It was quite the scandal at the time! Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeths' younger sister. Group Captain Peter Townsend (DSO, DFC & Bar) was appointed equerry to King George VI. Townsend was a Battle of Britain veteran and decorated combat ace - one of the 'Few'. He was also married to a woman who was unfaithful to him. Margaret was much taken with the handsome equerry, but was only a teenager at the time, so this minor crush soon faded. By the early 1950s. Margaret was drawing attetion as a socialite. Pretty, vivacious and witty in contrast to her serious, conventional and by now married older sister, Margaret and her 'Set' were the darlings of the social columns. However, her interest in Townsend had revived and she was prone to flirtatious behaviour toward him which he did not reciprocate.

The unexpected death of King George in 1952, her sisters accession to the throne and the completion of Townsends; divorce changed a lot of things. Margaret moved into Clarence House with the Queen Mother and Townsend was appointed Comptroller of the household, so they were thrown together. Her feelings for him deepened and his for her kindled. He proposedto her and she accepted in late 1952 or early 1953 - accounts differ. Margaret had to ask the Queens' permission to marry, and the Queen asked her, under the circumstances, to wait a year and keep the relationship secret.

However, news got out and the resulting scandal caused a constitutional crisis. Townsend was divorced and his ex-wife was still alive. At that time, the Church of England did not acknowledge divorce, so in the eyes of that church, Townsend was still married and the relationship was therefore an adulterous one. The Queen, as Head of the Church, was in an impossible position. Especially since not only the UK government, but many of the Commonwealth ones, were firm in their assertions that the marriage, if permitted, would irretrievably damage the Monarchy and the Commonwealth. In the end, the Queen had to refuse permission. Everyone involved still recalled the turmoil of the Abdication, and did not want a repeat of that!

So Townsend was sent abroad. Margaret married Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960. As the Earl and Countess of Snowdon they were a significant couple in the social life of the 60s, They cheated on each other constantly and divorced in 1978, The first divorce of a senior member of the Royal Family since Henry VIIIs' day. They remained close friends.