Thanks to Netflix’s hit series The Crown, the world is again fascinated with late Queen Elizabeth II‘s sister, Princess Margaret, and her highly-publicised royal romance with Peter Townsend.
The first season of The Crown ended with the Queen telling Margaret that she could not marry Peter because he was a divorcee —but many fans were left wondering, did Margaret stay with Peter? If not, did she end up marrying someone else?
Peter was a vital part of the Princess’ formative years.
The pair met in 1947, when Peter accompanied the royal family on a tour of Southern Africa. Princess Margaret and Peter became very familiar with each other as it was his job to look after her.
“We rode together every morning in that wonderful country, in marvelous weather. That’s when I really fell in love with him,” Margaret allegedly later commented.
In 1952, Peter divorced his first wife and proposed to Princess Margaret a year later. At the time Margaret was under 25-years-old and therefore needed permission to marry him. But Queen Elizabeth II did not provide permission to Margaret’s request.
“She could make you bend double with laughing and also touch you deeply in your heart,” Peter said about Margaret.
In October 1955, a then 25-year-old Margaret released the following public statement revealing she and Peter, 40, had officially ended their romantic relationship:
“I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend,” she said.
“I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage. But mindful of the Church’s teachings that Christian marriage is indissoluble and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before others.”
“I have reached this decision entirely alone, and in doing so I have been strengthened by the unfailing support and devotion of Group Captain Townsend.”
At the time of their breakup, Margaret reportedly told Peter that she would never marry anyone else, but the Princess later tied the knot with photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in May 1960.
Margaret allegedly accepted Antony’s proposal just one day after she heard her former flame Peter planned to marry a young Belgian woman named Marie-Luce Jamagne, who was half his age and bore a striking resemblance to Princess Margaret.
Princess Margaret
Margaret and Antony — who was later given the royal title Earl of Snowdon — had two children, son David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon and daughter Lady Sarah Chatto, together during their 18-year marriage.
The couple shared two children, David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, and Lady Sarah Chatto.
They divorced in 1978 after Margaret allegedly cheated. Peter remained married to second wife Marie-Luce until his death at age 80 in June 1995. Margaret passed away at age 71 in February 2002.
This post originally appeared on our sister site, Closer Weekly
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