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Princess Margaret: A Biography
Looks at the tumultuous life of Queen Elizabeth's sister Margaret, her unsuitable relationships, and her tendency to flout the established royal conventions
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
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748 people want to read
About the author
Theo Aronson
24 books33 followersTheo Aronson is an historical biographer specialising in the Royal Houses of Europe. Among his many widely read books are "The Golden Bees: The Story of the Bonapartes," "Grandmama of Europe" and "Royal Family: Years of Transition."
His books have been published in Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland and Belgium.
Theo Aronson lives in an eighteenth-century stone house in Frome, Somerset.
His books have been published in Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland and Belgium.
Theo Aronson lives in an eighteenth-century stone house in Frome, Somerset.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 30, 2017
If you have always wanted to be a princess and live in a palace, perhaps reading this biography might change your mind.
Princess Margaret was the younger daughter of King George VI, whom she adored, and Queen Elizabeth (the current Queens's mother) She was sister to Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in England's history, and one supposes both of these girls led a life of charm, wealth, prestige, and honor. Elizabeth went on to becoming queen at her father's death while Margaret went on to becoming a much maligned jet setter who earned a reputation for being quite controversial in all she did and especially in her choices of men. Forced to give up a man she loved, Peter Townsend, because he was divorced, she eventually married photographer, Antony Armstrong-Jones, had two children and embarked on a road to a very shaky marriage. Later, they divorced and Margaret's name was linked to many other men.
Margaret was brash, outspoken, and very often the brunt of newspaper headlines that portrayed her as wanton, snobbish, and impulsive. Margaret once said "It was inevitable, when there are two sisters and one is the Queen, who must be the source of honour and all that is good, while the other must be the focus of the most creative malice, the evil sister."
It was often sad to read of Margaret's life. She always seemed to be in the spotlight and many of her remarks and activities were taken out of context. In a way, one might say that Margaret was born before her time. She was a strong advocate of the arts, especially ballet, loved couture clothes, and represented her nation in countless ways.
In reality for Princess Margaret being royal, living in a palace, being a Princess was often a nightmare. She handled this role as well as she could with the undeniable ability to be her own person with not a care as to who liked it or not. In the end Margaret paved the way for divorce in the royal family and some think that was her legacy.
Thank you to Theo Aronson, Thistle Publishing, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.
Princess Margaret was the younger daughter of King George VI, whom she adored, and Queen Elizabeth (the current Queens's mother) She was sister to Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in England's history, and one supposes both of these girls led a life of charm, wealth, prestige, and honor. Elizabeth went on to becoming queen at her father's death while Margaret went on to becoming a much maligned jet setter who earned a reputation for being quite controversial in all she did and especially in her choices of men. Forced to give up a man she loved, Peter Townsend, because he was divorced, she eventually married photographer, Antony Armstrong-Jones, had two children and embarked on a road to a very shaky marriage. Later, they divorced and Margaret's name was linked to many other men.
Margaret was brash, outspoken, and very often the brunt of newspaper headlines that portrayed her as wanton, snobbish, and impulsive. Margaret once said "It was inevitable, when there are two sisters and one is the Queen, who must be the source of honour and all that is good, while the other must be the focus of the most creative malice, the evil sister."
It was often sad to read of Margaret's life. She always seemed to be in the spotlight and many of her remarks and activities were taken out of context. In a way, one might say that Margaret was born before her time. She was a strong advocate of the arts, especially ballet, loved couture clothes, and represented her nation in countless ways.
In reality for Princess Margaret being royal, living in a palace, being a Princess was often a nightmare. She handled this role as well as she could with the undeniable ability to be her own person with not a care as to who liked it or not. In the end Margaret paved the way for divorce in the royal family and some think that was her legacy.
Thank you to Theo Aronson, Thistle Publishing, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.
November 19, 2017
Being an Anglophile and an avid reader of English Royalty biographies, I was immediately drawn to this one of Princess Margaret. I have often read of her unfortunate dashed hopes of marrying divorcee Captain Peter Townsend, but have never read an entire biography of Princess Margaret's life until this one.
It is very well-written and had me solidly engaged for days. It begins with her parents' eventual marriage, of which took three proposals for her mother to accept. It was enchanting reading about Princess Margaret's childhood, with the lovely homes she occupied, the doting and dedicated help that taught and cared for her, and the very close and loving family the King and Queen and her older sister Princess Elizabeth enjoyed. It also covers how Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth as children experienced World War II in England and the challenges that entailed.
As she grew into adulthood, the huge scandal of her wish to marry divorcee Captain Peter Townsend garners much discussion, as well as her eventual marriage to photographer Tony Armstrong-Jones (later known as Lord Snowden). These are the widely known relationships of Princess Margaret, but this book covers several other serious romantic entanglements and very close friendships.
The book offered an excellent and very detailed overview of Princess Margaret's life. The only reason I took off one star was that it clearly was not updated since it was originally published in hardcover form in 1997. I know that Princess Margaret passed away in 2002, yet it only covers some hospitalizations for strokes as the book comes to a close. In fact, I was unaware that I had just finished the book, expecting to read of her death and details of her funeral (which would have been very interesting). Still, I would highly recommend this fine book on the life of Princess Margaret.
I graciously received this ebook from NetGalley in return for my honest review.
It is very well-written and had me solidly engaged for days. It begins with her parents' eventual marriage, of which took three proposals for her mother to accept. It was enchanting reading about Princess Margaret's childhood, with the lovely homes she occupied, the doting and dedicated help that taught and cared for her, and the very close and loving family the King and Queen and her older sister Princess Elizabeth enjoyed. It also covers how Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth as children experienced World War II in England and the challenges that entailed.
As she grew into adulthood, the huge scandal of her wish to marry divorcee Captain Peter Townsend garners much discussion, as well as her eventual marriage to photographer Tony Armstrong-Jones (later known as Lord Snowden). These are the widely known relationships of Princess Margaret, but this book covers several other serious romantic entanglements and very close friendships.
The book offered an excellent and very detailed overview of Princess Margaret's life. The only reason I took off one star was that it clearly was not updated since it was originally published in hardcover form in 1997. I know that Princess Margaret passed away in 2002, yet it only covers some hospitalizations for strokes as the book comes to a close. In fact, I was unaware that I had just finished the book, expecting to read of her death and details of her funeral (which would have been very interesting). Still, I would highly recommend this fine book on the life of Princess Margaret.
I graciously received this ebook from NetGalley in return for my honest review.
April 4, 2024
Princess Margaret was, when I was growing up, the royal rebel people cheered on. As much a '60s icon as The Beatles or the miniskirt, she was always up to some exotic mischief, usually in some scorching Caribbean place and more often than not with the wrong man. My parents' generation (Margaret's slightly elder peers), and their own parents, had a soft spot for this princess whose personal dreams never came true. 'Poor Maggie,' was a common catch cry whenever she made tabloid headlines with yet another scandal.
Theo Aronson tells another side of the public's ideas on her – how she earned widespread disapproval and media condemnation, not to mention much high Establishment tut-tutting. This the author qualifies with anecdotes which are entertaining, if not as thoroughly sourced as this reader would have liked (a good proportion of these could have been plucked from the air just to amuse).
That much of the content is, conversely, very well documented, leaves the reader sceptical over quotes by so many unnamed people, e.g. 'family friend', 'guest at the event', 'high ranking official', etc. Of course, this also adds to the sense of intrigue we have come to expect from juicy royal biographies, yet this glaring feature places parts of the work more into the gutter press bundle than the authorised, legitimate one. Indeed, certain passages degenerate to gossip level, cheapening the overall effect.
That said, this is, for the most part, an entertaining and well written piece, even with workmanship notably weaker in some parts than others. Like his subject, Aronson is often a split case – sycophantic in many of his praises of Margaret, whilst vitriolic in some of his judgements and criticisms. This extremist swinging to and fro, between kindness and harshness, whilst matching perfectly the woman of whom he writes, lends the work a hyperbolic quality. The author seems in parts to defend his contentious subject to the hilt, whilst in others viciously slapping her beautiful face (curious, given that the princess was still alive at the time of this book's publication to read it). Even so, I was compelled to read on.
Here was arguably the last grand royal princess, cavorting around with the louche arts and pop communities, often a maverick at odds with her status, often hysterically funny and theatrical, yet equally often a diva of the most pompous, imperious kind imaginable. There was simply no predicting which of these polar-opposite split characters she would be. As if she had a deeply set identity crisis. Just as there is never any predicting which route this author will take when relaying some episode – will it be compassionate or condemnatory? This shifting objectivity and judgement I found disconcerting yet interesting.
Like Diana who followed, this princess gave the monarchy that much needed humane element by being an openly flawed and self-contradictory figure we all related to at some level. She was brave, tragic, spoilt, vulnerable, mercurial, dutiful, extravagant, haughty, cynical, catty ... yet when it boiled down to it bore the capacity to be infinitely kinder, more personally loyal and more down to earth than many royals we read of – it all depended on who you asked, and which occasion it related to.
I enjoyed this lightweight read. Though it could surely doubtful ever be considered the definitive work of its kind on this princess, I highly recommend it to the diehard royal biography buff.
Theo Aronson tells another side of the public's ideas on her – how she earned widespread disapproval and media condemnation, not to mention much high Establishment tut-tutting. This the author qualifies with anecdotes which are entertaining, if not as thoroughly sourced as this reader would have liked (a good proportion of these could have been plucked from the air just to amuse).
That much of the content is, conversely, very well documented, leaves the reader sceptical over quotes by so many unnamed people, e.g. 'family friend', 'guest at the event', 'high ranking official', etc. Of course, this also adds to the sense of intrigue we have come to expect from juicy royal biographies, yet this glaring feature places parts of the work more into the gutter press bundle than the authorised, legitimate one. Indeed, certain passages degenerate to gossip level, cheapening the overall effect.
That said, this is, for the most part, an entertaining and well written piece, even with workmanship notably weaker in some parts than others. Like his subject, Aronson is often a split case – sycophantic in many of his praises of Margaret, whilst vitriolic in some of his judgements and criticisms. This extremist swinging to and fro, between kindness and harshness, whilst matching perfectly the woman of whom he writes, lends the work a hyperbolic quality. The author seems in parts to defend his contentious subject to the hilt, whilst in others viciously slapping her beautiful face (curious, given that the princess was still alive at the time of this book's publication to read it). Even so, I was compelled to read on.
Here was arguably the last grand royal princess, cavorting around with the louche arts and pop communities, often a maverick at odds with her status, often hysterically funny and theatrical, yet equally often a diva of the most pompous, imperious kind imaginable. There was simply no predicting which of these polar-opposite split characters she would be. As if she had a deeply set identity crisis. Just as there is never any predicting which route this author will take when relaying some episode – will it be compassionate or condemnatory? This shifting objectivity and judgement I found disconcerting yet interesting.
Like Diana who followed, this princess gave the monarchy that much needed humane element by being an openly flawed and self-contradictory figure we all related to at some level. She was brave, tragic, spoilt, vulnerable, mercurial, dutiful, extravagant, haughty, cynical, catty ... yet when it boiled down to it bore the capacity to be infinitely kinder, more personally loyal and more down to earth than many royals we read of – it all depended on who you asked, and which occasion it related to.
I enjoyed this lightweight read. Though it could surely doubtful ever be considered the definitive work of its kind on this princess, I highly recommend it to the diehard royal biography buff.
October 17, 2017
I was a kid in the mid-70s, and Princess Margaret was a frequent cover girl on the grocery store checkout line scandal sheets. Growing up in the US, all I knew about Princess Margaret was that she was an older woman with a very young boyfriend. Remember, this was *before* the era of Princess Diana, when the paparazzi following and documenting every royal wasn't a "thing" yet. So, the life of Princess Margaret was somewhat of a mystery -- to me, and to many others (I'd assume).
Theo Aronson's book paints a balanced portrait of the Princess. It's not overly gushy, nor is it overly critical. The Princess, like most human beings, was a complex character -- more so due to her station in life and her upbringing. It was that period of the 20th century where women, especially those in Princess Margaret's social class, weren't really expected to do much more than look pretty and marry well. Margaret was certainly pretty, but as the book tells it, never managed to find happiness in matrimony.
The book examines her doomed relationship with the divorced Group Captain Peter Townsend, which caused a scandal after the couple expressed a desire to marry. Aronson, like many others, believes that even if Margaret and Townsend had been able to marry, the marriage (like all of her romantic relationships) would have eventually failed -- because she was a royal princess and that lifestyle comes with benefits and expectations that she could not (or would not) give up, not even for love. Even if she'd married some European prince, she would most likely still married beneath her station.
In a way, this book is sort of a "poor little rich girl" homage to a woman who held a very unique position. She was a ranking member of the Royal Family, but didn't really have a firmly defined role within it. She wasn't as duty-conscious as The Queen, or as genial and open as the Queen Mother. Princess Margaret could be cold, standoffish, and incredibly rude. The book details stories of how she'd outright ignore people over some real or perceived slight. One such incident was at a dinner party when the Princess was visiting California. Governor Gerry Brown and his then-girlfriend, the singer Linda Ronstadt were in attendance. Ms. Ronstadt came over to the table where Gov. Brown and Princess Margaret were sitting, and she put one hand on Brown's shoulder and one on the shoulder of the Princess. Princess Margaret was so incensed by the breach of protocol (never touch a Royal without an invitation to do so) that she shrugged her shoulder so hard that Ronstadt was thrown off balance and fell to the floor; all the while Princess Margaret kept a straight face and acted like nothing was amiss. Many of the friends who shared their stories in the book said that even if Margaret liked someone, that didn't mean they were safe from a rebuke or reprimand if she felt they'd overstepped their bounds.
Princess Margaret may have had her detractors, but she very aware of who she was and what she represented. Even if she didn't always enjoy it. The book reveals that Margaret rarely gathered with the rest of the extended Royal Family at their traditional retreats at Balmoral or Sandringham. She'd put in an appearance and then she'd be jetting off to her home in the Caribbean or sailing the Mediterranean on a yacht with friends.
With every movement (or scandal) of the British Royal Family now covered in magazines, television, and the internet, it's hard to believe there was a time when it wasn't like that. When it was all a carefully crafted fairy tale. Aronson's book offers a glimpse behind the curtain and shows that life for one royal princess wasn't much of a fairy tale at all.
Theo Aronson's book paints a balanced portrait of the Princess. It's not overly gushy, nor is it overly critical. The Princess, like most human beings, was a complex character -- more so due to her station in life and her upbringing. It was that period of the 20th century where women, especially those in Princess Margaret's social class, weren't really expected to do much more than look pretty and marry well. Margaret was certainly pretty, but as the book tells it, never managed to find happiness in matrimony.
The book examines her doomed relationship with the divorced Group Captain Peter Townsend, which caused a scandal after the couple expressed a desire to marry. Aronson, like many others, believes that even if Margaret and Townsend had been able to marry, the marriage (like all of her romantic relationships) would have eventually failed -- because she was a royal princess and that lifestyle comes with benefits and expectations that she could not (or would not) give up, not even for love. Even if she'd married some European prince, she would most likely still married beneath her station.
In a way, this book is sort of a "poor little rich girl" homage to a woman who held a very unique position. She was a ranking member of the Royal Family, but didn't really have a firmly defined role within it. She wasn't as duty-conscious as The Queen, or as genial and open as the Queen Mother. Princess Margaret could be cold, standoffish, and incredibly rude. The book details stories of how she'd outright ignore people over some real or perceived slight. One such incident was at a dinner party when the Princess was visiting California. Governor Gerry Brown and his then-girlfriend, the singer Linda Ronstadt were in attendance. Ms. Ronstadt came over to the table where Gov. Brown and Princess Margaret were sitting, and she put one hand on Brown's shoulder and one on the shoulder of the Princess. Princess Margaret was so incensed by the breach of protocol (never touch a Royal without an invitation to do so) that she shrugged her shoulder so hard that Ronstadt was thrown off balance and fell to the floor; all the while Princess Margaret kept a straight face and acted like nothing was amiss. Many of the friends who shared their stories in the book said that even if Margaret liked someone, that didn't mean they were safe from a rebuke or reprimand if she felt they'd overstepped their bounds.
Princess Margaret may have had her detractors, but she very aware of who she was and what she represented. Even if she didn't always enjoy it. The book reveals that Margaret rarely gathered with the rest of the extended Royal Family at their traditional retreats at Balmoral or Sandringham. She'd put in an appearance and then she'd be jetting off to her home in the Caribbean or sailing the Mediterranean on a yacht with friends.
With every movement (or scandal) of the British Royal Family now covered in magazines, television, and the internet, it's hard to believe there was a time when it wasn't like that. When it was all a carefully crafted fairy tale. Aronson's book offers a glimpse behind the curtain and shows that life for one royal princess wasn't much of a fairy tale at all.
February 3, 2018
The best thing about this book is the writing style. It's easy to read, moves quickly, and is lively. Aronson interviewed Princess Margaret, so her own delightful comments are added in many sections. Like many biographies, it focuses (disproportionately, in my opinion) on her love life at the expense of her work as a patron and as a mother.
Finishing it, though, I felt oddly dissatisfied. Like I didn't really know her all that well, at least not beyond what I already knew from popular culture. This might because she was, like her mother, intensely private.
It felt at the end like I'd just sat through a formal afternoon tea interview with Princess Margaret where she talked and talked and at the end you knew a lot about her, but only certain parts of her. She only reveals certain parts, the most formal parts. Like you're sitting in one fancy room of her house but you never really go behind the scenes. You don't really know what she's like when the cameras are off and she's alone.
Enjoyable and definitely a pleasurable read, though.
Finishing it, though, I felt oddly dissatisfied. Like I didn't really know her all that well, at least not beyond what I already knew from popular culture. This might because she was, like her mother, intensely private.
It felt at the end like I'd just sat through a formal afternoon tea interview with Princess Margaret where she talked and talked and at the end you knew a lot about her, but only certain parts of her. She only reveals certain parts, the most formal parts. Like you're sitting in one fancy room of her house but you never really go behind the scenes. You don't really know what she's like when the cameras are off and she's alone.
Enjoyable and definitely a pleasurable read, though.
May 27, 2017
This was very well done and very informative, but a bit on the disappointing side. I saw the year of publication was 2013; however, it would appear it was originally written before Princess Margaret's death since the author stops before that event. That was a bit disappointing to me. I thought it was a biography of her entire life. I love this auth*or's royal biographies, though; He is very thorough.
*I received a copy of this book via Net Galley.
*I received a copy of this book via Net Galley.
June 23, 2017
This book answered any questions I had about the life of Princess Margaret, I found it to be well written and informative. I couldn't tear myself away from this book and I would recommend it to any interested in learning more about this remarkable woman.
February 7, 2014
I have recently been reading William Shawcross's edited diaries of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, divided into three volumes relating to the various stages of her life: Duchess of York, Queen and Queen Mother. At some stage, I will read his biography. However, I decided, on the basis of references to the late Princess Margaret, to read this biography before that of her mother. Born into a life of immense privilege, Margaret was an indulged, spoilt child, quite the opposite of her elder sister. An idyllic childhood came to a halt at the time of the abdication of Edward VIII. The York family was catapulted into the foreground, the Duke of York became King and Margaret's elder sister, Elizabeth, heir presumptive, then heir apparent. On the premature death of George VI, Elizabeth became Queen. The wilful Margaret, beautiful and intelligent, began to embark on a hedonistic lifestyle. Her ill-fated romance with Group Captain Peter Townsend was deemed to pose a significant threat to a Monarchy recovering from the Abdication crisis and World War Two. Much was made of the fact that she gave up the man she loved, at great personal sacrifice, yet Margaret could never have countenanced the life of a private citizen, imbued as she was with her life of privilege, an income from the Civil List, servants at her beck and call. Throughout the years, her disastrous love affairs, broken marriage, imperious manner and the perfunctory manner in which she performed any Royal duties did nothing to endear her to the public, at home and abroad. Behaviour that can almost be endearing in a young, beautiful but precocious child does not sit well with age. Her life has been described as 'tragic...a life unfulfilled' and we wonder where a beautiful, intelligent women lost her way in life. In this regard, Theo Aronson pulls no punches. His is no syrupy, grovelling account of the life of Princess Margaret. Whilst we may feel a degree of sympathy for her at times throughout the narrative, we might find her difficult to like. it was with some sense of relief that I finished this book. No matter what difficulties Princess Margaret may have encountered throughout her life, the potential to adopt a different course was never far away. I am reminded of the adage: 'We are not victims of circumstance; we are children of choices.'
December 3, 2022
This would have to be one of the best written biographies of HRH !!!
June 17, 2025
The "Rebel Princess" who never succeeded in being both at the same time.
Like all of this author's books, this one is well-researched, even-handed, and entertaining. One of my favorite books is Aronson's "Royal Subjects", published not long before his death. He talks about his life in South Africa and England and how he fell into being a writer of royal biographies, even though not a die-hard royalist.
The Royals were popular subjects and every writer wants to write books that people will buy and read. As to why he was so remarkably successful in getting access to the Royal family, he's puzzled, too. He says he was polite and followed protocol, but was just informal enough to make his interviewees comfortable. He met many times with the chatty Queen Mother and several times with Princess Margaret. He also knew older family members who had insider knowledge.
The Queen's younger sister was the most controversial member of her generation and the most closely watched. The press contrasted her with her sober sister as the one who was always causing trouble. In truth, she mostly caused trouble for herself.
Aronson liked her. He remarked in "Royal Subjects" that he found her sexy, a real compliment coming from a gay man. He felt she was more intelligent than she was given credit for and that in some ways she was the first royal of her generation to embrace the new democratic ideas when dealing with non-royals.
The problem was that she both wanted to be a swinging sixties girl AND an untouchable Royal. She was the most imperious of all the Royal family. A comment about her father would bring an icy stare and "I assume you mean His Majesty, the King"? Even her closest friends called her "Ma'am" although the most flamboyant of them called her "Ma'am Darling."
She caused a stir not long after her sister became Queen by wanting to marry a divorced army officer. The flap seems silly now (when both the current King and Queen are divorced) but at the time the Royals were still shell-shocked from the abdication of King Edward VII, who insisted on marrying a divorced woman. With her mother's support, the Queen refused to give permission for her sister to marry. Of course, she could have married the man, anyway, but would have lost her title and Royal status. The sacrifice was too great.
Her marriage to popular celebrity photography Anthony Armstrong-Jones was seen as the perfect compromise. Although a commoner, he was well connected. He was also charming and both the Queen and the Queen Mother fell under his spell. The Earl and Countess of Snowden quickly became the "cool" royals which came with the attention Margaret craved.
Unfortunately, the couple weren't sufficiently in love to weather the stresses of a very public marriage. Tony chaffed under the restrictions of being married to a royal. Margaret loved the Bohemian livestyle he introduced her to, but was constantly afraid of NOT being treated like a princess.
The relationship became ugly, with most people siding with Tony who had the charm to use public and private opinion as a weapon. Ironically, it ended in divorce, paving the way for the Queen's children to get divorces.
The position of the Queen herself was always difficult to ascertain. As Aronson points out, she was emotionally remote and avoided confrontation. This accounts for the controversies when one person claimed she told them something, while another person claimed she said the opposite. The truth is that she frequently said whatever the other person wanted to hear, leading to confusion. She and her sister were close in a way, but Margaret never penetrated the Queen's protective shield.
I was also interested in his views on the importance of the Queen Mother's decision to have her daughters very lightly educated. She felt that a woman's goal was to get a good husband and education was a waste of time. Perhaps if Margaret had been encouraged to pursue a career (like the Queen's younger children) she might have had a happier life.
It might not have made any difference since her biggest obstacle was her bi-polar relationship with her status as a royal, both resenting it and needing it badly. No biographer can be expected to get it all right, but Aronson was shrewd enough to make some good guesses about what went on behind the scenes.
If you're a royalist, you'll eat this book up. If (like me) you're not a royalist, you'll enjoy it as a good biography of a complicated woman who never quite fit into her era.
Like all of this author's books, this one is well-researched, even-handed, and entertaining. One of my favorite books is Aronson's "Royal Subjects", published not long before his death. He talks about his life in South Africa and England and how he fell into being a writer of royal biographies, even though not a die-hard royalist.
The Royals were popular subjects and every writer wants to write books that people will buy and read. As to why he was so remarkably successful in getting access to the Royal family, he's puzzled, too. He says he was polite and followed protocol, but was just informal enough to make his interviewees comfortable. He met many times with the chatty Queen Mother and several times with Princess Margaret. He also knew older family members who had insider knowledge.
The Queen's younger sister was the most controversial member of her generation and the most closely watched. The press contrasted her with her sober sister as the one who was always causing trouble. In truth, she mostly caused trouble for herself.
Aronson liked her. He remarked in "Royal Subjects" that he found her sexy, a real compliment coming from a gay man. He felt she was more intelligent than she was given credit for and that in some ways she was the first royal of her generation to embrace the new democratic ideas when dealing with non-royals.
The problem was that she both wanted to be a swinging sixties girl AND an untouchable Royal. She was the most imperious of all the Royal family. A comment about her father would bring an icy stare and "I assume you mean His Majesty, the King"? Even her closest friends called her "Ma'am" although the most flamboyant of them called her "Ma'am Darling."
She caused a stir not long after her sister became Queen by wanting to marry a divorced army officer. The flap seems silly now (when both the current King and Queen are divorced) but at the time the Royals were still shell-shocked from the abdication of King Edward VII, who insisted on marrying a divorced woman. With her mother's support, the Queen refused to give permission for her sister to marry. Of course, she could have married the man, anyway, but would have lost her title and Royal status. The sacrifice was too great.
Her marriage to popular celebrity photography Anthony Armstrong-Jones was seen as the perfect compromise. Although a commoner, he was well connected. He was also charming and both the Queen and the Queen Mother fell under his spell. The Earl and Countess of Snowden quickly became the "cool" royals which came with the attention Margaret craved.
Unfortunately, the couple weren't sufficiently in love to weather the stresses of a very public marriage. Tony chaffed under the restrictions of being married to a royal. Margaret loved the Bohemian livestyle he introduced her to, but was constantly afraid of NOT being treated like a princess.
The relationship became ugly, with most people siding with Tony who had the charm to use public and private opinion as a weapon. Ironically, it ended in divorce, paving the way for the Queen's children to get divorces.
The position of the Queen herself was always difficult to ascertain. As Aronson points out, she was emotionally remote and avoided confrontation. This accounts for the controversies when one person claimed she told them something, while another person claimed she said the opposite. The truth is that she frequently said whatever the other person wanted to hear, leading to confusion. She and her sister were close in a way, but Margaret never penetrated the Queen's protective shield.
I was also interested in his views on the importance of the Queen Mother's decision to have her daughters very lightly educated. She felt that a woman's goal was to get a good husband and education was a waste of time. Perhaps if Margaret had been encouraged to pursue a career (like the Queen's younger children) she might have had a happier life.
It might not have made any difference since her biggest obstacle was her bi-polar relationship with her status as a royal, both resenting it and needing it badly. No biographer can be expected to get it all right, but Aronson was shrewd enough to make some good guesses about what went on behind the scenes.
If you're a royalist, you'll eat this book up. If (like me) you're not a royalist, you'll enjoy it as a good biography of a complicated woman who never quite fit into her era.
December 17, 2022
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowden was the youngest daughter of King George VI, and the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. She was born in Scotland at Glamis Castle on August 21, 1930. Her name at birth was Princess Margaret Rose of York. She was six years old when her father took the throne, forcing her into a more public life than she had previously known. Princess Margaret was a character. She enjoyed riding horses, learning new things, having parties and high profile romances. One of her most famous romances was with Group Captain Peter Townsend, which most people are now aware of thanks to The Crown. She eventually married Antony Armstrong-Jones, probably because she learned that Peter Townsend was engaged to someone else. She had met Armstrong-Jones at a dinner party, and they went on to marry and have children. Both were guilty of extramarital affairs, and the marriage eventually ended in divorce. In her later years, she was a patron of several charities, including ballet and music ones. I learned a lot more about her illnesses from this book, which I appreciated. Most people know that she had issues with her lungs from smoking, but I personally was not aware that she had a nervous breakdown or that she was treated for depression.
This book was well researched. Theo Aronson's works have been mentioned in several bibliographies that I have skimmed over, and referenced on a couple of history podcasts that I listen to. I would like to get some more of his work and read it. This was a really informative book, and fans of The Crown or Princess Margaret should check it out.
This book was well researched. Theo Aronson's works have been mentioned in several bibliographies that I have skimmed over, and referenced on a couple of history podcasts that I listen to. I would like to get some more of his work and read it. This was a really informative book, and fans of The Crown or Princess Margaret should check it out.
July 7, 2017
Theo Aronson has written a very thorough and enjoyable history of Princess Margaret's life. Starting from her birth at Glamis castle in an era when Britain was an empire and the royal family exclusive and steeped in tradition, Aronson follows Margaret through her childhood, her uncle's abdication, WWII, her sisters marriage, her early popularity and lifestyle, her doomed affair with Peter Townsend, failed marriage to Armstrong-Jones, motherhood and search for happiness and purpose. Aronson does not gloss over Princess Margaret's faults, they are mentioned, such as her haughtiness, untimeliness and her inflated sense of grandiosity. It does however also paint a picture of a woman who was born into unusual circumstances at a time when society was changing rapidly and the importance of people like her perhaps diminishing. Overall I very much enjoyed reading about Princess Margaret's life.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley only a few weeks. Therefore I was surprised that the book dealt with its subject as if Princess Margaret was still alive and did not cover her death in 2002. I do feel it would have made more sense to update the book before republication.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley only a few weeks. Therefore I was surprised that the book dealt with its subject as if Princess Margaret was still alive and did not cover her death in 2002. I do feel it would have made more sense to update the book before republication.
November 5, 2017
I've always been fascinated by Princess Margaret and this book didn't let me down.
As a young woman, she was undoubtedly stunningly beautiful and had the love life that unfortunately follows great beauty. In complete contrast to Queen Elizabeth, her sister, life was a long roller coaster and she was everything her sister was not.
I enjoyed reading about the hypocrisy she showed to Princess Diana and the Duchess of York whom she believed to have brought shame on to the royal family!
I would have liked to read about the more controversial side of her life and an update to include the details of her death would be a great addition. The book references the Princess' failing health in the concluding chapters and it leaves the reader wondering exactly how and where she died.
An informative, balanced and fair biography written by Theo Aronson, about one of the most controversial royals ever. His insights are partially personal or from sources linked very close to the princess and can be relied upon completely.,
I was kindly sent this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a young woman, she was undoubtedly stunningly beautiful and had the love life that unfortunately follows great beauty. In complete contrast to Queen Elizabeth, her sister, life was a long roller coaster and she was everything her sister was not.
I enjoyed reading about the hypocrisy she showed to Princess Diana and the Duchess of York whom she believed to have brought shame on to the royal family!
I would have liked to read about the more controversial side of her life and an update to include the details of her death would be a great addition. The book references the Princess' failing health in the concluding chapters and it leaves the reader wondering exactly how and where she died.
An informative, balanced and fair biography written by Theo Aronson, about one of the most controversial royals ever. His insights are partially personal or from sources linked very close to the princess and can be relied upon completely.,
I was kindly sent this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2018
I was looking for a book that would give me more insight into the life of Princess Margaret. This fit the bill. I feel like it was a pretty fair account of her life as opposed to the tabloid fare that typically covered the life & time of Princess Margaret. This wraps it up neatly: "Despite her faults, or indeed because of them, she has been the most interesting member of the contemporary British royal family. Defiant, unapologetic, yet curiously vulnerable, she has at least lived life to the full, and on her own terms. She might, at times, have been her own worst enemy but she was always controversial, always charismatic, never dull. The royal scene would be distinctly less colourful without her."
April 13, 2022
Look for a newer biography
Theo Aronson does a decent biography of the princess but since she has been gone for a while it is incomplete. He captures the complexity of his subject while neither demonizing nor holding her as a paragon of virtue. I feel sad for the princess. She had a hard life despite or due to being royal. She was a beautiful young woman but spoiled and all too conscious of being the daughter of a King. In my opinion Peter Towndsen should have kindly but firmly discouraged the crush she had on him before it went too far. All in all a solid history of Princess Margaret. Rest in peace
Theo Aronson does a decent biography of the princess but since she has been gone for a while it is incomplete. He captures the complexity of his subject while neither demonizing nor holding her as a paragon of virtue. I feel sad for the princess. She had a hard life despite or due to being royal. She was a beautiful young woman but spoiled and all too conscious of being the daughter of a King. In my opinion Peter Towndsen should have kindly but firmly discouraged the crush she had on him before it went too far. All in all a solid history of Princess Margaret. Rest in peace
August 13, 2017
This was well-researched. At times throughout the narrative; however, the tense changed and it was difficult to tell whether Princess Margaret was still living or not (although from the publication date, she was). The fact that she was alive at the time of publication was finally made clear by the rather troublesome ending. In fact, my main complaint is that the ending felt rushed...as if they were hurrying to get this into print before she did pass. That put a sad, rather hollow spin on the end. An update could remedy that.
September 5, 2017
This biography on Princess Margaret was well written and kept me reading from cover to cover. It gave a very good overview of her life and relationships as a princess and as a young woman who had all the privileges in life.
My only complaint is that no effort was made at all to update it - there were a few sentences in the book that made it sound as though Princess Margaret is still alive and it does not end in the Princess' death. I may have given 5 stars instead of 3 if it had been brought up to date.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
My only complaint is that no effort was made at all to update it - there were a few sentences in the book that made it sound as though Princess Margaret is still alive and it does not end in the Princess' death. I may have given 5 stars instead of 3 if it had been brought up to date.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
March 12, 2018
I was fascinated with her while watching "The Crown" and so I picked this up...it wasn't too revealing in terms of what I knew about her growing up and following the royal family...and it wasn't updated. this edition was published in 2013 and she died in 2002 and it just ends with her doing her party thing and getting illnesses from all the smoking and drinking. It's also a sanitized version...carefully vetted by the Palace, I think. There's a new book about her in the UK, but it's a crazy pre-order thing on amazon for 40 bucks. If anyone wants to pop over to London to get it, let me know.
July 4, 2024
I don't often read books about people written while they are/were still alive. The truly good information never comes out till after death. Plus, people who are still living can do more things, which can mess with the biographer's narrative. Anyway, I decided to give this a chance after reading Aronson's Royal Subjects, which includes his notes about preparing and writing this biography.
Margaret tends to be pushed aside in the narrative of her sister's life, stuck in the role of rebellious little sister. Aronson shows how early such an idea was implanted in everyone's minds - from their earliest days, Margaret was cast as the opposite of her dutiful sister before she could even decide it for herself. You tell someone who they are enough times, of course that's what they become.
I think Aronson finds a good balance between sympathy and judgement, extolling her good actions without downplaying her bad side. Looking back on her life, the struggles she faced seem almost quaint. What a whirlwind of social change she lived through.
Margaret tends to be pushed aside in the narrative of her sister's life, stuck in the role of rebellious little sister. Aronson shows how early such an idea was implanted in everyone's minds - from their earliest days, Margaret was cast as the opposite of her dutiful sister before she could even decide it for herself. You tell someone who they are enough times, of course that's what they become.
I think Aronson finds a good balance between sympathy and judgement, extolling her good actions without downplaying her bad side. Looking back on her life, the struggles she faced seem almost quaint. What a whirlwind of social change she lived through.
February 20, 2018
I gave up on this book. I wanted a biography of Princess Margaret--not a detailed account of everything, everyone, and every place in her family going back two generations. I made into section two, with some skimming, and I just could not take it anymore.
If, like me, you were hoping to learn more about Princess Margaret, do yourself a favor and look ELSEWHERE.
I wish I could get my money back from Amazon.
If, like me, you were hoping to learn more about Princess Margaret, do yourself a favor and look ELSEWHERE.
I wish I could get my money back from Amazon.
June 2, 2017
After watching The Crown I was fascinated by Princess Margaret's story. I feel so sad that she wasn't allowed to marry the man she loved. That seemed to be the turning point in her life. Her story was perhaps overshadowed in later life by Princess Diana. Heavy reading at times but an interesting read.
July 9, 2017
A fast paced book with lots of enjoyable quotes. Factual rather than gossipy. Lots of history included. A truly enjoyable biography. A great deal of sources cited which adds credibility. Enjoy! NetGalley and Thistle Publishing provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 5, 2020
Call it 3.5*. Perfectly functional bio of Princess Margaret, completed shortly before her death. In some ways, it never gets below the surface. Sometimes she was kind, sometimes she used her cutting wit unkindly. Many of examples of each are given, but not much to help us understand why that might be the case. There's some sympathy for her, but no sense of any emotional core.
December 20, 2020
Princess Margaret's story is something we'll never know the entire truth about no matter how many books have been written about her. This book just barely scratches the surface on her life. She burned letters of correspondence and diaries so even though she was in the spotlight often her life was relatively private.
March 29, 2018
Fascinating
Couldn't put the book down as it was fascinating to see the real truth behind the stories about Princess Margaret and how different were the lifestyles of her and the Queen.
Couldn't put the book down as it was fascinating to see the real truth behind the stories about Princess Margaret and how different were the lifestyles of her and the Queen.
March 29, 2018
Quick and interesting read
I thought this book was quite interesting and a quick read. I’m glad it didn’t just focus on Princess Margaret’s personal life, but her royal duties as well.
I thought this book was quite interesting and a quick read. I’m glad it didn’t just focus on Princess Margaret’s personal life, but her royal duties as well.
December 10, 2018
I found her riveting in The Crown and no less riveting on the page. I do think - after reading sundry stories of royal life from various countries and eras - that being royal sounds like an awful, restricting, depressing job. Thank goodness I avoided that fate!
March 23, 2019
Interested to learn more about this enigmatic woman. Interesting read, but wonder if one could ever really know a royal personality. Tough to be close to the throne, but not actually on it! Sad to think she drank and smoked so much that ended her life to soon.
May 8, 2020
This biography, written while the Princess was living, is neither fish nor foul. While the author is at pains to include unflattering stories of Margaret, she is hard pressed to hold the royal accountable. There is very little new here.
December 27, 2024
Interesting book about an interesting person. The writing style (particularly the sentence structure) drove me nuts, however. Sentences were too long and broken up with unnecessary commas, dashes, parentheses, etc., making it hard to follow.
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