AMP in the post
British royal family news reveals that this week the royal family will be reminded of the anniversary of Princess Margaret’s death and funeral. The beautiful royal led a complicated and complex life and Royally Obsessed podcast hosts Roberta Fiorito and Rachel Bowie took time to reflect on her life and times.
In particular the two addressed the longstanding belief by many that her sister, Queen Elizabeth, made a tragic decision that dearly cost her sister love and happiness. Margaret was once involved in a controversial relationship with a divorced man and that was simply verboten for royals at the time.
In the end the Queen denied her sister permission to marry divorced courtier Group Captain Peter Townsend and many think that gravely affected Margaret’s future health and well being.
Royal Family News – Margaret Was Denied A Love Match
Fiorito said, “There was a quote in Margaret’s obituary that was actually taken from 1995 when Peter Townsend passed away. It was from Harold Brooksbank, who was a genealogist in the UK. He said, ‘In my opinion, the Queen barring her from marrying Townsend was the turning point to disaster for the Royal Family.”
AMP in the post
He continued, “After Princess Margaret was denied marriage, it backfired and, more or less, ruined Margaret’s life. The Queen decided that from then on anyone someone in her family wanted to marry would be, more or less, acceptable.”
The host then said, “What he’s saying is that the Queen is really trying not to be a blocker. It might not be directed at a couple in particular, but it’s saying that she’s given everyone the freedom.”
Royal Family News – Princess Margaret Lived A Complex Life
Who was Townsend and why was he considered so inappropriate? He was a former fighter pilot, who served as King George VI’s equerry from 1944 to 1952. He held the same position for Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 to 1953. In April 1953 the dashing and handsome man proposed to Princess Margaret.
Despite his accomplishments and loyalty to the royal family, the Group Captain was not deemed a suitable match for the sister of the Queen.
AMP in the post
Marks against him included the fact that he was 15 years older, a commoner and a divorcee at a time when the Church of England didn’t recognize divorce.
Royal Family News – Princess Margaret Was Denied Permission to Marry
So, due to the 18th century Royal Marriages Act, Margaret needed her sister’s permission to marry the divorcee. As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Queen Elizabeth was forced to tell the pair she did not condone their marriage and in October 1955, Princess Margaret issued a statement ending the relationship, citing her “duty to the Commonwealth.”
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