I saw a documentary sometime towards the end of last year here in the UK where it was said that Margaret was never actually forbidden to marry Townsend but that is she did she would have to forfeit her - and any children she might have had from a union with Townsend - place in the line of succession. She would also have not been allowed to marry in the Church - and that mattered to her. Note that the Church of England back then and until recent times refused to allow divorced people to marry in Church and Townsend was a divorcee. Charles had a CoE blessing when he married Camilla - their marriage was actually a civil one in a registry office. Townsend was actually greatly admired by the Royal Family - it was his divorced status and his age in relation to Margaret that was causing some concerns.
There are some assumptions and conflicting readings of exactly what happened. This is why I think Margaret's story is so fascinating -- it has yet to be fully told, but there is a lot of unsubstantiated gossip, rumors, and now revisionism. I have yet to see how the new Netflix series
The Crown portrays the star-crossed love story between Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend. I have read a number of biographies and viewed a few documentaries that shed some light on Margaret's story. I would imagine that the new series focuses more on the Queen and is sympathetic to her anguish in having to deny her sister's wish to marry the man she loved. Yes, Peter Townsend served as Equerry to their father, King George VI, so Townsend was well respected, trusted and admired by royals and courtiers. The bottom line problem that loomed over everything and doomed the lovestruck couple was the too recent scandalous abdication by Edward VIII to marry a divorced American woman.
Margaret may or may not have been outright told she couldn't marry Townsend. But the message was quite clear. When their feelings for each other came to light privately in 1947, it was hoped by her family that Margaret would grow out of the intensity of her emotions. As Margaret was very young, the two were separated for a year. Then after the King's death in 1952, and Elizabeth's coronation in 1953, Townsend was sent away to Brussels for two years. But the strength of affection and deep connection between Townsend and Margaret was undeniable and undying. The biggest obstacle was Townsend's divorced status, in addition to his having two children, and his huge age difference. The divorce factor conjured up the abdication affair, and that was the single greatest obstacle.
There are many interesting and some deeply disturbing personalities down the long history of the British Royal Family. But truthfully, there's similar cautionary tales in the long history of many families. It's just that British Royals have a lineage and antecedents that are readily available to read about because they have always been in a huge intense spotlight. I think perhaps it will take until the present Queen passes away before more detailed and extensive coverage might be given to Margaret's story. There's all kinds of conflicting stories including a so-called "recently discovered letter" written by Princess Margaret to the British Prime Minister in 1955. The letter is being described as proof that Margaret was 'confidently' determined to make the decision whether to marry on her own, and that she was 'uncertain' about whether she wanted to marry Townsend. To me that is a bunch of revisionist p.r. bunk. As is the claim in another article that Margaret "bounced back smartly" from her love affair with Townsend gathering a "posh set of friends" around her and entertaining lavishly. It sounds more to me like she was drowning her woes in lighthearted escapist activities that ultimately led to lifelong addictions which eventually crippled her health and culminated in her relatively early death.
By 1955, Margaret had already been given the ultimatum that she'd have to give up her royal title and her place in the line of succession if she chose to marry Townsend. That's the reason why it took her time to come to a decision. I doubt there was any uncertainty on Margaret's part as to whether she loved Townsend. Of course Margaret had to make the decision whether to marry on her own, but what she wrote in the letter likely came with strain and some duress. Who knows what family members were saying or not saying to her over the course of the 8 year affair (which included a year apart and later another 2 years of forced separation). By 1955, she may have finally been worn down, and she might be suggesting in the letter that once she saw Townsend again, she might be able to make a choice about the course her life would take. Who knows whether or not she was told what to write in the letter.
The lovers had been forcibly kept apart for approximately two years 1953 - 1955. They kept in touch by correspondence. In the first place,
why should a young lady have to write to her country's Prime Minister about whether or not she will choose to give up either her identity or the person she loves? The other question is: Why is this so-called 'history-changing' letter being revealed as proof of something different from historical accounts well after Princess Margaret's death? I am suspicious of revisionist claims about matters of the heart when the persons involved are dead and can no longer speak for themselves. A lot of the participants and witnesses are dead too and a new generation knows very little about the original facts, so it's easy to create a different slant. I'm interested to see how
The Crown handles the portrayal of Margaret vs Elizabeth.
Indeed from all accounts, Margaret was spoiled by her father and indulged by everyone as she grew up within her sheltered family existence. She had a charming, witty and mischievous personality. She also possessed a talented gift for mimicry and it's been said that she might well have been an accomplished actress had she been able to pursue such a career. She was used to having her way. She was used to being a royal. The loss of her father coupled with her sister's accession to the throne must have been extremely difficult for her emotionally.
Margaret's relationship with Townsend is said to have begun during a tour of South Africa in 1947 when her father was still alive. It would be interesting to see what might have eventually happened had her father not died when he did (in 1952). Who knows except the two people involved how deep their feelings were for each other? From what I've read and the photos I've seen (particularly the one of Margaret in a car with tears glistening in her eyes, shortly after she'd released her statement to the press about deciding not to marry Townsend), it was a hearbreaking decision. Comments in interviews with Townsend during his lifetime back up the fact of their mutually devastating heartbreak. I recall Townsend having made statements years later that he had felt betrayed by Margaret's decision. He was sad about the toll it had taken on his life and his career, and about how he'd been treated overall by the royals, in light of his love for Margaret and his diligent service to his country. He had been a war hero during WWII.
The recent letter was discovered in a royal archive by researchers for the new Netflix series. How convenient is that?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...sheds-new-light-on-decision-not-to-marry.html
Seems like an effort in certain quarters to continue protecting the Queen's role in the situation, while trying to sanitize and whitewash aspects of the story. Until I see how the series covers Margaret's story and character portrayal, I will reserve judgment on the actual series. I do not fault the Queen. She was very protective of her sister as they were growing up. But I suspect eventually Margaret began to feel more left out and resentful of Elizabeth's lofty status as they entered adulthood. The King's death in 1952 changed everything and completely recast personal relationships in that family, between Queen Elizabeth and her mother who was suddenly a widowed Queen 'Mother' bereft of her husband; between Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip; and between Queen Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret, who was facing that awkward transition from pampered royal child princess to emotionally lost and directionless adult embattled by the high price of a privileged but sterile life inside a gilded cage.
I guess I'm passionate about understanding Margaret's story. Maybe I should write the script.
