ver the decades, Princess Margaret was often depicted as Queen Elizabeth’s rebellious sister. However, it seems Margaret also shared strong family values like her sovereign sibling.
Princess Margaret was well known for her chaotic personal life. She was even dubbed the ‘anti-queen’ due to her drastically opposing reputation.
Regardless, it is clear she was still a fiercely loyal sister. Margaret also put her family before anything, even during the most trying of times…
Princess Margaret was seen as a party girl compared to her dutiful sister (Credit: Everett/Shutterstock)
Queen Elizabeth’s sister Princess Margaret’s very different lifestyle
Princess Margaret, a reportedly wilful and rebellious party girl endured many difficulties. All whilst navigating her path in her sister’s shadow.
The princess allegedly struggled as spare, as well as with insecurity in her intimate relationships. Relationships which were reportedly littered with affairs and scandal.
Royal author Ingrid Seward penned in her book, My Mother and I that Margaret was “wilful, contrary and an impossible mixture of tenderness, arrogance and self-entitlement”.
Elizabeth’s younger sister was known in the public eye for her glamour, passionate love life and socialising.
Fittingly, Elizabeth and Margaret’s father, King George VI, was said to have stated: “Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy.”
Author Craig Brown writes in his biography, Ma’am Darling, 99 Glimpses of Princess Margaret, that Margaret was “determined to be a sort of anti-Queen”.
Despite this, Elizabeth was said to be protective of her younger sister and the two share a unique bond.
Princess Margaret’s struggles as ‘spare’
Ingrid Seward previously penned that Margaret saw her sister as “so good and perfect”. Whilst she saw herself as the opposite and doomed because of it.
Margaret, affectionately nicknamed Margo within the family, led a drastically different life to her dutiful older sister.
Margaret was known to have opted for parties, dancing, singing, staying out late and smoking rather than responsibility.
Her love life saw an affair and secret engagement to Group Captain Peter Townsend, which was deemed as an inappropriate match by The Firm.
Later, Margaret’s whirlwind marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Lord Snowdon) ensued – with much scandal also surrounding it.
Margaret later had an affair with Roddy Llewellyn, part of the evident breakdown of her marriage with photographer Antony.
Because of this, Margaret had experienced the complexity of relationships. And due to her fame, the consequent scrutiny that came with this.
Princess Margaret’s approach to parenting
Scrutiny and publicity the princess attempted to shield her two children, David and Sarah, from. Especially when her marriage to their father, Lord Snowdon, ended with the first royal divorce since Henry VIII.
Margaret once said: “My children are not royal. They just happen to have the Queen for their aunt.”
The princess undoubtedly prioritised her children. All whilst navigating the unique expectations they faced.
Ingrid Seward described how Margaret put her children before her responsibilities, partners and the rest of her family.
An approach that was supposedly very different to her sister.
Princess Margaret’s advice to sister Queen Elizabeth
“For all her personal problems and temperamental behaviour, she was a natural mother. Even though she had a wonderful nanny, Nanny Sumner, if one of the children cried in the night it was Margaret who climbed out of bed to comfort them. She breastfed both babies and even changed their nappies between official engagements.”
According to historian Robert Lacey, Elizabeth was a more hands off mother and would leave her children at home whilst travelling for royal tours.
He explained: “She had been brought up in that style herself. After all, with her parents leaving her at home and entrusting her entire schooling to a governess and home tutors.”
It is unsurprising then that Margaret, who was allegedly more involved in the lives of her children, offered her guidance when Queen Elizabeth’s children encountered marriage issues.
Seward wrote how following her divorce, Margaret was more confident within herself, so much so she could offer advice to her sister and fellow royal relatives.
Herself and her children were happily settled, whilst Queen Elizabeth’s children were embroiled in turbulent relationships.
Queen Elizabeth’s ‘distress’ over her children’s marriages
Famously, three of the Queen’s children got divorced within four years of each other.
Princess Anne divorced her first husband in 1992, followed by Prince Andrew and Prince Charles who both divorced their partners in 1996.
A reality that Queen Elizabeth was said to have found “deeply upsetting”.
Margaret reportedly said to the queen when discussing Charles’ failing relationship with Diana: “Let her do what she likes and leave her alone”.
An approach she had taken with her own children – allowing them space when necessary.
‘I have produced two happy and well-adjusted children’
At one point in her life, Margaret was said to have told her sister: “I may not have achieved very much – but I at least feel my life has not been wasted, because I have produced two happy and well-adjusted children.”
Although it has been portrayed that Margaret was a hands on mother whilst Elizabeth was less so, it has been stated that the queen shared equal affection for her children.
Historian Lacey claimed that Lord Mountbatten, Prince Philip’s uncle, once said that the Queen’s favourite night of the week was the nanny’s night off.
“When nanny Mabel was off duty, Elizabeth could kneel beside the bath, bathe her babies, read to them and put them to bed herself.”
Read more: Prince Harry ‘really upset’ Queen Elizabeth II over wedding plans with Meghan Markle
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