She tells Eden in a letter that she would need to meet him face-to-face again in order to arrive at her final decision. "Exclusion from the Succession would not entail any other change in Princess Margaret's position as a member of the Royal Family," per Prime Minister Anthony Eden.ĭespite these newfound freedoms, Margaret remains apart from Townsend for two years while he's stationed abroad in Brussels to serve as an air attaché. Margaret reaches the pivotal age of 25, making her eligible to freely choose whether-and now, whom-to marry.ĭue to amendments made preemptively by the queen and Parliament in the Royal Marriages Act in light of Margaret and Townsend's potential marriage, Margaret would now be exempt from the Church of England's rules prohibiting a marriage with a divorcé insofar as she is removed from the line of succession, in which she stood third behind nephew Prince Charles and niece Princess Anne. Keystone // Getty Images August 21, 1955: Margaret turns 25. As depicted in The Crown's first season, onlookers observe subtle suggestive exchanges between the two during the occasion-and per one reporter, Margaret is seen fixing up Townsend's shirt, spurring tabloid headlines speculating on the affair. June 2, 1953: Rumors of their affair emerge at the queen's coronation.ĭespite dating in secret for several years, rumors of their romance first circulate from their attendance at the queen's coronation, following the death of King George the previous year. The two still remain engaged, however, and continue their relationship in private. Margaret does not receive approval from the queen. Townsend asks Margaret for her hand in marriage, but they are unable to wed due to the 1772 Royal Marriages Act, which required that Parliament approve the marriage if the woman was under the age of 25. April 1953: Townsend proposes to Margaret. November 1952: Townsend divorces his wife.įollowing 11 years of marriage and two young boys, Townsend officially divorces his wife, Rosemary Pratt, Marchioness Camden, in order to commit to Margaret. Townsend also accompanies Margaret on a trip to Belfast in October, and he requests to have his room at Hillsborough Castle moved next to hers. That's when I really fell in love with him." In later years, Margaret reportedly tells a confidante, "We rode together every morning in that wonderful country, in marvelous weather. His duty was to protect the princess throughout the trip, so the two spent a lot of time together. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to playĪhead, see the historical overview of Margaret and Townsend's tempestuous love story, from its sweet beginnings to its heartbreaking end.Ī married Townsend meets then-teenager Margaret for the first time while accompanying the royal family on a three-month tour to South Africa.
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