The worst year of the queen’s reign began with the separation in March of the duke and duchess of York and continued with the divorce in April of her daughter Princess Anne from Captain Mark Phillips. Fortunately for Elizabeth, Margaret was there for her in 1992, the queen’s annus horribilus. Tim Graham // Getty ImagesĪs much as Margaret was an early Diana fan, her primary concern was assisting the queen.
Princess Diana, holding a young Prince Harry, with Prince William and Princess Margaret in 1988, watching Trooping the Colour on a balcony at Buckingham Palace. When Diana returned home from the hospital with baby William, Margaret gathered up the staff and rushed outside with them to wave handkerchiefs and tea towels as mother and baby drove by. I love her to bits, and she has been wonderful to me from day one,” she told me. Diana was full of appreciation at her royal guardian angel. The queen invited newspaper editors to Buckingham Palace and politely asked them to give a modicum of privacy to the newest member of “the Firm.” Margaret did her bit, too, to make Diana feel at home, taking her to the theater, joining her for social events, taking her shopping, and essentially showing her the ropes.
Ironically, when Taylor came to London in 1981 to star in a stage play, it was the Princess of Wales who was chosen to meet her.įor Margaret it was something of a relief that she was no longer in the media crosshairs, though she and the queen watched with mounting concern as her next-door neighbor at Kensington Palace was now the main target. In the old days, when she was lauded for her beauty and glamour, she was matched with Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor. When Prince Charles was born, Princess Margaret was pushed down the royal pecking order, forever known as “Charlie’s aunt.” Now that he had chosen Lady Diana Spencer as his bride, Princess Margaret was quietly put out to pasture and Diana became the media’s latest chew toy.
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