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Princess Margaret Rose was born on 21 August
1930 at Glamis Castle, younger sister to Princess Elizabeth,
(HM Queen Elizabeth II). Princess Margaret died in London on
9th February 2002. She was the younger daughter of The Duke and
Duchess of York, later to become King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth The Queen Mother following the Abdication Crisis
of 1936. Glamis was the Scottish home of her grandparents, the
Earl and Countess of Strathmore.
George VI and Queen Elizabeth
with Elizabeth and Margaret (seated on the wall)
at the Little House "Y Bwthyn Bach" - a gift from the
people of Wales
Princess Margaret had particularly close
ties with, and affection for, Windsor as she spent much of her
time here as a child after her father became George VI. One can
imagine that the open spaces of Windsor Great Park, and the private
areas around Royal Lodge, especially the Little House "Y
Bwthyn Bach", would have been idyllic for the two sisters
as they grew up. During the war, they spent much time at Windsor
Castle (apparently The Crown Jewels were kept here too, in the
dungeons for safe keeping, wrapped in newspaper!) and Princess
Margaret described in an interview how a bomb fell close by as
they too took shelter in the dungeons. There was this great explosion,
and everyone around her turned pink, not white with fear, to
her great surprise!
The sisters were quite different in temperament, the older Princess
Elizabeth being the more 'responsible' and Margaret a much more
boisterous, 'sparky', willful and mischievous girl, who enjoyed
making those around her laugh. Princess Margaret was closely
involved with The Girl Guides from childhood, and she remained
in contact with the friends that she made for many years thereafter.
Margaret has said that she was disappointed not to have been
able to join the Armed Services during the war, and could not
understand why she was not wanted - at the age of 12!
Princess Margaret also told how, whilst at Buckingham Palace
during the victory celebrations at the end of the war, both she
and Elizabeth joined the massive crowds outside in The Mall,
chanting for an appearance by the King and Queen. When they failed
to appear, the two princesses sent word into the Palace that
it really was time that the King and Queen appeared on the famous
balcony, which they did shortly thereafter to huge cheers.
It is a sign of their times that in those days the two sisters
were able to mingle with the crowds during those happy celebrations.
Another example of the times when security was really not an
issue, was when the Royal Family regular made appearances at
The Royal Windsor Horse Show. Indeed, the two princesses were
even competitors! In the photograph below, perhaps 1943, the
two princesses are seen driving a small phaeton. Elizabeth is
driving with her sister beside her and a groom sitting behind.
George VI and Queen Elizabeth were present and presented the
prizes. The Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are believed to
have come third.
The two princesses competing
at The Royal Windsor Horse Show in the 1940s
The funeral of Princess Margaret has been
held at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on Friday 15th February
at 3.00pm, 50 years to the day since the funeral of her father,
King George VI.
The hearse bearing her coffin left St James
Palace in London at 5.15pm on Thursday 14th, arriving in Windsor
at 6.45pm.
The hearse bearing Princess Margaret's
coffin arrives in darkness at Windsor.
Her funeral was a private service, for
family and friends. The Order of the Service has been published
here.
HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, was
present although she was not in the best of health. The Queen
Mother had been staying at Sandringham but travelled by helicopter
to Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park on Thursday, 14th February.
Royal Lodge is close to The Copper Horse, at the end of the Long
Walk, and has been used since the early 1930s by Queen Elizabeth,
The Queen Mother whenever she came to stay at Windsor. Seven
weeks later The
Queen Mother was to die at Royal Lodge, on March 30th 2002.
HRH Queen Elizabeth, The Queen
Mother, on her way from Royal Lodge to St George's Chapel, at
2.50pm, passing down the Long Walk.
The hearse bearing Princess Margaret's coffin crosses Alma Road on its way to Slough Crematorium
The hearse continues its journey along Clarence Road
Princess Margaret was cremated at Slough
Crematorium. Her ashes were placed in the Royal Vault in St George's
Chapel, later being moved to the Vault of King George VI, her
father, at the interment of The Queen Mother.
Princess Margaret pictured here
in blue with The Duchess of York at Duke's Lane.
The Royal Party transfer here to open landaus for the traditional
ride to Royal Ascot Races.
We have received the following message
with which many other Windsorians will concur.
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Our family wish to convey
to Her Majesty the Queen, Her Majesty The Queen Mother, the family
of H.R.H The Princess Margaret and the other members of the Royal
Family, our sympathy in the loss of such a close member of the
family.
We grew up in a time when
pictures of the two little princesses and later the two beautiful
princesses brought delight to us all. Many of us kept scrap books
with cuttings of all the special occasions and we feel that we
belonged to kinder times.
We are grateful for the dedication
shown by the Royal Family and rejoice in their fortune and share
their sadness in times of adversity.
The Pownall Family
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A Short Biography
of Princess Margaret
is available at www.royal.gov.uk
On the morning of the announcement of the
death of Princess Margaret, the following message was posted
on the Home Page of The Royal Windsor Web Site.
9th February
2002. It has been announced that Princess Margaret, sister to
HM Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 71. The residents
of Windsor extend their deepest sympathies to Her Majesty The
Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and members
of the Royal Family.
See also
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