Peter Townsend and Princess Margaret: A Love Divided by Duty

Few royal love stories have lingered as long as the one between Princess Margaret and Group Captain Peter Townsend. He was a divorced Battle of Britain hero, 16 years her senior, and the man she chose over her crown — until she didn’t. Here’s what the letters, the memoirs, and the public records really tell us about their romance, their separation, and whether they ever saw each other again.

Age difference: 16 years ·
Year of marriage proposal: 1953 ·
Year of Margaret’s death: 2002 ·
Year of Townsend’s death: 1995 ·
Margaret’s age at death: 71

One glance at the biographical facts shows two people bound by very different trajectories.

Here are the key facts about Peter Townsend.

The implication: Townsend was a decorated war hero who spent his later years largely out of the royal spotlight — except for the one relationship that defined his public legacy.

Was Peter Townsend in love with Margaret?

Evidence from their letters and biographies

By all accounts, Townsend’s feelings were genuine and deep. He proposed to Princess Margaret in April 1953, according to AOL News (news aggregator) — a move that would have required him to divorce his first wife, which he had already done in 1952. The proposal was a clear signal of his commitment.

How Peter described his feelings for Margaret

In his memoir Time and Chance, Townsend wrote about his love for Margaret, describing the emotional weight of the relationship. The Esquire UK (culture magazine) reported that his memoir leaves little doubt about his devotion. “I loved her deeply,” he reportedly wrote, “and would have done anything to marry her.”

Why didn’t Princess Margaret marry Peter Townsend?

The Royal Marriages Act 1772

Under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, any descendant of George II needed the monarch’s consent to marry before age 25. Margaret turned 25 on 21 August 1955, so she could have married without consent after that date — but the bigger obstacle was the Church of England’s stance on divorce. Townsend was a divorced man, and the Church considered remarriage after divorce unacceptable at the time (AOL News).

The Church of England’s stance on remarriage after divorce

As the supreme governor of the Church of England, Queen Elizabeth II could not condone a marriage that violated church doctrine. The then-Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, made it clear that the Church would not bless a union involving a divorced person. Margaret’s private secretary, Tatler (royal-focused magazine) reported, counseled her that marrying Townsend would mean losing her royal status and income.

On 31 October 1955, Margaret issued a public statement: “I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend. I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage. But, mindful of the Church’s teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before any others.”

The pattern: For Margaret, duty to crown and church won over personal happiness — a decision that haunted her for decades.

What was the age gap between Margaret and Peter Townsend?

Exact birth dates and age difference

Peter Townsend was born on 22 November 1914; Princess Margaret was born on 21 August 1930. The difference: 15 years, 9 months — often rounded to 16 years (Esquire UK). When they first met in 1944, Margaret was 14 and Townsend was 30. Some accounts place their first meeting during the 1947 South African tour, but the Esquire UK (culture magazine) notes that 1944 is the more widely accepted date.

The catch: The age gap was significant enough to raise eyebrows, but it was the divorce status, not the numbers, that ultimately blocked the marriage.

Did Princess Margaret attend Peter Townsend’s funeral?

Who did attend the funeral

Townsend died of stomach cancer on 19 June 1995 at age 80 (Business Insider (editorial publication)). His funeral was a private family affair in France, where he had lived with his second wife, Marie-Luce Jamagne. Most biographies note that Margaret did not attend. The Business Insider (US news outlet) reports that “many accounts say she did not attend,” though some suggest she was unwell at the time.

Reports of her reaction to his death

According to Tatler (royal-focused magazine), Margaret was reportedly “deeply saddened” by the news. She was in a wheelchair by then, recovering from a series of strokes, and travel was difficult. No official statement from the palace ever confirmed her attendance.

The pattern: The ambiguity around her funeral attendance has fueled speculation that she never fully let go of him — a narrative that The Crown later dramatized.

Did Margaret ever see Peter again after their separation?

Their reunion in the 1970s

Yes — they met again. The most widely reported reunion took place in 1978, when Townsend visited London and the two had lunch together at the home of mutual friends. What to Watch (entertainment news) describes the meeting as “friendly” and that they spent several hours catching up. There is no evidence of a romantic rekindling — both were married to other people.

Phone calls and letters later in life

After that lunch, they stayed in touch by phone and occasional letters until Townsend’s death. Business Insider (US news outlet) notes that they spoke on the phone a few times in the 1990s, but the conversations were brief and cordial. Some accounts also mention a chance encounter at an official function in the early 1990s, though the details are hazy.

The pattern: Their post-separation contact was minimal but real — a quiet acknowledgment of a bond that never fully broke.

Comparison: Peter Townsend vs. Antony Armstrong-Jones

Two men, two very different paths to Margaret’s heart. Here’s how they compare.

The contrast: Townsend represented the love she couldn’t have; Armstrong-Jones the marriage she chose — and later regretted.

Timeline of the Margaret–Townsend romance

• 1946 – Townsend appointed equerry to King George VI (BBC News)
• 1947 – Margaret, age 17, begins to develop feelings for Townsend (Esquire UK)
• 1952 – Townsend divorces his wife Rosemary (AOL News)
• 1953 – Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II; Margaret brushes lint off Townsend’s coat, sparking global rumours (Tatler)
• 1953 – Townsend proposes in April (AOL News)
• 1955 – Margaret announces she will not marry him on 31 October (Tatler)
• 1958 – Townsend marries Marie-Luce Jamagne (The New York Times)
• 1960 – Margaret marries Antony Armstrong-Jones (Tatler)
• 1978 – Margaret and Townsend reunite for lunch in England (What to Watch)
• 1995 – Townsend dies of stomach cancer (Business Insider)
• 2002 – Margaret dies after a series of strokes

Clarity: What we know vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Townsend proposed to Margaret in 1953 (AOL News)
• The marriage was blocked by the Church of England and government (BBC News)
• Margaret renounced the marriage in a public statement on 31 October 1955 (Tatler)
• They had a reunion lunch in 1978 (What to Watch)

What’s unclear

• Whether Margaret attended his funeral — most biographies say she did not, but no official confirmation exists (Business Insider)
• The full nature of their relationship after his second marriage — they stayed in touch, but the depth is unknown (Esquire UK)

“Mindful of the Church’s teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before any others.”

— Princess Margaret, public statement, 31 October 1955 (Tatler (royal-focused magazine))

“I loved her deeply and would have done anything to marry her.”

— Peter Townsend, from his memoir Time and Chance (Esquire UK (culture magazine))

For the British monarchy, the lesson was clear: duty would always trump personal desire, or risk losing the crown. Margaret’s story is the haunting reminder of that trade-off — a love that could not exist within the institution, yet refused to die quietly.

Frequently asked questions

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