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Princess Margaret made this shocking comment about the Queen

The original royal rift.. - by Alice Murphy
  • 10 Jul 2019

Long before she became the longest reigning female monarch in history, Queen Elizabeth II of England was quietly growing up as Princess Elizabeth of York, the first child of George, Duke of York and his wife, Duchess Elizabeth.

Princess Elizabeth and her little sister Princess Margaret were thrust into the spotlight in 1936 when their parents became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth following the abdication of their uncle King Edward VIII, and work began almost immediately to prepare the young Elizabeth to become Queen after her father's death.

WATCH: Princess Margaret reveals why she hates being called 'the younger sister'

Princess Elizabeth studied royal history, constitutional practice and diplomatic relations with private tutors at Buckingham Palace, but Margaret missed out on this higher education.

And according to royal biographer Christopher Warwick, this contrast proved to be a "bone of contention" between the royal sisters for the rest of their lives.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Mr Warwick revealed Princess Margaret hated being known as Princess Elizabeth's "younger sister".

"She once said to me, 'I've never suffered from second daughter-itis. I never minded being referred to as the younger daughter, but I do mind being referred to as the younger sister."

queen elizabeth princess margaret

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother, with her daughters Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret

Getty Images

Mr Warwick, who knew the late Countess of Snowdon - as Princess Margaret was also known - personally, said he once asked how she felt about the different education she and Queen Elizabeth received.

"Yes, that was always a bone of contention," the Princess replied.

Previous historical accounts of the Windsor family, including Netflix series The Crown, claimed the Queen's objection to Margaret's marriage to Group Captain Peter Townsend caused a lifelong rift between the siblings.

As head of the Commonwealth and the Church of England, Queen Elizabeth was forced to bow to pressure from the British parliament and refuse her sister's wish to marry Peter Townsend because he had been married before.

Royal author Katie Nicholl has said the issue caused Princess Margaret to resent the Queen for the rest of her life, leading to "difficulties and tension" within the royal family, particularly after Elizabeth was allowed to marry her undeniably controversial love Prince Philip of Greece, now Duke of Edinburgh.

queen elizabeth princess margaret

Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret attend a charity function in 1984

Getty Images

Princess Margaret went on to marry society photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones at London's Westminster Abbey in 1960.

The royal couple welcomed two children, Lady Sarah Chatto and David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1978.

It was the first divorce of a senior member of the British royal family since Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh's in 1901.

Princess Margaret passed away aged 71 in February 2002, seven weeks before the Queen Mother's death.

Since Princess Margaret's death, sweeping changes have taken place within the royal family.

prince harry

Princess Margaret's grand-nephew Prince Harry married American divorcee Meghan Markle in May 2018

Getty Images

Prince Charles and Princess Diana's eldest son Prince William, the future King of England, married his common-born college sweetheart Kate Middleton in a fairytale royal wedding at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge now live with their three adorable children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at Kensington Palace.

The Wales' second son, Prince Harry, made history by marrying American actress and divorcee Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in May 2018.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed the first biracial royal baby, Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor, on May 6 2019.

  • Royals
  • Queen Elizabeth
Alice Murphy
Alice Murphy is a freelance journalist and self-professed news addict. Originally from Ireland, Alice is on a mission to visit every country in the world (telling stories along the way). She is most commonly found eating sushi, drinking strong coffee and reading horoscopes.

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