The loves of Princess Margaret Rose

Princess Margaret was born on 21 August 1930 at Glamis Castle, the first royal baby born in Scotland in over 300 years. While she was sister and best friend of Queen Elizabeth II, she is now largely remembered for her complicated and sad love life. Who were the loves of Princess Margaret? 

Princess Margaret first met Group Captain Peter Townsend as a young teenager but it was not until her father’s death in 1952 when she began to grow closer to him, She was 22 at the time while he was approaching 40.

Despite the sixteen year age gap, the two quickly fell in love. However, Townsend was divorced from his wife which was still considered an insurmountable barrier for the Church of England. Her sister, the young Queen Elizabeth II, was unable to support the marriage due to this. 

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The Princess was originally determined to wait until her 25th birthday when she no longer needed the monarch’s permission to marry. However, after her 25th birthday, Margaret released a statement explaining that she could not break from the church’s teachings. 

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Princess Margaret met Anthony Armstrong-Jones at a dinner party in 1958 and was quickly interested in the society photographer. The two married at Westminster Abbey in 1960 and although their two children were born in 1961 and 1964, the marriage quickly fell apart with both straying. The constant arguments and threats from both sides continued until their divorce in 1978. 

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In 1973, the Princess then began an affair with the 23 year old Roddy Llewellyn. Her husband carried out several affairs, and Margaret sought her own happiness. 

Llewelleyn was a soft-spoken and kind gardener who first met the Princess in Edinburgh. The two kept their relationship largely private for a few years until photos of the couple on Mustique surfaced. They continued their relationship for eight years until they broke up in 1981. 

Princess Margaret remained unlucky in love and was unable to find a partner at the right time in her life.