Search “Margaret Prince” and most results lead to one woman: Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. She was glamorous, witty and often controversial, and her life mirrored how Britain’s royal family changed during the 20th century. The name also belongs to a Salem witch trial defendant and a South Carolina businesswoman, and this guide covers them too, so every version of the search gets an answer.
Biography Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Margaret Rose |
| Nickname | Margot |
| Title | Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon |
| Date of Birth | 21 August 1930 |
| Place of Birth | Glamis Castle, Angus, Scotland |
| Date of Death | 9 February 2002 |
| Age at Death | 71 years |
| Nationality | British |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Religion | Anglican (Church of England) |
| Profession/Occupation | Senior member of the British Royal Family |
| Years Active | 1940s–2001 |
| Education | Educated at home by governess Marion Crawford |
| Spouse | Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon (m. 1960; div. 1978) |
| Children | David Armstrong-Jones (Lord Linley), Lady Sarah Chatto |
| Parents | King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother |
| Siblings | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Net Worth | Estate valued at around £7.6 million at death |
| Height | Approx. 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Dark brown |
| Awards/Honors | Royal Victorian Chain, GCVO, Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St John, Royal Family Orders of George V, George VI and Elizabeth II |
Who Is Margaret Prince? Understanding the Search
In most cases, “Margaret Prince” means Princess Margaret Rose Windsor, second daughter of King George VI. People often reverse or shorten royal names when searching, and they type “prince” because they want to know about her links to princes such as Philip, Charles, Edward and Harry.
A smaller group of searchers wants someone else. That could be Margaret Suggs Prince, who owned Cherry Grove Pier, or Margaret Prince, the widow accused during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Some people are looking for an artist, a video game character or a news story.
After years of writing about royal history, I have seen this kind of name confusion many times. The best approach is to separate each identity clearly. This article starts with the Princess, who accounts for most search intent, and then covers the other profiles further down.
Princess Margaret’s Early Life and Royal Upbringing
Birth at Glamis Castle
Princess Margaret was born at 9:22 pm on 21 August 1930 at Glamis Castle, her mother’s ancestral home in Scotland. She was the first senior royal born in Scotland since 1602. At her birth, she was fourth in line to the throne.
Her birth registration was reportedly delayed for a few days so she would not be entered as number 13 in the local parish register. It is a small detail, but it shows how much superstition and ceremony surrounded royal births at the time.
Her parents, then the Duke and Duchess of York, first wanted to call her Ann Margaret. King George V disliked “Ann,” so they chose Margaret Rose instead. Archbishop Cosmo Lang baptised her at Buckingham Palace on 30 October 1930.
Childhood, Education and the War Years
The abdication of Edward VIII in December 1936 changed Margaret’s life. Her father became King George VI, her sister Elizabeth became heir, and Margaret moved to second in line to the throne at just six years old.
Like her sister, she was educated at home by the Scottish governess Marion Crawford. The lessons focused on history, music, dancing and languages. Margaret became an accomplished pianist and singer. She also joined the 1st Buckingham Palace Brownie Pack and later became a Girl Guide and Sea Ranger.
During the Second World War, the sisters stayed mainly at Windsor Castle rather than being evacuated to Canada. In 1940 they spoke on the BBC’s Children’s Hour, and Margaret closed the broadcast by saying goodnight. On VE Day in 1945, both princesses slipped into the London crowds incognito to celebrate.
Romance, Marriage and Family Life
The Peter Townsend Affair
Margaret’s first serious love was Group Captain Peter Townsend, an RAF officer and her father’s former equerry. He was about 16 years older than her and divorced. He proposed in early 1953. Their romance became public when Margaret was seen brushing fluff from his coat at the June 1953 coronation.
The Royal Marriages Act 1772 required the Queen’s consent. The Church of England also opposed remarriage after divorce. Once Margaret turned 25, she could have married without that consent, but she would have had to give up her place in the line of succession and her royal allowance.
On 31 October 1955, Margaret announced she would not marry Townsend, placing duty and Church teaching ahead of personal happiness. Many people consider this her defining moment, and polls at the time showed that most of the British public had supported the match.
Marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones and Children
Margaret became engaged to photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in February 1960. They married on 6 May 1960 at Westminster Abbey. It was the first royal wedding broadcast on television, with an estimated 300 million viewers. She wore a Norman Hartnell gown with the Poltimore Tiara.
The couple spent a six-week honeymoon aboard HMY Britannia in the West Indies. In October 1961, Armstrong-Jones was created Earl of Snowdon, which made Margaret the Countess of Snowdon.
| Child | Born | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones | 3 November 1961 | Known as Viscount Linley; furniture maker |
| Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth Chatto | 1 May 1964 | Professional painter; one of Diana’s bridesmaids |
Separation, Divorce and Later Relationships
The marriage became strained by the late 1960s, and both partners had affairs. In February 1976, the News of the World printed a photo of Margaret in a swimsuit on Mustique with Roddy Llewellyn, a landscape gardener 17 years younger than her.
The couple separated on 19 March 1976, and the divorce was finalised in July 1978. It was the first divorce of a senior royal since 1901. Margaret never remarried, and she stayed friends with Llewellyn long after their relationship ended.
Princess Margaret and the Princes of the Royal Family
Princess Margaret and Prince Philip Relationship
Prince Philip was Margaret’s brother-in-law after he married Elizabeth in 1947. Royal biographers generally describe their relationship as cordial rather than close. Both had strong personalities, and the Townsend affair was a tense time within the family.
Over the decades they settled into the familiar routine of family life at Balmoral, Sandringham and Windsor. In June 2001, frail after several strokes, Margaret attended a service marking Philip’s 80th birthday. It was one of her last public appearances.
Princess Margaret and Prince Charles
Searches for “Princess Margaret Prince Charles” usually reflect their warm aunt-nephew bond. Charles often spoke fondly of his aunt’s humour and love of music. She was one of the family members who encouraged his interest in the arts.
After her death in 2002, Charles gave a televised tribute describing her as a wonderful, loving aunt. For many viewers, this showed a softer side of Margaret that the tabloid stories had often hidden.
Princess Margaret at Prince Edward’s Wedding
Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones on 19 June 1999 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. Margaret attended, but only a few months earlier she had badly scalded her feet in a bathroom accident on Mustique. Her fragile appearance at the wedding drew press attention.
For royal watchers, this wedding marks the point where her health decline became visible to the public. From then on, she increasingly relied on walking support and later a wheelchair.
Princess Margaret and Prince Harry
Prince Harry is Margaret’s great-nephew. He was born in 1984 and was only 17 when she died, so their time together was limited to family gatherings. Harry’s later decision to step back from royal life has led many writers to compare him with Margaret. Both struggled with being the “spare” who was always in the shadow of the heir.
Royal Duties, Tours and Charity Work
Margaret represented the Crown at home and abroad for more than five decades. Her first trip abroad was the 1947 royal tour of Southern Africa. Her 1955 Caribbean tour caused a sensation, as crowds sang calypsos about her glamour.
| Year | Notable Tour or Duty |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Southern Africa tour with the King and Queen |
| 1955 | Caribbean tour, including Jamaica |
| 1962 | Jamaica independence ceremonies |
| 1965 | Visit to the USA |
| 1978 | Tuvalu independence celebrations |
| 1979 | US tour (later controversial) |
| 1987 | Visit to China |
She was president or patron of more than 80 organisations. These included the Royal Ballet, the NSPCC, Girlguiding UK, the Scottish Children’s League and the St John Ambulance Brigade. Ballet was closest to her heart, and she was a friend of Dame Margot Fonteyn.
Some critics said she was less active than other royals. However, her work with children’s charities and her early support for AIDS causes, such as London Lighthouse, showed real commitment. In my view, her charity record was stronger than her reputation suggested.
Style, Social Life and Personality
In the late 1940s and 1950s, Margaret led a fashionable crowd known as “the Margaret Set.” They met at London nightclubs such as the Café de Paris and The 400 Club. Their group included young aristocrats like Billy Wallace and Colin Tennant, and the press followed every rumoured romance.
Her fashion influence was significant. She wore Christian Dior for her 21st birthday portrait, and she helped popularise statement hats, bold ballgowns and later mod-era accessories. Designers still refer to “the Margaret look” as the more daring counterpart to her sister’s classic style.
People who knew her described her as charming, intelligent and funny, but also sharp and very conscious of her status. She could be informal one moment and demand formality the next. That mix, rather than being simply “spoiled,” explains why opinions about her still vary so widely.
Her private interests included ballet, amateur theatre and the music of Tchaikovsky. She appeared on Desert Island Discs in 1981, and in 1984 she became the first royal to appear in a BBC radio drama, The Archers. She was also a devout Anglican.
Later Years, Health and Death
Margaret was a heavy smoker from her late teens. In January 1985, part of her left lung was removed. She suffered a mild stroke on Mustique in February 1998 and severely scalded her feet in early 1999.
Further strokes in 2001 left her with partial paralysis on her left side and some loss of vision. One of her final public appearances was at the Queen Mother’s 101st birthday in August 2001, where she appeared in a wheelchair.
She died in her sleep at King Edward VII’s Hospital in London on 9 February 2002, aged 71. Her private funeral at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, took place on 15 February, the 50th anniversary of her father’s funeral. She was cremated in Slough, and her ashes were later placed in the King George VI Memorial Chapel beside her parents.
Princess Margaret Net Worth and Estate
At her death, Margaret’s estate was valued at around £7.6 million. Most of it was left to her two children, David and Sarah. Much of her wealth came from inheritance, including gifts from her family and from Queen Mary.
In June 2006, a Christie’s auction of her possessions raised about £13.66 million, far more than expected. The Poltimore Tiara alone sold for £926,400. A Fabergé clock also sold for a large sum.
Her Mustique villa, Les Jolies Eaux, was built on land given by Colin Tennant as a wedding present. She gave the villa to Lord Linley in 1999, and he later sold it.
Portrayals in Film and Television
Margaret’s life has become a strong subject for drama. Several talented actresses have played her at different ages.
| Actress | Production | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Lucy Cohu | The Queen’s Sister | 2005 |
| Ramona Marquez | The King’s Speech | 2010 |
| Bel Powley | A Royal Night Out | 2015 |
| Beau Gadsdon | The Crown (young Margaret) | 2016–2017 |
| Vanessa Kirby | The Crown | 2016–2017 |
| Helena Bonham Carter | The Crown | 2019–2020 |
| Lesley Manville | The Crown | 2022–2023 |
The Crown in particular brought her story to a new generation. Many younger viewers first learned about the Townsend affair and her marriage through the series.
Other People and Characters Named Margaret Prince
Margaret Suggs Prince of Cherry Grove Pier
Margaret Suggs Prince was a Loris, South Carolina native. She married her high school sweetheart, E.W. Prince, in August 1948. Together they ran Cherry Grove Pier in North Myrtle Beach and other local businesses, including The Holiday House Motel.
After Hurricane Hugo destroyed the pier in 1989, the family rebuilt it, and it remains a local landmark. She also served on the Loris Healthcare Board of Commissioners. She received several community honours, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, and died in October 2019 at age 93.
Margaret Prince in the 1692 Salem Witch Trials
Another historical Margaret Prince was a widow from Gloucester, Massachusetts. She was accused of witchcraft in September 1692. Her accusers claimed she afflicted others through her spectre, which was a common charge during the Salem panic.
She was examined before magistrates, denied the charges and was eventually released on a bond. She was among the many people caught up in the hysteria who survived it. Her records are useful for anyone researching colonial Massachusetts history.
Margaret Prince Artist, Genshin and News Searches
Some searches for “Margaret Prince artist” relate to the Princess’s own artistic nature and her daughter, Lady Sarah Chatto, who is a painter. Others refer to independent artists with the same name. If you are searching for a specific artist, add a location or medium to your query.
“Margaret Prince Genshin” is a gaming mix-up. In Genshin Impact, Margaret is the owner of the Cat’s Tail tavern in Mondstadt. The “Prince” part usually refers to the game’s Abyss storyline, and the two are not related.
Searches for “Margaret Prince Amber Alert” and “Margaret Prince Adam Wilson” relate to news reports involving private individuals and have no link to the royal family. For time-sensitive cases like these, rely only on official police and alert channels for accurate, current information.
FAQs
Was Princess Margaret Close to Prince Charles?
Yes, she shared a warm bond with her nephew, based partly on their shared love of music and the arts. Charles gave a heartfelt public tribute after her death in 2002.
Did Princess Margaret Attend Prince Edward’s Wedding?
Yes, she attended Prince Edward’s wedding to Sophie Rhys-Jones in June 1999 at Windsor. It came soon after a serious scalding accident, and her frail condition was widely noticed.
Why Did Princess Margaret Not Marry Peter Townsend?
Townsend was divorced, and marrying him would have gone against Church teaching of the time. She would also have lost her royal rights and income. She chose duty and ended the relationship publicly in 1955.
How Many Children Did Princess Margaret Have?
She had two children with Antony Armstrong-Jones: David, now the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, and Lady Sarah Chatto. Both have lived mostly private, creative lives away from royal duties.
What Was Princess Margaret’s Relationship With Prince Philip?
Their relationship was polite and familial rather than especially close. Biographers note occasional tension, but they remained part of the same close family circle for more than 50 years.
Where Is Princess Margaret Buried?
Her ashes rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, alongside her parents and later her sister, Queen Elizabeth II.
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