When people ask who did Princess Margaret marry, they’re usually looking for a name, but what they find is one of the most chaotic, glamorous, and ultimately heartbreaking chapters in royal history. It wasn’t the war hero she famously loved first. It wasn't a fellow royal. It was a commoner with a camera and a rebellious streak that matched her own.
Margaret married Antony Armstrong-Jones.
He was a society photographer, a man who lived in a bohemian studio in Pimlico and rode a motorcycle. In 1960, this was a massive deal. It was the first time in 450 years that a "commoner" had married into the inner circle of the British Royal Family. The wedding was a spectacle—the first royal wedding ever televised—bringing the monarchy into the living rooms of 300 million people worldwide. But behind the Poltimore Tiara and the silk organza Norman Hartnell gown, the marriage was a collision of two massive egos that eventually leveled the house.
Why the World Still Asks Who Did Princess Margaret Marry
Most people bring up Margaret’s marriage because of Peter Townsend. You've probably seen the dramatized versions on screen. After the heartbreak of being told she couldn't marry the divorced Group Captain Townsend due to the rigid rules of the Church of England and the Royal Marriages Act 1772, Margaret was adrift.
She met Tony Armstrong-Jones at a dinner party in 1958.
He wasn't like the "Chelsea Set" of chinless aristocrats she usually hung out with. He worked. He was edgy. He actually had a career. Honestly, that was the draw. He treated her like a person, not a statue, even though he reportedly made her wait for him during photo sessions, which was unheard of for a HRH.
The engagement was a total shock. It was announced in February 1960, just after Margaret received a letter from Peter Townsend telling her he was getting married to a young Belgian woman. Many historians, including Christopher Warwick in his biography Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts, suggest the timing wasn't a coincidence. Margaret wanted to show the world she had moved on.
The Wedding That Changed Everything
The ceremony took place on May 6, 1960, at Westminster Abbey. It was a masterclass in mid-century royal branding. Margaret looked stunning. Tony looked... well, he looked like a man who was about to become the Earl of Snowdon, a title created for him so their children wouldn't be "commoners."
The guest list was a mix of European royalty and the London art scene. It felt like the start of the Swinging Sixties. For a moment, the public was obsessed. They were the "it" couple. They hung out with The Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor, and Peter Sellers. They were the glamorous, smoky, gin-soaked alternative to the Queen’s more dutiful and—let's be honest—slightly duller family life.
The Reality of Life as the Countess of Snowdon
It didn't take long for the cracks to show.
Tony was a workaholic. He didn't want to just be a "royal hanger-on." He kept his job at The Sunday Times. He kept his studio. He kept his secrets. Princess Margaret, meanwhile, expected the deference due to her rank. You've got to remember, she was raised in a world where people bowed when she entered the room. Tony wasn't really the bowing type.
They had two children:
- David Armstrong-Jones (now the 2nd Earl of Snowdon)
- Lady Sarah Chatto
Sarah remains one of the most respected members of the extended royal family today, often cited as a favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth II. But even the kids couldn't bridge the gap between their parents' explosive personalities.
By the late 1960s, the marriage was effectively a battlefield. They would leave nasty notes for each other around the house. Tony would reportedly leave lists for Margaret titled "Things I Hate About You." It was toxic. Both parties began having affairs. Margaret found solace with Roddy Llewellyn, a landscape gardener 17 years her junior, while Tony had a long-standing series of involvements with other women.
The Breaking Point and the 1978 Divorce
When the news of Margaret and Roddy Llewellyn’s holiday in Mustique hit the tabloids in 1976, the "fairytale" was officially dead. The public, who had once adored the rebellious Princess, turned on her. She was seen as a "predatory" older woman, while Tony was often cast as the aggrieved husband, despite his own indiscretions.
They separated in 1976 and officially divorced in 1978.
This was a massive deal. It was the first divorce in the immediate royal family since Henry VIII (if you're counting the annulments). It paved the way for the later divorces of Charles, Anne, and Andrew. Margaret took the hit so the next generation could have it a little easier, though she probably didn't see it that way at the time.
Beyond the Name: What Most People Get Wrong
People often think Margaret’s life ended after the divorce or that she was a tragic figure. Kinda, but not really. She remained the Countess of Snowdon until her death in 2002. She and Tony actually stayed somewhat friendly in their later years.
He didn't just disappear. Lord Snowdon remained a prolific photographer and a tireless campaigner for the disabled. He even designed the aviary at the London Zoo—which is still there today and is as avant-garde as he was.
The marriage was a failure in the traditional sense, but it redefined what a modern royal could be. It showed that the "firm" wasn't indestructible. It proved that marrying for love—or reaction, or passion—comes with a bill that eventually has to be paid.
Key Takeaways for History Buffs
If you're digging into the history of the Windsors, keep these facts in your back pocket:
- The "First" Commoner: Tony wasn't the last commoner to marry in, but he was the pioneer. Without him, we might not have seen the likes of Diana Spencer (an aristocrat but still technically a commoner), Sarah Ferguson, or Kate Middleton.
- The Mustique Connection: Margaret’s 10-acre plot on the island of Mustique was a wedding gift from Colin Tennant. It became her sanctuary and the site of the scandal that ended her marriage.
- The Succession Impact: Because Tony was made an Earl, their children held titles and remained in the line of succession, though they lead largely private lives today.
How to Research Royal History Without the Fluff
If you want to understand the nuances of the Margaret-Tony dynamic, skip the sensationalist tabloids. Look for memoirs from people who were actually there.
- Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner provides an incredibly intimate, firsthand look at Margaret’s life on Mustique and her marriage.
- The official biography by Christopher Warwick is the gold standard for factual accuracy.
- Research the Snowdon Trust to see the lasting positive impact Tony had on British society, which often gets overshadowed by the gossip.
Understanding who did Princess Margaret marry requires looking past the 1960 wedding photos. It was a marriage of the old world and the new, a clash that produced two children, a record-breaking divorce, and a legacy of rebellion that the Royal Family is still navigating today. Don't just settle for the name; look at the cultural shift that happened the moment she said "I do" to a man with a camera.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Knowledge
To get a full picture of this era, examine the social changes in 1960s Britain. The marriage of Princess Margaret wasn't just a family matter; it was a symptom of a country moving away from rigid class structures. You can track this by looking into the "New Wave" of British cinema and photography from the same period, much of which was influenced by or featured Lord Snowdon himself. This context explains why the match was so shocking—and so inevitable.