Queen Elizabeth Giving Prince Philip Regency Over Princess Margaret Received Backlash

Queen Elizabeth made an important decision decades ago regarding the Regency.

After her coronation in 1952, Princess Margaret was next in line to rule as Princess Regent if anything bad happened to Her Majesty. But the Queen decided to pass on the Regency to her husband instead.

The Regency is regarded with utmost importance because it gives the Regent the power to rule the monarchy without inheriting the official title of Queen or King.

Her Majesty’s younger sister was supposed to be styled as Princess Regent, but the Queen had a change of heart. Princess Margaret was supportive of the Queen’s decision, but the monarch still faced backlash from some of her critics.

According to Express, government ministers wanted Princess Margaret to remain in line with the Regency much longer. But there were also concerns regarding the late royal’s possible Regency since she was involved in a controversial relationship with Group Captain Townsend.

There were claims that the Queen giving the Regency to her husband instead of her sister suggests that she doesn’t trust Princess Margaret’s ability to rule the monarchy.

“In view of press references to Margaret, I favor postponement [of the Bill]. For it would be thought that Bill was presented because Margaret is unsuitable to act. But there is no reason on which we could oppose the Queen's wishes. The Duke of Edinburgh would regard it as an affront, and that would be a very serious matter,” Arthur Salter, the minister of Economic Affairs, said.

But Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, the home secretary at that time, said that Prince Philip earned the right to be named Regent.

“I am sure that everyone will agree – that the Duke of Edinburgh has already won such a high place in the affection of the country, and has already proved himself such a great help to the Queen, as undoubtedly to merit a place in this line of potential Regents,” he said.

Meanwhile, there are also ongoing discussions about the Regency today. But this time around, it is involving Prince Charles. There are rumors that he will be named Regent in 2021 following the Queen’s 95^th birthday.