Their relationship is far from perfect, and they are both depicted seeking other relationships. Margaret reportedly didn’t like caviar or oysters, and she preferred simpler meals rather than long, elaborate dinners. SHE was the Queen’s party-loving younger sister, known for smoking 60 cigarettes a day, high-profile romances and iconic style. I find it hard to believe that she could have tasted the pudding.”. She liked to drink, don’t we all? When Princess Diana joined the royal family, Queen Elizabeth's sister, Princess Margaret, welcomed her as a breath of fresh air amid others' doubts.. At first, Margaret saw a kindred spirit in Diana, who struggled to find her own place within the royal family. ELLE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. They were ready in case she popped in for an informal visit, which she did more than once.” The staff member also noted that if another whisky was put in place of Famous Grouse, Margaret would know instantly. When his father passed away in January of 2017, David became the 2nd Earl of Snowdon. Princess Margaret was well known for her love of booze, cigarettes and men, but new revelations have come to light in a shocking tell-all book. ", According to Warwick, Tony "still wanted to have a go" at Princess Margaret, even after the stress of the situation had caused her to take these pills. Aside from cigarettes being her vice, she also started drinking vodka around noon — and the drinks would be flowing before lunchtime. "When the ladies-in-waiting refused him entry to Princess Margaret’s bedroom, he would then get in his car outside in the courtyard…and he would drive round and round the courtyard blaring the horn…That’s a kind of indication of the stress that the marriage had put her under.". This development comes after a season of romantic and personal struggles, and the trigger is an explosive fight between Margaret and her husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon. The tabloids are quick to take hold of the newfound romance, and eventually Tony confronts the new couple in Margaret’s home. Princess Margaret was much more than her relationship to alcohol or drugs. • Abridged extract from Princess Margaret: A Life Unravelled by Tim Heald, published by Weidenfeld on July 5 at £20. He stresses that Princess Margaret "just wanted to sleep" to get away from the overwhelming circumstances for a bit, and he waves off any notion that it might have been an attempt to end her life. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowden (1930-2002) was the sister of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, the current monarch. Her first drink of the day never strayed from vodka, either, reports claim. That’s also part of the reason it didn’t become public knowledge until years later. "Some people said she’d had a nervous breakdown, and there was a claim that it was attempted suicide," he continues. Is Prince Andrew the Queen's Favorite Child? Princess Margaret lived to the age of 71, so The Crown viewers can rest easy that the onscreen overdose will not lead to her demise. Her favorite drinks were neat scotch with a … While Princess Margaret is often portrayed as helpless to the situation, the Telegraph reported in 2009 how an unearthed letter dated from 1955 showed the Princess … After more than 50 years of heavy smoking and drinking, Princess Margaret's final years were dogged with ill health. "But I spoke with her, and I spoke with friends of hers, and her friends didn’t believe that it was a suicide attempt at all." "I can well believe she found it exhausting, but I tend to think she wasn’t the sort of person who would have seriously considered suicide. The Guardian notes officials from Clarence House mentioned Margaret preferred gin and tonics or whisky and sodas over any fancy beverages. Princess Margaret at the Royal Windsor Horse Show| Hulton Archive/Getty Images It wasn’t just Margaret’s family and friends who knew she had a love for alcohol. ", Rachel Sennott on ‘Shiva Baby’ and Bagel Dresses, Fendi's Capsule Collection is Inspired by Couture, Inside Princess Margaret's Real-Life Marriage, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. When she … But he says her reasoning for taking the tablets wasn’t sinister. She spent much of her childhood with her parents and sister. In real life, she … She was a controversial figure, criticised for her extravagance, rudeness and disdainful hauteur.. Suffered nervous breakdown. It was a delightful sight. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Though Princess Margaret … Margaret's first child and only son arrived on November 3, 1961. To order a copy at £18 (p&p free), call 0870 161 0870. She died in London in 2002, months after suffering a stroke and developing heart problems. But according to her lady-in-waiting, the royal gave up her bad habits without looking back. The Guardian called her ‘a thoroughly rotten royal’, while the art historian Sir Roy Strong wrote that she was ‘tiresome, spoilt, idle and irritating. According to Scotch Whisky, after Margaret visited Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant, he said, “She started with Scotch and went on drinking for three hours. “I was so exhausted because of everything, that all I wanted to do was sleep,” she told him. Margaret begins seeing Roddy Llewellyn, a much younger flame introduced to her by mutual friends, and they seem enchanted by each other. ° Tim Heald 2007. When he was born, his title was styled as Viscount Linley, and he was fifth in line to the throne, though now he occupies the 18th spot in the order of succession. The show never depicts Margaret without a cigarette in hand, but the princess loved scotch almost as dearly. It was tragedy in her personal life, not hedonism, that led the Princess to use cigarettes and alcohol as a 'crutch', one has told The Observer in a remarkably frank assessment. "Two of her ladies-in-waiting…took it in turns to sit outside her bedroom door, and say, 'No, Tony, you are not going in. Princess Margaret broke off the engagement in 1955. Princess Margaret lived to the age of 71, so The Crown viewers can rest easy that the onscreen overdose will not lead to her demise. Still the Queen Mum lived to see 101. Princess Margaret Really Did Have Surgery in 1985. There were certainly better brands of whisky out there aside from Famous Grouse, but Margaret remained loyal to her favorite brands. On June 2, 1953, Princess Margaret inadvertently announced her romance with Peter Townsend to the world by brushing off a bit of fluff from his military uniform in the midst of Coronation Day. But in season 3, her onscreen struggles are worse than ever, and in the season finale, Princess Margaret suffers an overdose. The snapper to the stars and Princess Margaret's ex-husband died yesterday aged 86 after a lifetime of debauchery involving affairs and secret love-children Emily Fairbairn 14 Jan 2017, 3:18 It wasn’t just Margaret’s family and friends who knew she had a love for alcohol. Princess Margaret did not die as a result of drug or alcohol abuse. Princess Margaret eventually struck up a relationship with photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was appointed 1st Earl of Snowdon following their marriage in … The 22-year-old royal is thought to have fallen in love with the RAF pilot and former equerry to King George IV gradually — but the relationship garnered heated controversy anyway. Margaret’s father had died after the war and her sister had become Queen, leaving the princess– played by Vanessa Kirby in The Crown – grief-stricken and lonely. "The only constants in the blindingly mediocre life of Princess Margaret would appear to be privilege, illness and lashings of alcohol." Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, the Countess of Snowdon, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II of England, singing a … It’s no secret that Margaret loved to smoke and drink — and it eventually led to many health problems and an earlier death than many of her other family members. Taylor is a communications specialist and freelance writer who specializes in entertainment and lifestyle content. Margaret was going through an "extremely difficult time," Warwick says, and "would have found it exhausting." You Can Watch the Royal Family Doc in London, Inside Diana's Relationship with The Queen. Princess Diana Archive/Getty Princess Margaret and Princess Diana. While Margaret was delightful to be around, the friend mentioned that if Famous Grouse wasn’t present in her glass (or, if the ice melted), she could get testy with the staff. In February 1960, Snowdon, then known as Antony Armstrong-Jones, became engaged to the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, and they married on 6 May 1960 at Westminster Abbey.The ceremony was the first royal wedding to be broadcast on television. Princess Margaret’s harrowing journey through The Crown’s newest episodes comes to a boiling point in the dramatic conclusion to the third season. Released today, “Ma'am Darling: 99 Glimpses” reveals Her Majesty’s sister in all her snobby glory earning her the new title of “Her Rude Highness”. Tony Parsons in The Mirror, 2001 Princess Margaret in 1951| AFP/Getty Images. Despite the public enthusiasm, some critics "disapproved" of a commoner marrying into the royal family. Margaret loved to indulge in a wide variety of beverages, but Famous Grouse whisky with a dash of water was reportedly one of her many go-to drinks. She was admitted to hospital in January 1985 for an operation when part of her lung was removed. "She’d taken a handful of Mogadon tablets, and it was difficult to rouse her on this particular morning," Warwick says over the phone, referring to a brand of sleeping pills. Despite waiting the allotted time, the pair were still met with problems within the monarchy. As the criticism mounted, Margaret retreated ever deeper into an alcohol-soaked haze. But she certainly wasn’t a lush. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Inside Diana & Philip’s Complicated Relationship, The True Story of Princess Alice's Dramatic Life, ‘The Crown’ to Resume Filming This Summer, Imelda Staunton Addresses 'The Crown' Disclaimer, How Princess Diana Redefined Royal Motherhood, The Royal Family Members Who've Gone to Therapy. She even liked red or white wine over champagne. He tells Margaret he will "bring her to her knees" if she continues to see Llewellyn, despite the fact that Tony has been ignoring Margaret for some time and is carrying on affairs of his own. The section was said to be "innocent", or non-malignant, but it was the first of a series of warnings about her deteriorating health. Warwick warns against the creative liberties The Crown has taken, though he says he has not seen the show and only knows what he’s read in reviews and heard from friends. Throughout the show, Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister is known as a loose cannon of sorts, always finding ways to rebel against the tradition she's expected to abide by. And by the end of the evening, it wasn’t uncommon for Margaret to have smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, CI, GCVO, CD (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II. Roddy leaves the house when the fight between Margaret and Tony breaks out, and though she chases after him, Margaret cannot catch him. In her despair, she ultimately overdoses on medication—whether accidental or not is left vague—and the queen is soon notified. It’s even been reported that she’d start her day by chain-smoking in bed. … He said that he worries Princess Margaret is "portrayed as a lush, which is totally unfair. Princess Margaret did not die as a result of drug or alcohol abuse. ", Warwick says the idea of suicide would not have been an option in Princess Margaret's mind. The ashtray had to be changed every three minutes. Abridged extract from Princess Margaret: A Life Unravelled, by Tim Heald, published by Weidenfeld on July 5 at £20. Though Princess Margaret is often depicted as a party girl who struggled with romance, there was so much more to her. When Will Princess Diana Appear in 'The Crown'? This also falls in line with her meal preferences, too. Warwick interviewed Margaret for his book, Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts, and she reinforced that story. He says the incident occurred while Margaret was dealing with her explosive separation from Tony, and after Roddy had flown off on a trip to clear his head after the public learned of their relationship. Princess Margaret was known to have a good time, usually with a cigarette or cocktail in hand. From her extramarital affairs to her partying ways, the attention was just as much on her as it was her queen sister. The Guardian reports at one charity supported by Margaret, a staff member said, “‘During the later years there were always two bottles, one of Famous Grouse and one of Highland Spring mineral water. Diana Raised Crucial Awareness of Eating Disorders, What 'The Crown' Gets Right About Thatcher's Kids, Diana and Camilla Really Did Have Lunch Together. I say that because she was an intensely religious woman, and suicide would have been contrary to her religious beliefs. She died in London in 2002, months after suffering a stroke and developing heart problems. Though later in the day, it was followed by her other beverages of choice. "There was no reason for it to become public," he continues, adding that it was "an isolated incident. Thankfully, Margaret survives, and tells her big sister that she’s finally decided to split from Snowdon for good. Always with a daily intake of at least 8 units of alcohol, according to modern standards she would be labeled as a heavy drinker. Princess Margaret at the Royal Windsor Horse Show| Hulton Archive/Getty Images. "And I did, right through to the following afternoon. A friend of Margaret’s also confirmed the princess’s love of this particular whisky. According to one account, she was now so lazy that she tried to glue matchboxes to her gin glasses, so that she could keep drinking while she was lighting her cigarettes. And several reports claim she certainly knew how to get out and party any day of the week. Viewers will have to wait until next season to learn about the aftermath of the tumultuous episode, but in the meantime, let’s hash out what really happened. Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may think of Prince Harry as the now-reformed wild child of the royal family — but long before him, there was another scandalous royal who was getting all of the media attention. She needs to rest,'" Warwick says. Princess Margaret has been dogged by ill-health in recent years. To order a copy at £18 (p&p free), call 0870 161 0870. Princess Margaret’s official royal biographer, Christopher Warwick, confirms to ELLE.com that in 1974, Margaret took a heavy dose of medication when things in her life became particularly stressful. But in later life, Princess Margaret was plagued by health issu… And while many would assume her tastes would be ultra-refined and expensive considering her lifestyle, this wasn’t necessarily the case. Last updated at 16:31 21 August 2005 Princess Margaret is to be portrayed as a promiscuous drug-user and drunk in a television drama. How married Princess Margaret's affair with 'toy boy' 18 years her junior threatened to damage the whole royal family . Princess Margaret, in full Princess Margaret Rose Windsor, countess of Snowdon, (born August 21, 1930, Glamis Castle, Scotland—died February 9, 2002, London, England), British royal, the second daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (from 1952 Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) and the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. ", Warwick says when Princess Margaret woke up the following afternoon, "she was fine." Throughout season 3 of The Crown, Margaret is depicted as being volatile in her moods, and often under the influence of alcohol. ° Tim Heald 2007. And as the spotlight passed to Princess Diana, so Margaret no longer bothered with the faintest semblance of politeness. Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II’s younger sister, was known for living a life of glitz, glamour, and fun. 2021 Showbiz Cheat Sheet, All Rights Reserved. Famous chef Gordon Ramsay, who has cooked for the royals in the past, has also given his account of what serving Princess Margaret was like.