Princess Margaret Family Tree: The Story Behind Britain's Royal Rebel

Princess Margaret Rose (1930–2002), born 21 August 1930 at Glamis Castle, Scotland, and died 9 February 2002 at King Edward VII's Hospital, London, was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and Countess of Snowdon (1961–1978).

The Family's Roots: The British Royal Family (House of Windsor)

The Windsor royal family.

Her Parents

Father: King George VI (1895–1952) — King of UK 1936–1952.

Mother: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900–2002) — born Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.

Her Sister

Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) — elder sister; Queen of the UK.

Her First Love: Peter Townsend

Group Captain Peter Townsend (1914–1995) — divorced RAF pilot 16 years her senior. Public courtship 1953–1955; forbidden to marry him by the Church of England due to his divorce.

Her Husband: Antony Armstrong-Jones

Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon (1930–2017) — photographer. Married Margaret on 6 May 1960 at Westminster Abbey. Divorced 1978.

Their Children

David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, born 3 November 1961 — son; furniture designer.

Lady Sarah Chatto, born 1 May 1964 — daughter; painter.

The Margaret Family Tree at a Glance

Father: King George VI (1895–1952).

Mother: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900–2002).

Sister: Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022).

First Love: Peter Townsend (1914–1995) — RAF pilot; relationship denied 1955.

Ex-Husband: Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon (1930–2017; m. 6 May 1960, div. 1978) — photographer.

Children: David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (b. 3 November 1961); Lady Sarah Chatto (b. 1 May 1964).

Nephews/Nieces: King Charles III (b. 14 November 1948); Anne, Princess Royal (b. 15 August 1950); Prince Andrew (b. 19 February 1960); Prince Edward (b. 10 March 1964).

Princess Margaret:

  • Born 21 August 1930, Glamis Castle, Scotland
  • Second daughter of George VI; her father became King in 1936 when his brother Edward VIII abdicated
  • Public life from her sister's coronation in 1953
  • Townsend affair: 1953–1955 (ultimately ended by Church)
  • Wedding to Antony: 6 May 1960 — first major royal wedding televised globally
  • Daughter and son born 1961, 1964
  • Divorced 1978 — first royal divorce since Henry VIII
  • Later relationships included Roddy Llewellyn
  • Caribbean villa on Mustique; jet-set lifestyle
  • Multiple health problems from heavy smoking
  • Died: 9 February 2002, London — stroke at 71 (her mother died March 30, 2002, six weeks later)

What the Margaret Family Story Teaches Us

A king father. A Queen Mother mother who outlived her. An elder sister who reigned 50 years before Margaret died. A forbidden first love. A 18-year marriage to a photographer that ended in the first royal divorce since Henry VIII. Two children. A career as Britain's first jet-age royal celebrity.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Margaret story carries the same lesson. Some lives carry the cost of being the younger royal.

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