Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, CI, GCVO (Margaret Rose Armstrong-Jones, née Windsor) 21 August 1930–9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and sister of the current British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. She also later held the title Countess of Snowdon by marriage.

Peter Townsend

Two years after her sister's coronation, Margaret became embroiled in a public scandal over her wish to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend, a Royal Air Force pilot and Battle of Britain hero (not to be confused with Pete Townshend of The Who). Townsend was several years Margaret's senior and divorced, which made him an unsuitable husband for a Royal Princess. Margaret soon came under heavy pressure not to marry Townsend, with suggestions she would lose her title, Civil List allowance and place in the line of succession. Taking advice from the Archbishop of Canterbury and senior politicians, she decided not to marry him and made a public announcement in which she stated that her decision was made out of loyalty to the Crown and out of consciousness of her position and responsibilities as well as the Church's teaching on the indissolubility of Christian marriage.

Related Topics:
Group Captain Peter Townsend - Royal Air Force - Battle of Britain - Pete Townshend - Archbishop of Canterbury

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However, papers released in 2004 indicate that, had she married Townsend, she would have been allowed to keep her title as well as her Civil List allowance. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3363809.stm

Related Topics:
2004 - Civil List

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