7. Princess Margaret was the ultimate ‘rock and roll royal’, partying with rock stars and paparazzi in London during the infamous Swinging Sixties
The Queen’s younger sister, Margaret, came to be known as England’s ‘Rebel Princess’ – and for good reason. For decades, she was seen as the most controversial member of the Royal Family. Her antics, mainly in London’s bars and nightclubs, filled gossip columns all over the world, and her love life continues to be the subject of much rumor and speculation. Inevitably, since her death in 2002, Margaret’s life has been pored over by historians and by TV and movie scriptwriters, with her colorful antics in London during the so-called ‘Swinging Sixties’ continuing to fascinate – and titillate – to this day.
As a young woman, Margaret shocked the rest of the Royal Family by falling in love with a divorced Air Force pilot. They planned to marry, but the Princess was warned it could undermine the monarchy. In the end, Princess Margaret married well, with her husband becoming the Earl of Snowdon. However, soon after their 1960 wedding, rumors of Margaret’s extra-marital dalliances started to emerge. Over the years, numerous music and movie stars have been linked to the party-loving princess, even if the Royal Family have preferred to remember Margaret for the work she undertook to support arts charities and cultural organizations.