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Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Princess Margaret

by Michael

Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
1930 – 2002


Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Margaret spent much of her childhood years in the company of her older sister and parents. Her life changed dramatically in 1936, when her paternal uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated to marry the divorced American Wallis Simpson. Margaret's father became King in Edward's place, and her older sister became heiress presumptive with Margaret second in line to the throne. During WWII, the two sisters stayed at Windsor Castle, despite government pressure to evacuate to Canada. During the war years, Margaret was not expected to perform any public or official duties, and instead continued her education. After the war, she fell in love with a divorced older man, Group Captain Peter Townsend. Her father died at around the same time, and her sister became Queen. Many in the government felt that Townsend was an unsuitable husband for the Queen's sister, and the Church of England refused to countenance the marriage. Under pressure, Margaret chose to abandon her plans, and instead accepted the proposal of the photographer Antony Armstrong Jones, who was created Earl of Snowdon by Elizabeth II. The marriage, despite an auspicious start, soon became unhappy; the couple divorced in 1978.

Margaret was often viewed as a controversial member of the Royal Family. Her divorce earned her negative publicity, and she was romantically linked with several men. Her health gradually deteriorated in the final two decades of her life; a heavy smoker all her adult life, she had a lung operation in 1985, a bout of Pneumonia  in 1993, and at least three strokes between 1998 and 2001. Margaret died at King Edward VII Hospital, London on 9 February 2002. After a private funeral, her body was cremated. Two months later, after the death of her mother, Margaret's ashes were interred beside the bodies of her parents in the George VI Memorial Chapel at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. 

38 comments:

Tina~in_ut said...

Thanks for the blag, Miguelito~ Interesting little chickie~

From Area 51:

Di~ NOT!~

Mo~ Ty~ It's just the in-laws and the hubby....the kids have play practice until after I go to bed~ :(

Dianne/Denver said...

Happy birthday Tina

Zona said...

Well if you're not going to write it on the first page of the blog..then I'll just sing it..ahem....

♫♪Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear TINNNAAA...Happy Birthday to yooouuu! And many morrrrrre!!♫♪

I hope you have a wonderful birthday..and that every wish..well..ok..yes..every single birthday wish comes true! :D

Zona said...

DI: Good Morning! Ummmm..I forgot..I know you're stunned.. ;D

MICHAEL: Wow..she doesn't sound like a very pleasant person..does she..I mean..she seemed to offend everyone..and with gusto. I have a question..didn't the Queen have a sister who was very charming and kind? I seem to remember she did..but then again..maybe I'm imagining that. Interesting blog though..

Crazy night last night..crazy but fun..over 300 kids..good food..good friends..family..we had a really great time!

Gotta run..much to do today..

Have a good day everyone!

Happy Birthday TINA! :D

Tinka said...

Good Morning Tina and Happy Birthday.

Tinka said...

Good Morning Dianne - Did you have fun last night? We sure did.

Tinka said...

Zona - I wish we would have had 300 last night. We had 10 and that was more than usual. I love seeing the costumes. I got all the decorations down this morning except for the high ones. My cleaning lady is taking those down for me.

Unknown said...

Good mornink...

I have my own birthday song...

ah-hem...me me me.....

happy birthday to you
you were born in a zoo
you look like a monkey (evolution)
and ya smell like one too...

and ur a whorrrrre....

Tinka said...

I thought Princess Margaret was a bad apple but I never knew she was that bad. I wasn't interested in her enough to keep up with the gossip. She was always jealous of Elizabeth when she was a little girl. She thought she should be Queen. Wouldn't that have been a awful situation?

Tinka said...

Off to my farms. Have a great day everyone.

Unknown said...

Good morning Tinka ..Zona Ramona and Bullet (Dianne)...

No Zona....Elizabeth and Maggie were the only chirrens born to King George VI and wifey Elizabeth...

Unknown said...

Tina...

In honor of ur 50th birthday I have made a sizable donation in your name to Operation Baghdad Pups (BaghdadPups.com), a program organized by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International, rescues stray dogs and cats befriended by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and transports them back to the US to live with the returning vets.

Knowing how much you love dogs I knew this would make you puddle up...

Dianne/Denver said...

Wow MICHAEL, that is quite an interesting blog. I read every word and don't think I like her too much. I got a laugh out of the orange eating part...Thanks for writing it and informing us....you are a wealth of knowledge.

TINA: HAPPY Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you..Happy Birthday Dear Tina...Happy Birthday to You...see you should have written your own song.

Hi TINK: Sounds like you will be getting out the Christmas decorations before long. I am kind of in the mood to do that myself. It's hard not to be with all the stores already decorated and the commercials on TV.. I have started some of my shopping with some online items. I am not one to wander the stores much anymore. Are you going to your swimming class today? Take it easy, please. And yes, I had a nice time last nice with my grandsons. They look so cute in their costumes.

ZONA: Did you sleep in a little today? Sounds like you needed it. Your Halloween always sounds so fun once the night gets there.....your preparation...not so much. Thanks for sending me the Tim picture and it will be my avatar next year.

J/L: The Broncos are horrible this year and keep getting worse. We don't even know who to use for our QB and now Mary's Lions spanked us on Sunday., Whoever thought the Detroit Lions would beat us? I see your 49ers are doing great so I will cheer for them unless they play us (don't think they do this year))

SACBARB: How did your Dr appt go yesterday? I hope you are able to get around better and drive again now. It takes so long for those foot ailments to heal sometimes.

Well, I am off to do some errands and meet my friend for lunch.

I did want to update on my brothers house.....they have to tear all the walls down and ceiling, etc., all their clothes are gone and any food in the house even canned had to be destroyed because asbestos was found in the walls (the house was built in the 50's). They have been given the time frame to be out any where from 3 months to 9 months. It is just so depending on our weather this time of year. They are being put up at a Residence Inn for the duration. Thanks to all that asked.

Ok...now I really have to go....have a good day....bye..

Dianne/Denver said...

MICHAEL: What a thoughtful gift you are giving TINA and thanks for letting me know her age. I always knew she was kidding me on being younger and saying I could have been her mom......nope....too young

Just_Lin said...

Tina Good morning Birthday Girl! You are looking especially pretty today and you don't look one day older, either. I hope you have a super day.

Just_Lin said...

Michael That was a very interesting blog. Thank you! I didn't realize she was such a pain in the ass. Thank goodness for all concerned that she never became Queen.

Just_Lin said...

Dianne Thank you for the update on your brother. Does he have any pets?

Just_Lin said...

Zona Okay, so I was prepared to give several items to about 60 children and I got..........(drum roll)....15!!!!
Geesh!!!

Just_Lin said...

Tinka That's the hardest part about decorating.....taking everything down and putting it away. Same thing with laundry....Doing it is a snap but I hate the folding and putting away part.

Just_Lin said...

Zona2 I forgot to say that maybe you are thinking of Princess Anne who is Queen Elizabeth II's only daughter. She's not pretty but I think she's supposed to be nice.

Unknown said...

J/L...thats just the tip of the iceburg...lol

She was a trip....she and her husband had 2 of the ugliest kids alive...I'm sure that put her in a bad mood too...

Princess Anna works her royal behind off for all her charities but NEVER seeks the limelight....and you are right J/L...she is a lovely person I hear...and she raised her kids right...and they are consequently closer to Granny that say...Beatrice and Eugenie (yuk)staying out of the headlines and the limelight...

Sarah Ferguson is on Rosie today. I am about tired of her shit too...always "oh poor me"....thats what I seem to hear anyway. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong...

It is pretty remarkable that QE2 has reigned for 60 years without a single scandal. Mags was def a blacksheep....

Unknown said...

lol..."ANNE!"...not Anna...

Tina~in_ut said...

I just made my birthday cake........is that wrong?

Shirley(NCC-1701) said...

Yes Tina it is wrong to have made your own birthday cake, but at least you know it isn't poison and you won't die after the first bite! Happy Birthday!

Shirley(NCC-1701) said...

Michael your blog was very interesting, and Princess Margaret may have been a pain in the ass but I like the royals (except Camilla), flaws and all. There family is far from perfect, but then who's is...well maybe the birthday girl's!

Shirley(NCC-1701) said...

Splat!!

Evening Tina, Dianne, Zona, Tinka, Michael and Just Lin!

Shirley(NCC-1701) said...

Tina there are some left over food from Halloween for you in the kitchen. I didn't bother wrap it up. Enjoy!

Just_Lin said...

Shirley Ooooh! Those goodies should be especially ripe today. How perfect for the birthday girl and how thoughful of you to keep some out for her.

Just_Lin said...

Tina I'm sorry that you had to nmake your own birthday cake but that just means you got exactly the kind you wanted. Plus, homemade always tastes better than ones for the bakery, right? What kind did you make and will you save me a piece? Thank you.

Just_Lin said...

Michael Fergie used to have a lot of public goodwill on her side but I think she's squandered it. Pity, that.

Tina~in_ut said...

LOL J/L~ I did get the cake that I wanted......after the mil went to 4 stores looking for the ingredients! !!!!

Thank you for all the well wishes and birthday cards and phone calls......I love that people who rarely call you will call on ur birthday .......and apparently I only know good singers!!! :D

Unknown said...

yeah yeah...blah blah blah.....wth was Alisss hung on?

Shirley(NCC-1701) said...

Who's Alisss and why was she hung? Or is she a he and that's why they are hung?

Unknown said...

Alisss is the MIL...that had Tina baking her own cake....!

Shirley(NCC-1701) said...

Ahhhhh! I get it! Thanks for the clarification Michael.

Tina~in_ut said...

no baking involved!!!~ and it was yummy...just ate it~

Just_Lin said...

Tina Did you make a cheesecake?

Tina~in_ut said...

No J/L~ I can't stand cheesecake....I used Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers and whipped cream.....google the wafers and click on images....SO yummy~ Also, Brent made me a chocolate chip cookie pie for work and that was SO good too~