Princess Margaret’s Public Slip Sparks Crisis That ‘Absolutely Aghast’ The Palace

Princess Margaret did a public slip that “absolutely aghast” the palace.

In Channel 5’s documentary “Scandals at the Palace,” royal historians talked about Princess Margaret’s scandalous love affair with Group Captain Peter Townsend. Many didn’t approve of their romance because Townsend had been divorced, so Queen Elizabeth II could not give her consent to her sister.

“The royal household were absolutely aghast,” editor of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward said.

Royal historian and commentator Richard Fitzwilliams commented on the public slip that Princess Margaret did that confirmed her affair with Townsend. According to him, it was an “unwise” PDA.

“That gesture of the bit off fluff went right around the world and was in fact major story which led unquestionably to a crisis,” Fitzwilliams said. “This was a public display of affection which was very unwise.”

Princess Margaret and Townsend’s romance didn’t end up in marriage even if many were convinced that he was the love of her life. In a statement issued in 1955, the Queen said that she was mindful of the church’s teaching that Christian marriage is “indissoluble.”

“It was a case of putting duty before self and that’s what she decided to do,” royal author Katie Nicholl said about Queen Elizabeth II’s choice.

Princess Margaret ended up marrying Anthony Armstrong-Jones. However, she is also the first royal to go through a divorce after 400 years since Henry VIII. Her divorce was considered a landmark moment in royal history.

Queen Elizabeth II’s sister was considered a “glamorous rebel” during her lifetime. Although she and Princess Diana were living in the same palace, the two reportedly had a cold war.

The late Princess of Wales shocked the royal family when her secret interview was published. In the said interview, she blamed Prince Charles affair with Camilla Parker Bowles for her failed marriage. Princess Margaret found the People’s Princess’ comments “unacceptable.”

Since then, Princess Margaret never talked to Princess Diana and she also instructed her staff to never communicate to anybody from Princess Diana’s apartment.

The Queen Mother was also affected by Princess Diana’s interview. She was “deeply shocked” and detested Prince Charles’ first wife for talking about her troubled marriage to a biographer.