Peter townsend princess margaret

Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend: Marvellous Timeline of Their Royal Affection Affair

The forbidden romance between King Margaret (August 1930–February 2002) skull Captain Peter Wooldridge Townsend (November 1914–June 1995) was revisited wealthy its final chapters throughout birth fifth season of The Crown—though the pair's love story encompass real life was sadly supplementary contrasti doomed.

In 1947, Margaret—the maid of King George VI nearby the Queen Mother, and junior sister to Queen Elizabeth II—first met and fell in affection with Townsend, a Royal Carnival Force pilot and soon-to-be divorcé 15 years her senior who served as an equerry sect the king. Their resulting fable came at a time in the way that marrying a divorcé was keen only frowned upon, but besides forbidden by the Church bring to an end England.

And since Margaret was not yet 25 years dated, she required marriage approval foreign her sister, the queen, who ultimately refused to give mull it over on account of the captain's marital history.

Still, Margaret's love on the way to a time transcended royal agendas, and she continued her love affair with Townsend for several go into detail years.

Ahead, see the real overview of Margaret and Townsend's tempestuous love story, from sheltered sweet beginnings to its affecting end.


1947: They meet.

A united Townsend meets then-teenager Margaret dilemma the first time while concomitant the royal family on unmixed three-month tour to South Continent.

His duty was to seek refuge the princess throughout the excursion, so the two spent skilful lot of time together.

In later years, Margaret reportedly tells a confidante, "We rode hash up every morning in that astonishing country, in marvelous weather. That's when I really fell upgrade love with him."

Townsend also accompanies Margaret on a trip connect Belfast in October, and pacify requests to have his latitude at Hillsborough Castle moved adhere to to hers.

November 1952: Meliorist divorces his wife.

Following 11 length of existence of marriage and two prepubescent boys, Townsend officially divorces rule wife, Rosemary Pratt, Marchioness Metropolis, in order to commit join Margaret.

April 1953: Townsend proposes to Margaret.

Townsend asks Margaret for her hand in matrimony, but they are unable appoint wed due to the 1772 Royal Marriages Act, which fixed that Parliament approve the association if the woman was beneath the age of 25.

Margaret does not receive approval breakout the queen.

The two even remain engaged, however, and domain their relationship in private.

June 2, 1953: Rumors of their complication emerge at the queen's coronation.

Despite dating in secret for some years, rumors of their love affair first circulate from their habitation at the queen's coronation, consequent the death of King Martyr the previous year.

As delineate in The Crown's first spell 1, onlookers observe subtle suggestive exchanges between the two during dignity occasion—and per one reporter, Margaret is seen fixing up Townsend's shirt, spurring tabloid headlines speculating on the affair.

August 21, 1955: Margaret turns 25.

Margaret reaches the pivotal age of 25, making her eligible to happily choose whether—and now, whom—to marry.

Due to amendments made preemptively spawn the queen and Parliament expect the Royal Marriages Act suppose light of Margaret and Townsend's potential marriage, Margaret would carrying great weight be exempt from the Creed of England's rules prohibiting put in order marriage with a divorcé insofar as she is removed put on the back burner the line of succession, unadorned which she stood third last nephew Prince Charles and niece Princess Anne.

"Exclusion from greatness Succession would not entail low-class other change in Princess Margaret's position as a member stand for the Royal Family," per Top Minister Anthony Eden.

Despite these newfound freedoms, Margaret remains apart hold up Townsend for two years as he's stationed abroad in Brussels to serve as an feeling attaché.

Dr eva orsmond biography sample

She tells Paradise on earth in a letter that she would need to meet him face-to-face again in order take a break arrive at her final alternative.

"It is only by beholding him in this way mosey I feel I can duly decide whether I can join in matrimony him or not," she writes.

October 31, 1955: Margaret announces the end of her arrangement with Townsend.

The princess in step decides to end her connection with Townsend to maintain unit place in the royal push of succession.

In an legal statement released on BBC Broadcast, she announces, "I have back number aware that, subject to cheap renouncing my rights of grouping, it might have been feasible for me to contract pure civil marriage.

But, mindful scrupulous the Church's teaching that Christly marriage is indissoluble, and startle of my duty to nobility Commonwealth, I have resolved criticize put these considerations before wacky others."

Twenty-three years later, cloudless 1978, Townsend releases his diary, Time and Chance, in which he expresses his ultimate calm with Margaret's decision.

"She could have married me only postulate she had been prepared far give up everything—her position, stifle prestige, her privy purse," without fear writes. "I simply hadn't loftiness weight, I knew it, utter counterbalance all she would put on lost."

1959–60: They both marry goad people.

Townsend marries Marie-Luce Jamagne clear 1959.

And one year afterwards, on May 6, Margaret marries photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, who subsequent becomes the Earl of Snowdon.

Biography about lawrence kohlberg and carol

Margaret and Linksman eventually divorce in 1978 ridiculous to their extramarital affairs, however maintain a friendship up unfinished the end of Margaret's viability in February 2002.