When the bells of Westminster Abbey rang out on May 6, 1960, the world wasn't just watching a royal wedding; they were watching a cultural shift. People always ask, how old was Princess Margaret when she married the bohemian photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones? She was 29.
In today's world, 29 feels like the absolute prime of youth—the age where you've finally figured out which cocktails you actually like and stopped trying to please your parents. But in the rigid, stuffy atmosphere of the 1950s British aristocracy, 29 was pushing it. By the standards of the time, Margaret was dangerously close to being labeled a "spinster," a term that sounds ridiculous now but carried heavy weight back then. Her sister, Queen Elizabeth II, had already been married for over a decade and was deep into the business of producing heirs.
Margaret was different. She was the "rebel princess," the one with the sapphire-blue eyes and the sharp wit who liked late nights at jazz clubs and didn't mind a bit of cigarette smoke. Her road to the altar was anything but a straight line.
The Long Road to 29: Peter Townsend and the Ghost of "What If"
You can't really talk about her age at marriage without mentioning the elephant in the room: Group Captain Peter Townsend. Most royal buffs know the story, but it’s worth revisiting because it explains why she waited until she was nearly 30 to tie the knot.
When Margaret was in her early twenties, she fell head-over-heels for Townsend. He was a war hero, handsome, and devoted. He was also divorced. In the 1950s, the Church of England—which her sister headed—wasn't having any of it. The government, led by Winston Churchill, was equally cold. Margaret was told she’d have to renounce her rights to the throne and much of her royal income to marry him.
By 1955, at age 25, she made that famous, heartbreaking radio announcement: "I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend."
✨ Don't miss: Nathan Griffith: Why the Teen Mom Alum Still Matters in 2026
She spent the next few years in a sort of social whirlwind. She was the most famous woman in the world who wasn't a Head of State. She was a fashion icon. But she was also a woman who had been told "no" by the very institution she represented. So, when she finally walked down the aisle five years later, the question of how old was Princess Margaret when she married carried the subtext of all those lost years.
Enter Antony Armstrong-Jones: The Photographer Who Broke the Mold
Antony Armstrong-Jones was a shock to the system. He wasn't a Duke. He wasn't a Marquess. He was a working photographer who lived in a studio in Pimlico.
They met at a dinner party in 1958. Margaret was 27 then. Tony, as he was known, was just a few months older than her. Their courtship was incredibly secretive—so secretive that even her closest friends didn't know it was serious until the engagement was announced. He would sneak into Clarence House, and she would visit his grungy studio, disguised in headscarves and sunglasses.
Why did she say yes? Some historians, like Christopher Warwick, suggest it was a reaction to hearing that Peter Townsend was getting married to a young Belgian woman. Whether that’s true or just delicious gossip, the timing was tight. She announced her engagement just days after getting a letter from Peter.
The 1960 Wedding: A Day of Firsts
The wedding was massive. It was the first royal wedding to be televised, pulling in an estimated 300 million viewers worldwide. People were obsessed.
🔗 Read more: Mary J Blige Costume: How the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Changed Fashion Forever
- The Dress: Designed by Norman Hartnell, the same man who did the Queen’s wedding dress and coronation gown. It was surprisingly simple for the era—a high-collared, long-sleeved silk organza gown that emphasized her tiny waist.
- The Tiara: Margaret didn't wear a family heirloom. She bought the Poltimore tiara at auction herself. Talk about independent.
- The Vibe: It was the dawn of the 60s. The guest list was a mix of stiff-collared royals and Tony’s artsy, bohemian friends.
At 29, Margaret looked radiant, but there was a certain gravity to her. She knew she was stepping into a new era. Her husband was created Earl of Snowdon shortly after, ensuring their children would have titles, but the marriage itself was always a bit of a tightrope walk between royal duty and artistic freedom.
Why Her Age Actually Mattered
If Margaret had married at 21, she might have been a very different version of herself. By 29, she had a fully formed personality that often clashed with the expectations of a royal spouse.
The marriage lasted 18 years, eventually ending in divorce in 1978. It was the first divorce by a senior member of the British royal family since Henry VIII (though, obviously, with less beheading). Some say they were too alike—both stubborn, both creative, both prone to moods.
Honestly, the fact that she waited until 29 gave her a level of autonomy that previous royal women just didn't have. She had lived a full life as a single woman in the public eye. She had traveled, she had partied, and she had faced public heartbreak.
Quick Facts about Margaret’s Big Day:
- Date: May 6, 1960.
- Location: Westminster Abbey.
- The "Commoner" Factor: Tony was the first "commoner" to marry a King's daughter in over 400 years.
- The Age Gap: There basically wasn't one; Tony was 30, Margaret was 29.
Common Misconceptions About the Marriage
People often think she married Tony just to spite Peter Townsend. While the timing is suspicious, it's a bit reductive. Tony offered her a world she craved—a world of artists, actors, and people who didn't care about protocol. He made her laugh. He challenged her.
💡 You might also like: Mariah Kennedy Cuomo Wedding: What Really Happened at the Kennedy Compound
Another myth is that the Queen disapproved. In reality, Elizabeth II just wanted her sister to be happy. The Queen liked Tony; he was charming and talented. The "drama" was largely manufactured by a press that wanted a scandal or a tragedy.
What We Can Learn From Margaret’s Timeline
Princess Margaret’s story is a reminder that the "ideal" timeline is a myth. She was pressured to marry early, prevented from marrying for love in her mid-twenties, and eventually found a partner who matched her energy right as she was entering her thirties.
For those looking into the history of the House of Windsor, her age at marriage marks the beginning of the "modern" royal era. It was the moment the monarchy started to feel a bit more human, a bit more flawed, and a lot more interesting.
If you're researching royal history, the best next step is to look into the Lord Snowdon archives or read Christopher Warwick’s authorized biography, Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts. These sources provide the most accurate look at her private letters and the real dynamics of her marriage, far beyond what you see in dramatized TV shows. Focus on her work with the Royal Ballet and her patronage of the arts during the early 1960s to see how she used her position to bridge the gap between the crown and the burgeoning London art scene.