1965.

Lord Snowdon on a horse with Princess Margaret at a ranch owned by Lewis Douglas, former U.S. ambassador to Great Britain, during their royal tour of America in November 1965.

Lord Snowdon, Princess Margaret, and Caltech president Lee Alvin DuBridge touring the California Institute of Technology campus in Pasadena, California during the royal tour of America in November 1965.

Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret with Lady Bird Johnson and President Lyndon Johnson at a state dinner for the royals at the White House in Washington, D.C. during their tour of America in November 1965.

Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret riding a tram in San Francisco during their royal tour of America in 1965.

The Crown : The True Story of Princess Margaret’s 1965 Trip to America

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Princess Margaret is heading to the United States in the third season of The Crown . Episode 2 of the new season takes place in 1965, as Princess Margaret (played by Helena Bonham Carter) and her husband Lord Snowdon (played by Ben Daniels) embark on a tour around the United States after receiving an invitation from Sharman Douglas, the daughter of a former U.S. ambassador to Britain.

According to The Crown , Margaret's tour was also of upmost political importance; the Queen asks Margaret to attend a dinner at the White House and convince President Lyndon B. Johnson to help with a financial bailout. Margaret is ultimately successful and receives rave reviews about her time spent across the pond.

But is that truly how it all went down? ELLE.com spoke with Christopher Warwick, who wrote the authorized biography Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts , to find out what really happened during that visit.

The tour was criticized for being too expensive.

"When Princess Margaret and Tony Snowden went in 1965, that was their first visit, and it attracted a huge amount of interest here [in the U.K.] and obviously in America," Warwick said, explaining that at that time, it was a big deal to travel to the States because of how expensive the journey was. "Some MPs here criticized it, thinking that it was more a jolly holiday for Margaret and Tony, but they did in fact undertake official engagements."

Warwick confirmed that the royals did attend a dinner and a ball at the White House, though he doesn't believe Margaret was there to influence any policy. At the time, the Johnsons did not have a particular rapport or friendship with the royal family.

While the trip did garner positive coverage in the United Kingdom and the United States, there were concerns in some U.K. papers about the extravagant cost of the trip, with one headline reading "Who pays?"

"She was 35 when she made that first visit to the States," Warwick said of the tour. "She was royal, she was glamorous. They were really the first royal couple to make a tour because they were in California, Los Angeles, New York, Washington. She was touring Arizona, where they spent a private weekend, but it was a reasonably wide-ranging visit."

Margaret's time at the White House was uneventful.

Though Princess Margaret is seen successfully convincing President Johnson to help with a bailout in The Crown , in real life, the visit was largely unexciting. Princess Margaret gave a short toast and there was dinner and dancing. In the end, it was a pretty standard affair.

Her relationship with her husband was faltering.

Throughout the episode, it's clear that Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon's relationship is in trouble, with the two occasionally bickering about Margaret's love for the spotlight. As Warwick explains, by 1965, there were already cracks in the their relationship. "This was largely because they were alike as characters and personalities," he says. "They started to rub one another the wrong way, and she had become rather possessive. She wanted to go on assignments with him, which he didn't want, and he got rather fed up with being her consort. He didn't want to be Mr. Princess Margaret." The couple officially announced their divorced in 1978.

The Crown season 3 is streaming on Netflix now.

Madison is the digital deputy editor at ELLE, where she also covers news, politics, and culture. If she’s not online, she’s probably napping or trying not to fall while rock climbing.

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The Crown : Princess Margaret’s Rebellious, Real-Life American Tour

Helena Bonham Carter’s Princess Margaret gets her rock-star close-up in The Crown ’s season-three episode “Margaretology”—which shows the royal and her husband, Lord Snowdon ( Ben Daniels ) embarking on a three-week visit to America. The trip has Hollywood stars and epic hangovers! A long-simmering sibling rivalry played out across the Atlantic. And a presidential visit in which Margaret’s rogue diplomatic tactics—dancing, hard drinking, and dirty limericks—bail Britain out of a potential fiscal crisis. But just how accurate was The Crown ’s depiction of Margaret’s 1965 trip to the U.S.? And what were Margaret’s wildest high jinks abroad?

For more on Princes Margaret, including an interview with her official biographer, listen to this episode of Still Watching:

The Actual Ultraglam Details

In November 1965, Margaret embarked on her first trip to the U.S.—a visit so anticipated and expectedly glamorous that the Associated Press breathlessly reported about the mystery of Margaret’s fashion choices the day before she arrived. “She’s trying to keep them a big secret,” an anonymous source told the outlet. “It’s a bit like a bride with her wedding dress. She doesn’t want anyone to know all about it till the wedding.”

Princess Margaret biographer Theo Aronson wrote that the visit—with stops in Tucson, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York—was “undoubtedly [her] most important tour to date.” (Originally a chance to visit Margaret’s friend, the American socialite Sharman Douglas, the trip also coincided with the U.S. publication of Lord Snowdon’s book Private View. ) The couple traveled with an entourage of eight—including the princess’s private secretary, lady-in-waiting, maid, and hairdresser, plus a Scotland Yard investigator—and 50 pieces of luggage on a plane outfitted with a blue-green lounge chair for the princess. In an act of extravagance that would likely never be allowed today, the plane actually looped back to make double trips on the “short hops”—because the aircraft was not large enough to fit both the entourage and the royals’ luggage. Hotels were called ahead of time to be alerted of what the princess and her husband would and would not indulge in. (The “would” list: fresh fruit and tea for breakfast; Chesterfield and Gauloises cigarettes. The “would not” list: Champagne and oysters.) Once on American soil, the couple was transported by either Rolls-Royce or Cadillac.

While the visit was heavy on extravagance, it was light on traditional diplomacy. “The princess has made arrival speeches in each of the cities she has visited,” reported the New York Times . “None is more than two or three sentences long.”

Princess Margaret Hits Hollywood

“Princess Margaret was especially intrigued by her encounters with various film stars while in Hollywood,” wrote Aronson in his biography . Margaret and Lord Snowdon met Paul Newman, Julie Andrews, and Alfred Hitchcock on the set of Torn Curtain. The highest-wattage event of the trip, however, according to the PBS documentary Margaret: The Rebel Princess , was a dinner party hosted by Sharman Douglas at the Bistro Restaurant in Beverly Hills. The party’s elite guest list included Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Judy Garland, Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire, Natalie Wood, Dorothy McGuire, Jimmy Stewart, Frank Sinatra, and Mia Farrow. But when Taylor and Burton arrived , they were infuriated to discover that they had not been seated at the primary table with Margaret and Lord Snowdon. Even worse: They were seated next to the kitchen. “So they up and left...before the princess got there,” a friend of Margaret’s said in the documentary. ”And they didn’t come back.” (The next morning, feeling regretful, Burton sent the princess an apology, blaming the early exit on the duo’s call time for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Margaret did eventually meet the couple later in life.)

Upon arriving, Margaret managed to offend two members of Hollywood royalty. She reportedly outraged Garland by having an aide ask whether the Wizard of Oz legend would perform that night. “The singer was appalled,” wrote Aronson, “both by this trivializing of her talent and by the princess’s lordly tone. ‘Go and tell that nasty, rude little princess that we’ve known each other for long enough...that she should skip the ho-hum royal routine and just pop over here and ask me herself,’ said Garland. ‘Tell her I’ll sing if she christens a ship first.’”

The same evening, Margaret greeted Grace Kelly by telling her, “You don’t look like a movie star.” Wrote Aronson, “The normally composed former actress was said to ‘flush red with anger’ whenever she repeated this story.’” Another uncomfortable situation featured Steve McQueen’s wife Neile Adams, who attempted to socialize with Margaret in the restroom, not realizing that royal protocol called for the princess to have complete ladies’ room privacy.

Though Margaret may have ruffled the feathers of some Hollywood stars, Margaret’s own movie-star appeal endeared her to the rest of America during the tour. “The princess’s charm, when she chose to exercise it, could be prodigious, and there can be no doubt that on occasions during this visit to the United States, she revealed her slightly ‘actressy’ quality to the full,” wrote Aronson. “‘I’ll tell you what it is,’ decided one observer, on seeing her at a ball at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. ‘It’s a put-on; campy; tongue-in-cheek camp. She’s doing an impersonation of herself.’”

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon’s 18 Stylish Years of Marriage, in Photos

All Hail the Leisure Queen

Today, British royals’ tours abroad are famous for being jam-packed with engagements. But in 1965, Princess Margaret—God love her—knew the importance of work-life balance. A November 11 dispatch from the New York Times was titled, straightforwardly, “Princess Margaret and Husband Rest at Lewis Douglas Farm in Tucson Following Reception at Inn.” The article reported that the royal couple slept until almost noon (!) and quoted the couple’s Tucson host, Lewis W. Douglas, as boldly saying of the day’s itinerary, “We have no plans—no plans at all. We will do as much or as little as they want to do.” In fairness to the couple, the Tucson stay was a private leg of the trip—and the sleep-in followed a raucous reception the previous evening at the flamingo pink Arizona Inn, which preceded a performance from comedian Danny Kaye. Setting the somewhat hilarious tenor for the rest of the trip, Margaret’s lady-in-waiting was quoted lamenting to reporters, “I think being on time is the hardest thing. I’m always late.”

On November 22, the New York Times ran another awe-inspiring report, titled “Princess Margaret Cancels Lunch to Rest.” On one of Margaret’s last days in America, the royal suddenly halted her Phantom V Rolls-Royce en route to Connecticut—where she was supposed to be the guest of honor at a private luncheon—and went back to the 500-acre Long Island estate where she was staying to relax. Her next day’s itinerary included stops in Manhattan at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lord & Taylor department stores.

Margaret’s White House Visit

In The Crown ’s “Margaretology,” Queen Elizabeth asks Margaret to be on her best behavior when meeting President Lyndon Johnson at the White House—to help secure U.S. backing for a bailout. Unable to rein in her rock-star charisma , however, Margaret instead insults the late John F. Kennedy mid-dinner (“I was left distinctly underwhelmed”), refers to herself as “vice queen,” and challenges the president to drinking and dirty limerick contests. (Her winning submission: “There was a young lady from Dallas who used a dynamite stick in her phallus. They found her vagina in North Carolina and her asshole in Buckingham Palace.”) But did any of that actually happen?

“Well, it’s certainly not something I’d ever heard of,” Princess Margaret’s official biographer, Christopher Warwick, told Vanity Fair. “This was an official visit to the White House...I mean, she was a fun person, and she loved singing around the piano after dinner at Kensington Palace or with friends...But we have to remember, no matter how friendly, she was there for an official dinner at the White House and a dance. This took place on Wednesday, the 17 of November 1965, by the way...So while it’s possible they had fun...I don’t see it. It comes back to The Crown being chiefly entertainment. It’s certainly not based on fact.”

On The Crown, the White House dinner is a late-breaking addition to Margaret’s schedule, insisted upon by Queen Elizabeth ( Olivia Colman ). The actual White House visit, however, was planned well before Princess Margaret set foot in America. And it seems somewhat unlikely Margaret would have insulted Kennedy— given the fact that the late president’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Edward M. Kennedy, had hosted a tea for the princess earlier that day. (She was also seated at the dinner.) While there is no record of a dirty limerick contest either, Margaret did indeed seem to charm the socks off President Johnson. Speaking to the 140 dinner guests assembled in the State Dining Room that evening, the president referred to Margaret as an angel. “You have claimed our heart, and we are very proud to give it to you,” he added. “But you have done more. Lord Nelson once said, ‘England expects every man to do his duty.’ And I say tonight, every woman, too. And you have done your duty while in America. You have represented well the people that you serve with dignity and grace and spirit and joy.”

Princess Margaret responded in her customarily brief manner, thanking the president for his hospitality. Then the party moved to the East Room for dancing, which lasted a full three hours until 1:40 a.m. The Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported that Princess Margaret and the president “shared an enthusiastic foxtrot to ‘Everything’s Coming Up Roses.’” Later, “The tempo warmed up as the younger set including the President’s daughters Lucy and Lynda and their escorts launched into a new dance to the tune ‘Downtown.’” White House records report that the president “had a good time...looked well, and danced with almost every woman there.”

Aronson wrote in his biography of the princess: “In a shimmering evening dress and jacket of pink and silver, Princess Margaret looked suitably radiant; more than once, Lady Bird Johnson was caught gazing in admiration at this assured and vivacious little figure.”

So Long, Farewell

The night before Margaret and Lord Snowdon departed America, they were fêted with a goodbye supper and dance at the Four Seasons that lasted well into the early morning. The Associated Press reported that “at 3 a.m., when about 20 guests were left, the princess ordered her supper of Canadian bacon, scrambled eggs, coffee, and sour bread toast.” Later that day, refreshed and revived from sleep, the princess arrived at Kennedy International Airport in a mink coat and gold-and-black feather hat—trailed by her husband, her entourage, and her considerable luggage—for a farewell ceremony . “Goodbye. Goodbye—so sad,” Margaret told the press before delivering a short statement from a typewritten page. “We have seen so many exciting and worthwhile things. It would be impossible to say what we enjoyed or what impressed us most,” the princess said. “I would just like to say we have seldom, if ever, experienced such a wonderful three weeks—and we hope we can come back again soon.”

Later, Margaret would say that she enjoyed the tour “enormously.” And even though Lord Snowdon did not like playing second fiddle to his wife, biographer Aronson wrote that the photographer must “have been gratified by the fact that, after the tour, he was voted the man with whom most American women would like to be marooned on a desert island.”

The cost of the trip, however—£30,000, equivalent to £350,000 in 2003, according to the Telegraph —and the criticism around Margaret’s extracurricular high jinks were enough to get the princess barred from making a follow-up trip to America in the early 1970s. According to official documents released in 2003, Lord Cromer, the ambassador to Washington in the early 1970s, was reportedly “not at all keen on having the princess in the United States, possibly for some time to come.” Sir Patrick Dean, the British ambassador to America at the time, wrote in a report that Margaret and Lord Snowdon “worked and played hard.” Dean, however, was careful to place more blame on the royals’ hosts than the royals themselves. “It was a mistake that so much of their time was spent with and organized by Miss Sharman Douglas, though she did her best, after her own fashion, to make sure the visitors had a gay and amusing time.”

— Margaret and Lord Snowdon’s doomed romance

— When the Queen met Jackie and JFK

— Prince Philip’s rumored affair with a Russian ballerina

— The scandal that rocked Philip and Elizabeth’s marriage

— Take a look at the “less sexy, more studied” season ahead

— From the Archive: Why happily ever after was never in the cards for Princess Margaret

— From the Archive: How Charles and Camilla got together at last

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Julie Miller

Hollywood correspondent.

The Crown: True story behind Princess Margaret's trip to the US

The Crown season 3 sees Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret in a trip to the US that sees her meet the US President Lyndon B Johnson - but was it really such a success?

• 12:00, 17 Nov 2019
• Updated 17:04, 17 Nov 2019

Did a dinner party really secure a US bailout of the UK economy in the 1960s?

The Crown season 3 on Netflix sees a royal trip to the United States with Princess Margaret ( Helena Bonham Carter ) and Antony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon ( Ben Daniels ) travelling around American states and securing a wave of positive press for the Royal Family.

However, the trip becomes more serious when The Queen ( Olivia Colman ) asks Margaret to attend a dinner with the stubborn US President, Lyndon B Johnson ( Clancy Brown ).

The hope is that Margaret can smooth over US-UK relations and perhaps save the UK economy by securing a huge bailout for UK.

Surprisingly, Margaret's White House visit sees Johnson utterly charmed, the bailout secured, and the UK economy saved.

But was the trip such a success in real life?

The Crown season 3: True story behind Princess Margaret's trip to the US

Despite the series suggesting that Princess Margaret's 1965 trip to the US was a resounding success, it was actually highly controversial and saw a lot of negative press for the Royal Family in the UK.

According to The Telegraph, Princess Margaret managed to offend a number of US celebrities while in the country, having verbal clashes with stars such as Judy Garland and Grace Kelly.

The headlines in Britain about the trip were more concerned with the high costs of the trip at the tax payer's expense and the "jet-set" lifestyle that the Snowdons were enjoying.

The US ambassador at the time, Sir Patrick Dean, wrote: "They worked and played hard.

"It was a mistake that so much of their time was spent with and organised by Miss Sharman Douglas, though she did her best, after her own fashion, to make sure the visitors had a gay and amusing time.

"However, the keynote was the 'jet set' and it was not always possible to persuade the public that HRH and Lord Snowdon were serious as well as gay people."

The tension brought about by her hedonistic time in the US seems to have seen her barred from visiting for years afterwards.

However, the reception in the US was much better.

In his toast at his dinner with Princess Margaret, President Johnson said: "Your coming has been very good for us. You have reminded us that we are a young nation and a gay people who respond to the smile and the warmth of a young couple."

He added: "You have claimed our heart, and we are very proud to give it to you."

Johnson also explained: "Your travels throughout our land - in the company of a large number of the press - have helped our balance of payments problem."

The President also commended Margaret's "dignity and grace" and said that she had "represented well" the British public.

"Everywhere you have gone in the United States you have encountered an affectionate warmth of feeling and a very friendly interest on the part of the American people," proclaimed Johnson. "This has been both a tribute to Your Royal Highness and to Lord Snowdon and, through you, it has been an expression of all the American people for Great Britain."

While there is not an overwhelming amount of evidence to suggest that Margaret fixed an economic crisis, Johnson even referring to the payments issue in his toast to her suggests her visit went a some way to solidifying the special relationship between the US and UK.

The reports don't quite suggest as raucous an evening as depicted in the series, however!

The Crown season 3 is available now on Netflix.

Have you watched The Crown season 3 yet? Let us know in the comments below.

MORE ON The Queen Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon Ben Daniels Olivia Colman Helena Bonham Carter The Crown Royal Family British economy Lyndon B Johnson Clancy Brown Princess Margaret

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All About Princess Margaret’s Real 1965 Rager Of A Diplomatic Trip To The US

In 1965, Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowdon, Antony Armstrong-Jones, took part in a three-week tour of the United States. Shown in Season 3 of  The Crown , the trip was full of adventure for the couple, as they traveled from coast to coast, meeting celebrities and dignitaries along the way.

Expensive, luxurious, and rife with excess, Princess Margaret's diplomatic journey to the United States was as much a party as anything else. Princess Margaret,  The Crown  would have us believe , traded dirty poems with President Lyndon Johnson and, while it's entirely possible, there's no record of such an exchange. The real Princess Margaret trip didn't disappoint, however, raising eyebrows and prompting conversation on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Royals And Their Entourage Packed So Much Luggage The Plane Had To Make Multiple Trips

Margaret and Snowdon didn't travel lightly. With her wardrobe as a topic of speculation, Margaret was expected to bring "a spectacular collection of clothes and hats" with her, the choice of which was kept secret, "a bit like a bride with a wedding dress," according to one source. 

When they arrived in San Francisco, they had 75 pieces of luggage . Their baggage, weighing over a ton, had to be taken to the hotel by six soldiers. On top of that, the royals had eight attendants, including private secretaries, maids, and an investigator from Scotland Yard.

It took more than one trip to get everything to the royals' destinations. Their plane - a private aircraft complete with a special lounge chair for Margaret - had to make two trips to accommodate both people and luggage.

The Trip Sparked A Heated Debate In The UK Parliament

Billed as a diplomatic trip, there was relatively little diplomatic activity that took place during Margaret's overseas adventure - certainly nothing like how the trip was portrayed in Season 3 of  The Crown.  The expense of Margaret's journey and her behavior received negative press on both sides of the Atlantic, sending Parliament into a flurry of debate over the whole affair.

In February 1966, members of Parliament  raised questions about the trip, inquiring into its actual purpose. Questions were raised as to whether or not public funds were used to pay for Margaret's wardrobe (estimated at £4,000), the plane used by the princess and her entourage (which ranged from 12 to 50 at any given time), the accommodations, and all other expenses.

All told, the trip cost £30,000 - an amount many members of Parliament felt was absurd given the "millions of people in this country who are suffering poverty and hardship, still millions without adequate housing accommodation."

Margaret, The Johnsons, And Their Entourage Cut A Rug For Hours After Their Formal Dinner

According to the daily diary of President Lyndon Johnson , "H.R.H. the Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon arrived through the North Portico [at 8 pm, and]... went to the second floor of the mansion." From there, they went "to the Queen's Room for cocktails, a gift presentation, and photographs," where they received an autographed family photograph and two watercolor paintings. 

Once dinner and the rest of the festivities got on, attendees danced "in the East Room to the music of Peter Duchin and his orchestra." An article in the  Los Angeles Times  reported Margaret and Snowdon as well as the Johnsons danced to "Everything Coming Up Roses" as part of the event.

According to  The   New York Times , the visit "lasted longer than most White House affairs... [with] Margaret and her husband [staying]... until 1:35 in the morning." The president and Lady Bird Johnson also "stayed on until the orchestra struck up 'Good Night Ladies' at 2 am."

In Los Angeles, Margaret Upstaged Elizabeth Taylor

• Joop van Bilsen / Anefo
• Wikimedia Commons
• Public Domain

After their time in San Francisco, Margaret and Snowdon spent several days in Los Angeles. In LA, they were exposed to Hollywood and its royalty, meeting Paul Newman and Julie Andrews, among others. 

Margaret and Snowdon were also invited to a dinner party in Beverly Hills, one hosted by socialite Sharman Douglas. Famous actors and actresses like Elizabeth Taylor, Fred Astaire, and Frank Sinatra were all in attendance.

Before they even arrived, however, Taylor and her fellow actor and husband, Richard Burton, left dinner, appalled that they were not at the main table. As two individuals who where always treated as  "the most important people in the room," they now found themselves relegated to a table near the kitchen . As a result, "they up and left," according to one of Margaret's associates, "before the princess got there... And they didn’t come back."

Burton reportedly apologized to the princess the next day. 

Margaret Offended Judy Garland And Others Of The Hollywood Elite

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• Free Art LIcense

At a dinner party held at the Bistro Restaurant, one that included a guest list of Hollywood elite like Gregory Peck, Natalie Wood, and Judy Garland, Margaret insulted the latter. 

According to reports, Margaret requested that Garland put on an impromptu performance for her. Garland supposedly responded  that Margaret was a "nasty, rude little princess," and that she would sing if Margaret "christens a ship first." 

That wasn't the extent of Margaret's antics at the dinner. She also told Grace Kelly, "You don't look like a movie star." 

The comment  prompted Kelly to reply , "Well, I wasn't born a movie star." 

Margaret’s Frequent Stops For R&R Made The Front Page Of 'The New York Times'

During her 20-day trip to the United States, Margaret's activities were the source of constant media fodder and made the cover of  The   New York Times  several times. Almost daily updates of her activities revealed the princess and her husband slept late while on private holiday in Arizona, having "no plans - no plans at all."

When Margaret and her entourage finally arrived in New York City on November 18 , she called the city "perhaps the most vibrant and exciting [there is]." During her time in New York City, she visited John F. Kennedy's widow, explored museums , presided over a gala at the Waldorf , and went to the United Nations amid protests related to the British presence in Rhodesia. 

On one occasion - as noted by the media - Margaret was so exhausted that she canceled her appearances. After her stops in San Francisco; Los Angeles; Arizona; Washington, DC; and then her busy schedule in New York, the princess was on her way to Connecticut when her car  "pulled to the side of the road... [and] returned to the estate," where they were residing, while her husband went on to their scheduled engagement. 

She Really Did Take LBJ’s Heart At Dinner

When Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon went to the White House for an official dinner on November 17, 1965, there was a mutual kindness exchanged between the royal and the US President. 

The princess and Snowdon arrived at 8 pm and, after some time together in private, they moved on to the formal dinner. Around 10 pm , the president welcomed them with a toast, during which Lyndon Johnson commented that the princess and her husband had taken the heart of the nation, something the country was "very proud" to give them. 

Margaret then made a statement, thanking the president for his "very kind welcome" and congratulating him and Lady Bird Johnson on their 31st wedding anniversary. She continued , "The hospitality and kindness that we have received everywhere has touched us greatly, and it will make us take home superlatively happy memories of all we have done and seen."

The Royals Took Part In Some Common Tourist Activities 

After five months of planning , Margaret and Snowdon's visit to the United States began on November 4 in San Francisco, CA, where the couple spent three days. 

Margaret and Snowdon stayed at the Huntington Hotel where they commandeered the entire top floor - and part of the floor below - which had been revamped with 18th-century decor in anticipation of their visit. They ventured out for private events, meeting local officials, including San Francisco Mayor John Shelley, and touring the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. 

As they enjoyed the city, Margaret and Snowdon jumped on cable cars, a necessity for any tourist visiting San Francisco. Margaret had to overrule her security guards who nixed the ride at first, revising the schedule in order to make the trip happen. Snowdon reportedly told a fellow passenger, "This is something we have really been looking forward to."

Overall, Margaret declared, "I had heard so much about San Francisco that I was afraid I would be disappointed - but it lived up to my expectations."

Margaret Made Public Statements To Crowds Of Well-Wishers In Each City She Visited

• Nijs, Jac. de / Anefo
• CC BY-SA 3.0

According to The New York Times , Margaret "made arrival speeches in each of the cities" she set foot in, albeit short statements  "[no] more than two or three sentences long."

Her aides insisted  "they're in her own words," but acknowledged "she has had advice. Some of the statement were prepared in Britain."

Once Margaret and her husband greeted the enthusiastic crowds that met them, they were shepherded off in a Rolls Royce or Cadillac to their hotel, which had been told in advance about the demands of the royals. Hotels were instructed to keep Chesterfield and Gauloises cigarettes on hand but that champagne was not needed.

The British Government Forbade Margaret From Returning To The US In 1970

• Eric Koch / Anefo

The British media called Margaret's trip to the United States a "holiday frolic among the tinsel princes and princesses of Hollywood" and "a private rubber-necking trip to the American fun centres," characterized by "insensitive vulgarity of conspicuous expenditure." There was even a headline that read , "Who Pays?" an inquiry that helped set the tone in the country.

As Margaret and Snowdon departed New York on November 25, 1965, the former declared :

We have seen so many exciting and worthwhile things. It would be impossible to say what we enjoyed or what impressed us most... I would just like to say we have seldom, if ever, experienced such a wonderful three weeks - and we hope we can come back again soon.

The British government had other plans. When a return trip was discussed as early as 1970, discussions among representatives from the Diplomatic Service; the Foreign Office; and Lord Cromer, the ambassador from the UK at the time, nixed the idea. Officials were "not at all keen on having the princess in the United States, possibly for some time to come. This is mainly due to the behavior of some of HRH's friends, who tend to take such visits very lightly."

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Exploring the real people, historical events, and behind the scenes of Netflix's series that follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II and her family.

The True Story Behind the Princess Margaret Plot in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Princess Margaret did tour the U.S. in the 1960s, but never appeared on a late night show.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

In the penultimate episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel , Princess Margaret appears on the Gordon Ford Show , and Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) has a chance to shine when she writes a bit for the royal guest. "I love her," Midge says. "She's brassy, unencumbered by the crown, kind of sexy."

Princess Margaret (Kate Abbruzzese) is set to appear on the late night show, and Midge pens a sequence where she gives a weather report and jokes about the Boston tea party.

In reality, Margaret's U.S. tour actually took place a few years later; she and her then-husband Antony Armstrong-Jones traveled to America in 1965. It caused an uproar in the UK, with regard to the cost to Margaret's reported demands. The events of Margaret's tour even featured in season three of The Crown in episode two, "Margaretology.

By all accounts, however, the real Margaret had a good sense of humor—and it's not a stretch to imagine she would be up for doing a late-night bit. Christopher Warwick, who wrote her authorized biography Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts , said, "She was great fun. She had a lovely sense of humor. She could be very naughty."

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma , a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram .

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The Crown: What’s The Truth About Princess Margaret’s US Trip?

The crown shows princess margaret taking on a us tour - but there's more to her trip than we see on the netflix show..

The Crown has made ‘Margaretologists’ of us all, so it’s no surprise that the second episode of Season Three of The Crown - titled Margaretology and detailing the Princess’s 1965 tour of the United States - is one of the highlights.

***** Spoilers for Season 3, Episode Two of The Crown, ahead *****

The Netflix show sees Margaret (played by Helena Bonham-Carter) finally given some responsibility – and taking to it too, charming the pants of US President Lyndon B. Johnson with a game of raucous limericks, posing for photo shoots in the bath and raising an army of American fans, called Margaretologists.

While the princess’s trip to the White House was a reality (the scenes were filmed at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex – the site of former V Festival), the boast that she single-handedly saved the British economy by securing a US bailout… doesn’t seem to be verifiable.

What we do know is that the British press weren’t impressed with the spending of Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowdon, Antony Armstrong-Jones, played by Ben Daniels. The cost of the trip was estimated at around £30,000 (now equivalent to £350,000) of public money. This expenditure, combined with Margaret and Snowdon’s propensity for hanging out with the rich and famous, led to a flurry of critical headlines in the British press, pointing out ‘the insensitive vulgarity of conspicuous expenditure.’ Afterwards, a report from the British ambassador suggested that the royal visitors had ‘worked and played hard,’ but it was a ‘mistake’ that ‘the keynote was the “jet set” and it was not always possible to persuade the public that HRH and Lord Snowdon were serious as well as gay people.’

In fact, so poorly received was the trip that almost a decade later, the new Washington ambassador Lord Cromer vetoed the possibility of the couple returning to the states on another official tour. In a memo from 1973 to the Foreign Office committee, Lees Mayall, then the Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Service, nixed the idea, writing, ‘You will remember that Lord Cromer is not at all keen on having the Princess in the United States, possibly for some time to come. This is mainly due to the behavior of some of HRH’s friends, who tend to take such visits lightly.’

Which friends? Perhaps the strangest thing about the episode when it comes to truth vs fiction, is that it doesn’t at all monopolise on many of the raucous stories, populated by A list types, about that US trip that are out there.

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon traveled to the US on the invitation of Sharman Douglas, daughter of a former US ambassador to Britain, and their schedule of official visits was supplemented by an equally (if not more) rigorous timetable of glamorous social engagements, often mingling with America’s A-list. Never one to stand on ceremony when it didn’t suit her, the Princess reportedly managed to offend half of Hollywood with her barbed remarks, damning Elizabeth Taylor’s diamond engagement ring as ‘vulgar’ and informing Grace Kelly that she ‘didn’t look like a movie star’ (the future Princess of Monaco is said to have replied, ‘Well, I wasn’t born a movie star’). Judy Garland even called her a ‘nasty, rude little Princess,’ hitting back at Margaret’s request to hear her sing with, ‘Tell her I’ll sing if she christens a ship first.'

So, while a trip didn’t occur in 1973 (she instead visited Barbados and Germany instead) she did defy them all and visit the US several times before her death, aged 71.

Oh, and what about the bath pics? Well, they weren't taken as part of their US tour, but they did happen. The pictures of Margaret wearing her wedding tiara in the bath were taken around 1962 by her husband, Lord Snowdon, in their Kensington Palace apartment. They were first seen publicly in 2006 during an exhibition of his work.

Can't wait for season three of The Crown? Here's everything we know so far about the show's upcoming series..

Can't wait for season three of The Crown? Here's everything we know so far about the show's upcoming series...

The Crown S3 - Grazia

It’ll start off in the mid-Sixties

Season two closed in 1964, concluding with the birth of Elizabeth and Philip's youngest child, Prince Edward. The show's third round should pick up shortly after, with a storyline that will carry us through Harold Wilson's turbulent tenure as Prime Minister, which saw the UK gripped by economic crises and industrial strikes..

The cast will be entirely new

Tearing through a decade or so in just ten episodes, The Crown 's characters are ageing at such a rate that the actors playing them just can't keep up. So, in the interests of verisimilitude (prosthetics and CGI trickery can, after all, only go so far) season three will inaugurate a fresh line-up of stars. While we're sad to wave goodbye to Claire Foy, Matt Smith and co, the promise of an entirely new cast is certainly one that'll keep us talking.

Olivia Colman is our new Queen

The first of these new cast members to be announced was Olivia Colman , who'll be stepping into the Queen's sturdy patent courts as The Crown moves through the Seventies and beyond. As one of Britain's best-loved (and most versatile) actresses (who this year earned her first Oscar for Best Actress in _The Favourite), s_he'll be joined by Helena Bonham-Carter , who'll embody Princess Margaret in her most turbulent years, while Tobias Menzies will be Matt Smith's replacement as Prince Philip. Newly announced as an addition to the cast is Ben Smith, who will play Anthony Armstrong-Jones opposite Helena's Princess Margaret.

We will meet Camilla

There were three people in this marriage, after all: season three will also mark Camilla Parker-Bowles ' Crown debut. Charles and Camilla (née Shand) met and fell in love in the early Seventies, when they were part of the same posh countryside set. At the time, neither party was prepared to fully commit: Charles to a woman who didn't quite fit the mould required by the palace, Camilla to a life of royal rules and regulations.

Josh O'Connor will play Prince Charles

It's been confirmed that Josh O'Connor, one of this year's nominees for the prestigious EE BAFTA Rising Star award, is set to play a young Prince Charles for seasons three and four (you might recognise from God's Own Country or ITV's The Durrells ). In the announcement he said: 'I am thrilled to be joining The Firm for the next instalment of The Crown. Seasons 3 and 4 will follow some of the most turbulent events in the Prince of Wales's life and our national story and I'm excited to be bringing to life the man in the midst of it all. I'm very aware it's a formidably talented family to be joining, but reliably informed I have the ears for the part and will fit right in.'

Emerald Fennel will play a young Camilla

Meanwhile Emerald Fennel (Who was previously cast in call the Midwife and is stepping into Phoebe Waller-Bridges shoes as the screenwriter for season two of Killing Eve )has been cast as Camilla Parker-Bowles. Spotted filming new scenes in Pimlico, Central London, where Camilla lived when she first met Charles in 1970, Emerald said:'I absolutely love Camilla and am grateful that my teenage years have well prepared me for playing a chain-smoking serial snogger with a pudding-bowl haircut.'

Princess Anne could have some major storylines

He might be the heir to the throne, but it's not all about Prince Charles in season three: writer Peter Morgan has hinted that the Queen's only daughter, Princess Anne, could have some pivotal plotlines, involving her romance with first husband Captain Mark Phillips and the 1974 kidnap attempt outside Buckingham Palace. She'll be played by Erin Doherty, whose sole TV credit to date came in an episode of Call The Midwife last year.

Gillian Anderson is cast

Gillian Anderson has been cast as Margaret Thatcher, and will appear in season four. As Thatcher was elected in 1979 following tense political times with IRA bombings and increasing public animosity, her role could come into play at the end of the series, potentially bring a mind-blowing explosive finale.

The Queen Mother will be played by Marion Bailey

Best known for her roles in Mr Turner and Vera Drake actress Marion Bailey will be taking over from Victoria Hamilton to take on the role of Queen Mother. Here enthusiasm at joining The Crown cast echoed many of the other new additions. She said: 'It's a brilliant show and we have a tough act to follow but what a gift to be playing the fascinating and greatly loved Queen Mother.'

Seasons three and four will be shot back to back

Peter Morgan, the show's creator, recently revealed that the next two seasons will be shot consecutively. 'We're doing them back-to-back. I'm writing them all at the moment,' he told the audience at a BAFTA Masterclass event.

Diana won't make an appearance this time around...

After teasing us with hints to the contrary, the show's producers have finally confirmed that we won't be introduced to Lady Diana Spencer in season three (despite the fact that the future Princess of Wales first met her husband-to-be aged just 16, when he was dating her older sister, Sarah) Whichever actress lands the coveted role will go on to take centre stage in season four, as the show starts to document her tumultuous marriage to Prince Charles; there are also rumours that the star could stay on into the fifth season. Let the casting speculation commence…

Princess Margaret’s marriage will break down

We could trawl through the history books to pick out potential plot points for season three, one storyline which we can count upon is the disintegration of Princess Margaret's marriage to photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones. 'We'll see the break-up of this extraordinary marriage between Margaret and [Lord] Snowdon, historical consultant Robert Lacey told Town & Country last year. The couple were married for the best part of two decades, eventually separating in 1976 and formally divorcing two years later, with multiple infidelities on both sides.

The sets will be bigger and better than ever

Last year, the show's producers applied for permission to carry out new building work at the show's Elstree base, which has now received a green light from the relevant authorities. This means Buckingham Palace will get new gates and a balcony that's primed for royal waves (does this mean a wedding tableau?), while Downing Street will also be extended.

Princess Margaret departs Tucson at Davis-Monthan AFB in November, 1965.

• Tucson Citizen
• Copy article link

Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowdon of Great Britain visit the Tucson home of Lewis W. Douglas on Ft. Lowell Road in November, 1965. Douglas was the former Ambassador to the Court of St. James and a friend of Princess Margaret.

The Royal Air Force plane that carried Princess Margaret of Great Britain to Tucson in November, 1965.

Princess Margaret arrives in Tucson at Davis-Monthan AFB in November, 1965.

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon of Great Britain upon arrival at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson in November, 1965.

Impatient photographers await the arrival of Princess Margaret of Great Britain at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson in November, 1965.

The Royal insignia on the side of Princess Margaret's plane at Davis-Monthan AFB during the visit of Princess Margaret of Great Britain to Tucson in November, 1965.

Tucson residents line Craycroft Road north of Davis-Monthan AFB prior to the arrival of Princess Margaret of Great Britain to Tucson in November, 1965.

People try to get a peak at Princess Margaret through the oleanders at the Arizona Inn, Tucson, during an invitation-only reception with Princess Margaret of Great Britain in November, 1965.

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon acknowledge the crowd at the Arizona Inn during the visit of Princess Margaret of Great Britain to Tucson in November, 1965.

Young girls present their invitations at a reception with Princess Margaret of Great Britain at the Arizona Inn in Tucson in November, 1965.

A throng of film and still photographers gather around Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon at the home of Lewis W. Douglas on East Ft. Lowell Road in Tucson on November, 1965.

Pima County Sheriff's deputies hold back photographers at the Arizona Inn during the visit of Princess Margaret of Great Britain to Tucson in November, 1965.

Kids on bikes await the arrival of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon at the home of Lewis W. Douglas in Tucson Tucson in November, 1965.

Tucson residents wave at a limousine with Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon arriving at the home of Lewis W. Douglas in Tucson Tucson in November, 1965.

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon of Great Britain at the Arizona Inn in Tucson in November, 1965.

Princess Margaret emerges with Rev. George Ferguson from St. Philips in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson in November, 1965.

Princess Margaret emerges with Rev. George Ferguson from St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson in November, 1965. The newspaper noted the Princess wore a yellow two-piece silk dress.

Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowdon of Great Britain visit the Tucson home of Lewis W. Douglas on Ft. Lowell Road in November, 1965. Douglas (with eye patch) was the former Ambassador to the Court of St. James and a friend of Princess Margaret.

That one time Princess Margaret visited Tucson in 1965 (with photos)

Photo editor

• Nov 19, 2019
• Nov 19, 2019 Updated Jun 21, 2021

In 1965, Princess Margaret learned a thing or two about Tucson time.

As part of her three-week tour to the U.S. with her husband, the Earl of Snowdon, Queen Elizabeth II's sister spent several days in Tucson, where, as newspapers reported , she spent some time kicking back and sleeping in. 

Netflix's show " The Crown " chronicles that tour  — though not specifically the Tucson visit — in an episode in the newly-released third season of the show about the life of Queen Elizabeth.

Princess Margaret's Tucson host was Lewis W. Douglas, former Ambassador to the Court of St. James under President Harry S. Truman. (Douglas was born in Bisbee, the son of an executive with Phelps Dodge Mining Co.) During his tenure as ambassador in London, Douglas's daughter became friends with Princess Margaret. 

The royal couple's time in Tucson was spent mostly at the Douglas home in Tucson and ranch in Sonoita. There was also a reception at the Arizona Inn.

Here are some Tucson photos from her visit. 

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Rick Wiley is the photo editor of the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson. From 1995-2004, he was director of photography at the East Valley Tribune in Mesa. Prior to that he was a staff photographer at the Tucson Citizen from 1998-1994. He has covered the Super Bowl, the World Series, the NBA playoffs, the NCAA Final Four. He is a graduate of Arizona State University (yes, that ASU).

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The True Story of Princess Margaret's Evening with Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House

Apparently, the real-life party lasted until after one in the morning.

Nearly five decades after Princess Margaret's visit to the White House, Netflix has re-created the glamorous affair for the The Crown .

In the second episode of the royal period show's third season , the the queen's younger sister (Helena Bonham Carter) and her husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones (Ben Daniels), meet President Lyndon B. Johnson (Clancy Brown) and First Lady Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson (Suzanne Kopser) in Washington, D.C. The affair is a glitzy one, ending in drinking games and dirty limericks. But did the show accurately capture the reality?

Here, we get to the bottom of what actually happened on the night of November 17, 1965.

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Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon's royal tour of the United States started scandalously, with her and her entourage partying hard in Beverly Hills , brushing elbows next to then-Hollywood stars like Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, and Mia Farrow.

Their royal tour ended in Washington, D.C., capped off with a black-tie dinner at the White House, hosted by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson and wife "Lady Bird" Johnson. About 150 high-profile figures were in attendance, from members of the Rockefeller family to high-ranking U.S. politicians.

According to documents obtained by Town & Country , the menu consisted of popular dishes of the time, including Atlantic pompano amandine, roast squab, artichoke with vegetable puree, and a hearts of palm salad with Brie. They munched on praline glacé for dessert.

Town & Country reported that after dinner, the president made a toast to Princess Margaret, quoting Mark Twain, " I have traveled more than anyone else, and I have noticed that even the angels speak English with an accent."

Margaret also reportedly made a speech, adding that the visit "touched us greatly, and it will make us take home superlatively happy memories of all we have done and seen." Afterward, the party moved onto the dance floor.

So, was the affair really as raunchy as The Crown made it seem? Though we may never know if the president and princess actually competed in a drinking game, we do know that it lasted longer than usual executive mansion events.

The New York Times reported at the time , "Everybody was talking today about the brilliant party President and Mrs. Johnson gave last night in honor of Princess Margaret and her husband. [...] The party lasted longer than most White House affairs. Margaret and her husband did not leave until 1:35 this morning and the Johnsons, celebrating their 31st wedding anniversary, stayed on until the orchestra struck up 'Good Night Ladies' at 2 a.m."

The Crown Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix. Watch

As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers' rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset. 

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The Royals in Arizona: Princess Margaret visited our state in 1965

Though Arizona is thousands of miles across the pond from the United Kingdom, our state has played a role in the royal family's history.

Queen Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret, and her husband, the Earl of Snowdon, visited Arizona in November 1965.

They were photographed on a boat as part of a tour of the Lake Powell area.

Days later, the royals visited the ranch of Lewis Douglas, an Arizona representative, in the Tucson area.

Douglas was the Ambassador to Britain from 1947 to 1950, according to the Pima County Public Library.

According to the library archives, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon stayed at the Douglas residence and attended a reception at the Arizona Inn.

The Arizona visit was part of Princess Margaret's tour through the United States.

In 2011, Prince Harry visited Arizona during military training. The Prince, who was 27 years old at the time, dined in Gila Bend with about 30 of his fellow military members. They had pizza at the Little Italia Restaurant.

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Princess Margaret

The younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret drew attention for a personal life marked by controversial relationships.

(1930-2002)

Who Was Princess Margaret?

Early years.

Princess Margaret Rose was born on August 21, 1930, at Glamis Castle, Scotland, the second daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York. Following the abdication of Edward VIII to marry American Wallis Simpson, her parents were crowned King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937.

As a child, Margaret enjoyed swimming and displayed a talent for the piano. She was educated at Buckingham Palace but moved to Windsor Castle upon the outbreak of World War II .

Controversial Romance

Following the war, Margaret appeared in the public eye more frequently. Oft contrasted with her older sister, Elizabeth, the glamorous young beauty developed a reputation as an independent spirit who enjoyed socializing late into the night.

Margaret soon grew close to Group Captain Peter Townsend, a war hero and royal equerry, and their secret relationship was revealed at the coronation of her sister, Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. However, Townsend was an older man and a recent divorcé, and the relationship was said to be frowned upon by the Church and Parliament.

The Queen and Prime Minister Anthony Eden eventually reached an agreement in which Margaret could marry Townsend in exchange for forfeiting her rights to succession. Ultimately, Margaret chose not to follow through with the arrangement, and she announced her split from Townsend in October 1955.

READ MORE: The Ups and Downs of Princess Margaret's Love Life

Marriage and Scandal

Princess Margaret eventually struck up a relationship with photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was appointed 1st Earl of Snowdon following their marriage in May 1960. Their son, David Albert Charles, was born in November 1961, and daughter, Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth, followed in May 1964.

By the late 1960s, Margaret and Lord Snowdon's high-profile union was rumored to be on the rocks. Although they remained married, Margaret developed a relationship with a younger landscape gardener named Roddy Llewellyn, which became known to the public when the two were photographed together on vacation in early 1976.

The press, which was already grumbling about the princess's diminishing public appearances, pounced on the affair. Margaret and Lord Snowdon separated shortly after the scandal reached headlines, and in May 1978 they completed their divorce, the first by a British royal couple in 400 years.

READ MORE: Princess Margaret: What Really Happened on Her 1965 Tour of the United States

Charities and Honors

Although she drew the most attention for her extravagant lifestyle, Princess Margaret was involved with more than 80 charities and organizations. Among them, she served as president of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and president of the Royal Ballet.

Additionally, Margaret was appointed commander in chief of several military units, including the 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars. She was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1953 and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem three years later, and was awarded the Royal Victorian Chain in 1990.

Health Problems and Death

Like her father and following years of heavy smoking , Princess Margaret underwent an operation to remove part of her left lung in early 1985. In 1993, she contracted pneumonia.

No longer the subject of media scrutiny, Margaret withdrew into private life as the tabloids focused on Princess Diana and a younger generation of royals. She dealt with increasing health problems in later years, enduring a series of strokes and an accident with scalding bathwater. After her third stroke, the princess died on February 9, 2002, in London.

More than a decade later, Princess Margaret figured prominently in The Crown , a popular drama about the British monarchy during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Additionally, the 2018 documentary series Elizabeth: Our Queen included a segment in which big sister revealed her approval of Margaret's relationship with Roddy Llewellyn, because "he made her really happy."

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Margaret Rose
• Birth Year: 1930
• Birth date: August 21, 1930
• Birth City: Glamis Castle, Angus
• Birth Country: Scotland
• Gender: Female
• Best Known For: The younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret drew attention for a personal life marked by controversial relationships.
• Politics and Government
• World Politics
• Astrological Sign: Leo
• Death Year: 2002
• Death date: February 9, 2002
• Death City: London
• Death Country: England

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Princess Margaret Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/royalty/princess-margaret
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: April 15, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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