Had Margaret fallen in love with Townsend 10 or 15 years later, her life might have evolved very differently. Her renunciation of that love reflected the moral climate of the 1950's. It also demonstrated the Princess' devotion to The Queen, the Throne, her Church and her nation, none of which could at that time have been seen to tolerate such an alliance. That a subsequent happy marriage ended in divorce, and that it was followed by other, well-publicized disappointments in love, cost Margaret enormously in terms of public esteem.
To the end, Margaret remained herself. She raised two happy and successful children. David, Viscount Linley, is acknowledged one of the world's foremost designers of handcrafted furniture; and Sarah, a painter of note, has had exhibitions of her work in London's West End. HRH was also constant in her patronages and in her support of her special interests ranging from Girl Guides to ballet. The latter was no honorary role; indeed, the Princess followed the Royal Ballet on its tours and knew personally all its leading dancers.
Her relationship with Canada and Canadians was cemented during 10 homecomings to the senior Dominion. 1958 found her for the first time touring our land from BC's Peace River Gorge to Halifax during a month-long sojourn. In 1971, HRH opened Winnipeg's new Art Gallery; 1981 found Margaret visiting Saskatchewan and Alberta as these Provinces celebrated their 75th Anniversary in Confederation. Other visits took her to Toronto's Queen's Plate, or lent support to the work of that city's Princess Margaret Hospital, a leading cancer treatment centre, and of its School also named in her honour. Indeed these activities provided the focus of her last stay in Canada during July of 1996.
Loyal to her friends, devoted to Queen and family, survivor of calumny, injury and illness, the Princess' life had its share of ups and downs, all of which were played out on a public stage under the unforgiving glare of media spotlights which none of us can imagine.
Let us remember with gratitude those happy days of her youth and young womanhood, and call to mind the example she has set for all of us of subordinating personal agenda to the call of duty. May her ardent and generous spirit find that peace in death towards which Her Royal Highness ranged, elusively, in life.
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