She embarked on her first commonwealth tour with her sister in 1947, when she was sixteen. On the tour was also Captain Peter Townsend. She was a young woman who liked to live life to the fullest; people complained that all she did was party. When Elizabeth II became Queen, Queen Elizabeth (Mother) appointed Captain Peter Townsend a position in the household, which gave him much contact with Margaret. His marriage was failing and he was divorced that year, keeping custody of the two children. Rumours began to spring up around the possible love tale between Townsend and the Princess. Their love was revealed to the nation, yet the Queen's (her sister's) permission was required as Margaret was under the age of 25. Because he was a divorcee and unable to remarry under the rules of the Church of England there was a constitutional threat.
She officially ended the prospects of renouncing her rights of succession and Margaret's trouble with love began. She was married to Anthony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 at Westminster Cathedral. The couple had two children, Viscount David Linley and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones. The Princess and the Earl of Snowdon were divorced in 1978.
The Princess was a heavy smoker, and had various health difficulties, suffering from a minor stroke in 1998. She held many honours including Canadian honours such as Colonel-in-Chief of the Highland Fusiliers of Canada, The Princess Louise Fusiliers, and The Royal Newfoundland Regiment. She was also patron of the Downtown Toronto Princess Margaret Hospital.
Our Princess will be missed all over the world. She was Princess here, there and everywhere. She had made trips to Canada and had touched the people of this country and the people of this country touched her. On behalf of Canadians everywhere, our condolences to the Royal Family.
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