Community Chat

[Oznell]

The Queen and Princess Margaret heading to Ascot:

With all the newly-stirred up interest in royal history, I wonder how many are aware of this little romantic tidbit...

John Turner.

John Napier Turner became Canada's Prime Minister in 1984,  but long before then he was a very social young lawyer knocking about, and rising politico.  In the late Fifties, his mother and stepfather were entertaining Queen Elizabeth's stormy younger sister Margaret on one of her visits to Canada.

They drafted their son to escort her around.

It was AFTER she had been prevented from marrying Group Captain Townsend, but BEFORE she was swept off her feet by Antony Armstrong-Jones.

Margaret, looking so beautiful.

Onlookers have reported quite the chemistry between Turner and the princess, and they saw each other several times before she was summoned back by the Palace.  Some say it was to cut off any further romantic developments with Turner.

Years later, a cache of her letters to a close friend, socialite Sharman Douglas, surfaced.

An excerpt:

Margaret says,  "I nearly married him"!

I read somewhere that even had she been serious (which I very much doubt),  that Turner would never have married her-- he was a devoted Catholic and would not have converted.

In his eighties, John Turner was interviewed and when her name came up he said, something to the effect --  "I've never talked about it, and I won't start now!"

Anyway, postscript:   he later married a fantastic woman, Geills, and the two of them continued to see Princess Margaret on the most cordial terms-- so it must have all ironed out quite nicely.

I think his wife, Geills, still alive, is so cool.  Her name is pronounced close to "Jill",  and is Scottish in origin.  She's an opposite type to Margaret--  sort of lean, with great bone structure, and a math whiz, she studied at McGill and Harvard and was a financial analyst.

Margaret, keeping secrets.  Too bad we don't know her thoughts...  

Anyway, Turner didn't remain Prime Minister very long under the parliamentary system, but he had a great life.

He was a genial gent, and to me, always cut a dashing figure.  

My Dad met him once, and said he was a charmer, but not in the slick sense-- just genuinely nice.

Apropos of nothing, Margaret's diamond riviere is some serious stonage!

[beach-mom]

@Oznell - That was interesting! Of course I've seen lots of pictures of Princess Margaret, but I never realized how very beautiful she really was!

It just seems like the two sisters were very close. It must have been hard for Queen Elizabeth personally to prohibit her sister from marrying the man she really loved Captain Townsend, even though at the time she knew it was what she had to do. 

[spiderw]

I enjoyed this post very much, Oznell.  I saw a documentary about Princess Margaret and I remember her being the "rebel" of the family portrayed as a fun loving party girl.  I also remember the media following her romance with Antony Armstrong-Jones when it was happening. She was beautiful and I admired her independence .  Thank you for posting such an insightful look into Margaret and her romance with Turner!!!!!  

[cindyNC]

@Oznell Thannks for posting.  Loved reading that bit of history!

[twinsister]

@Oznell - thanks for posting.  Very interesting and loved the photos!

[Oznell]

Yes, @beach-mom ,  hard indeed,  and some say that after Townsend,  Margaret's choices in men were, as time went on, signs of a "rebound" mentality.  An unhappy situation.

@spiderw,   That certainly was a whirlwind, photogenic courtship with racy Antony Armstrong-Jones.   I always think her kids with him were cute and "impish" looking--  now David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowden, and Lady Sarah Chatto:

[beckyb1012]

Princess Margaret was sent to "talk" to her cousin Prince William about wanting to marry Zsuzsi.  They did break up but stayed in touch.  Two years later when he died he was wearing the matching ring that they bought for each other.  

[stuyvesant]

Princess Margaret picked being a royal over the man she loved.  I've often  thought this accounted for her complete trainwreck with men.  Once you've  made a choice like that, what does it matter who you sleep with.