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Birth of a princess -

Princess Margaret Rose was born on August 21, 1930, at Glamis Castle in Scotland.

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Little princess -

She was widely acknowledged as the spirited, impulsive, and more attractive sibling, in contrast to her older sister Elizabeth, who was diligent and solemn.

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Conventional upbringing -

Elizabeth and Margaret, who were four years apart in age, had a protected upbringing in London under the care of nannies. No one anticipated that their family would become next in line for the British royal throne.

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Typical household -

In 1933, a photograph was taken of Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth in the gardens of Windsor Castle. They were seen with their grandfather King George V, grandmother Queen Mary, and mother, the Duchess of York.

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Nicknames -

This 1933 photograph captures a moment with two-year-old Princess Margaret and seven-year-old Princess Elizabeth, affectionately known as "Lilibet" in her childhood.

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Change of course -

In 1936, the lives of the girls became publicized when their uncle King Edward VIII stepped down from the throne to marry his American lover, Wallace Simpson, who had been divorced twice.

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Royals -

Upon learning that their father would ascend to the throne, Margaret reportedly expressed sympathy towards her older sister, who was now the presumed heir. She affectionately embraced her while uttering, "Oh, Lillibet, poor you."

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Father's coronation -

Life for the two sisters underwent significant changes when King George VI was crowned in May 1937 and their mother became queen. 

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Two siblings -

Despite their close bond, Margaret's lifelong battle to find her place created ongoing tension. While Elizabeth received constitutional history lessons in preparation for her future role as queen, Margaret was excluded from these educational opportunities.

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Royal obligations -

The royal family in South Africa in 1947. From Cape Town, Princess Elizabeth delivered a speech on her 21st birthday, affirming her commitment to the Commonwealth and preparing for her future as queen.

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Pride and joy -

King George VI once described his two daughters, referring to one as dutiful and the other as vivacious, stating, "Lilibet is my pride, Margaret my joy."

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Princess Elizabeth's wedding -

In 1947, Princess Elizabeth tied the knot with Philip Mountbatten, while Margaret served as a bridesmaid.

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Side by side -

Elizabeth holds her second child, Princess Anne, while at Buckingham Palace in 1950. Princess Margaret and King George VI are present.

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King George's death -

Following the death of King George VI in 1952, Princess Elizabeth, 26 years old, ascended to the throne as queen.

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Coronation day -

Princess Margaret assisted the Queen during her coronation in June 1953.

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Family affair -

Princess Margaret (on the right) observes the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey, accompanied by a young Prince Charles and the Queen Mother.

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Sibling support -

During the ceremony, 22-year-old Margaret attracted attention by dusting off a man's collar, while her elder sister remained the center of attention.

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Captain Peter Townsend -

The man in question was Captain Peter Townsend, an officer in the RAF who had served as one of her father's equerries. He was 16 years older than Margaret, and their romantic relationship had thus far been concealed from the general public.

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Captain Peter Townsend -

The couple desired to marry, but since Townsend had been divorced, the government determined that Margaret would need to renounce her royal privileges in order to wed him.

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Separation -

Princess Margaret made the decision in 1955 to relinquish Townsend, prioritizing her commitment to the Commonwealth. This heartbreaking conclusion to their love affair garnered significant public empathy and support.

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The rebellious one -

Margaret was profoundly affected by this heartbreak. She began drinking and smoking more, behaviors that persisted throughout her life.

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Lap of luxury -

According to Craig Brown, the biographer, in her twenties, the Princess devoted two hours each morning to lying in bed, smoking non-stop, and tuning in to the radio. Later, at 12:30 pm, she would have a vodka "pick-me-up" followed by substantial amounts of wine and whisky during lunch and dinner.

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Antony Armstrong-Jones -

Following a period of seclusion, she encountered society photographer and bohemian Antony Armstrong-Jones, and in 1960, they publicly declared their plans to marry.

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Princess Margaret's marriage -

Margaret's wedding—a historic moment—garnered a staggering global audience of approximately 300 million viewers. It was the first royal wedding to be televised.

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Prince Philip -

As her father had died in 1952, Prince Philip, her brother-in-law, walked her down the aisle at Westminster Abbey.

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Earl and Countess of Snowdon -

Margaret and her newlywed spouse were bestowed with the titles of Earl and Countess of Snowdon when they wed.

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Affairs -

The union initially appeared content but later encountered difficulties, as rumors of affairs circulated. Ultimately, the couple gradually grew apart from one another.

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Children -

Margaret found immense joy in motherhood, seeing it as the greatest gift from her marriage. Her children, David and Sarah, entered the world in 1961 and 1964.

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Peter Sellers -

There were rumors circulating that Margaret had been involved in multiple relationships while she was married, such as with actor Peter Sellers (pictured) and musician Mick Jagger. However, these claims remain unverified.

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Her young companion -

In 1973, Margaret was introduced to her new love, Roddy Llewellyn, by her friends Lord and Lady Tennant (pictured).

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Roddy LLewelly -

Llewellyn, a British nobleman, was 17 years younger than the 43-year-old Princess Their romantic involvement carried on for eight years. 

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Mysterious Mustique -

Margaret and Llewellyn frequently vacationed together on Mustique island. Their relationship remained undisclosed until 1976 when a photographer captured pictures of them there on holiday. 

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Marital separation -

After the news of Margaret's affair was made public, the Snowdons publicly parted ways and eventually divorced in 1978.

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Meeting celebrities -

Despite experiencing heartbreak and an unhappy marriage, Margaret began establishing herself as a supporter of arts and culture within the royal family, meeting numerous celebrities over the years. 

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Sofia Loren -

Princess Margaret encounters Sofia Loren during the premiere of 'The Key' in 1958.

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The Beatles -

Princess Margaret had a discussion with The Beatles during the debut of their film 'Help!' in London back in 1965.

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My Fair Lady -

In 1966, the Princess engages in a conversation with Julie Andrews, Rex Harrison, and Stanley Holloway, following a London stage production of 'My Fair Lady.'

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Mia Farrow -

In 1967, Margaret encounters actors Laurence Harvey and Mia Farrow at a London screening of 'The Taming of the Shrew.'

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Brigitte Bardot -

Brigitte Bardot is seen chatting with Her Royal Highness at the London premiere of 'Shalako' in 1968.

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Valentino -

Princess Margaret, accompanied by Italian designer Valentino in 1968.

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Neil Diamond -

In 1977, she met musician Neil Diamond in London.

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Abba -

In 1977, the Princess was pictured alongside the members of the Swedish pop group Abba.

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Character -

Nevertheless, the Princess's haughtiness occasionally created difficulties when interacting with important individuals.

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Her Royal Highness -

According to the New York Times, Princess Margaret always insisted on being addressed as "Ma'am," allowing her close friends to affectionately call her "Ma'am darling." The same rule applied to her children, who were expected to call her Princess Margaret in front of others.

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Grace Kelly -

When she met Grace Kelly in America, Margaret allegedly told the actress that she didn't look like a movie star. 

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Elizabeth Taylor -

That same evening, the Princess reportedly described the 33-carat engagement ring Richard Burton gave to actress Elizabeth Taylor as "vulgar."

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House guest from hell -

Due to her challenging behavior and belittling remarks, she earned the nickname "house guest from hell."

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House guest from hell -

According to the English novelist Nancy Mitford, she frequently arrived late and made hosts and guests wait for her.

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House guest from hell -

On another occasion, she reportedly refused to let her fellow guests leave until she gave them permission to be dismissed. 

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Later years -

Despite being a patron of the arts, Margaret was unable to establish a clear role for herself within the royal family, according to many.

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Royal appearances -

Regardless, she fulfilled her royal responsibilities and regularly accompanied the rest of the royal family to various events, as seen in this photograph taken during the 1995 State Opening of Parliament.

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Royal appearances -

Princess Margaret joins the Queen Mother at Ascot in 1995.

© Reuters

Royal appearances -

In 1993, she attended a Household Cavalry presentation ceremony with her sister, Queen Elizabeth.

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Always second place -

She was always aware of her position, following her older sister.

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Good friends -

Despite the controversies Margaret sparked for the royal family, the sisters maintained a strong bond throughout the years.

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Poor health -

After years of heavy drinking and smoking, Margaret sadly experienced various health issues later in life, including multiple strokes. She appeared significantly older and more tired compared to her elder sister.

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Death -

After suffering her third stroke in 2002, the Princess passed away at 71 years of age. Approximately six weeks later, the Queen Mother, who was 101 years old, also died. This deeply affected Queen Elizabeth.

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Margaret's funeral -

At her sister's funeral, Queen Elizabeth was seen wiping away tears in an extremely rare public display of emotion.

See also: Historic funeral processions and memorial services

© Reuters