Death of Princess Margaret

On this day, Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, died in her sleep at the age of 71, at King Edward VII’s Hospital in London, having suffered four strokes, the last one just the day before she died. As a young woman, Margaret was one of the world’s most celebrated socialites and it is said that her father, King George VI, referred to Elizabeth as his pride and Margaret as his joy. However, court etiquette at the time would not allow Margaret to marry the love of her life, Peter Townsend, as he was divorced. She eventually married Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960, but her unruly lifestyle and eventual divorce from Armstrong-Jones meant that her private life was a permanent subject of great speculation by the media and royal watchers.

Author: Tony

Born and raised in Malaysia between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Educated at Wycliffe College in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England. Living in the foothills of Mount Etna since 1982 and teaching English at Catania University since 1987. View all posts by Tony