The Most Controversial Royal Marriage Was Stranger Than People Realize
Nothing satisfies the public quite like a steaming hot cup of royal family gossip tea. Before the marriages of Princes Harry and William monopolized headlines, and even ahead of Charles and Diana, the most jaw-dropping royal couple was Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon. Their union sparked an intense fascination surrounding their raucous behavior, and the secrets of what really went down were only revealed decades later.
A Romantic Princess
On the heels of her public heartbreak, Princess Margaret was one of the most eligible women on the world stage. Instead of choosing a safe option — a fellow high born, a rule follower — she went for Antony Armstrong-Jones. This would cause quite a stir.
Lord Snowdon
It’s true, the future Lord Snowdon was born semi-well-connected. His mother, Anne Messel, was a high-powered attorney who married into nobility by the way of barrister Ronald Armstrong-Jones. Despite his privileged standing, he was far from happy.
Family Problems
A young Antony followed the traditional path for children of British high society — he was sent away to boarding school. His detachment from his family deepened when the poliovirus left him with a permanent leg disability and only his sister visited his sickbed.
Second Fiddle
Loneliness was something Margaret also understood all too well. Her alienating position as the daughter of a king presented her with endless opportunities. Still, she was always second fiddle to an older sister who was thrust into the role of Queen.
