The younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret was born at Glamis, the Scottish home of her grandparents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, on 21 August 1930, and was christened Margaret Rose.

The Princess was educated at home with her sister, The Queen. She learned to ride, enjoyed swimming and became a keen gardener. In 1937 she joined the Brownies, and when she was old enough enlisted in the Girl Guides. She has always maintained close links with Guiding, and now serves as President and Chairman of the Council of the Girl Guides Association.

When she was five years old the Princess attended the Jubilee of her grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary. Less than two years later came her second great State occasion, her parents' coronation in Westminster Abbey. Princess Margaret began to carry out public engagements at a very young age; one early appointment was as Patron of the Scottish Children's League (becoming President in 1966). In 1947 she accompanied the King and Queen and Princess Elizabeth on their South African tour.

Since then The Princess has taken a full share in the Royal family's many public activities. Her particular interest is in the broad field of welfare work. Many of the 80-plus organisations of which she is Patron or President are concerned with activities for young people, children's well-being and caring for sick people.

She is President of the National Society and of the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Grand President of the St John Ambulance Brigade and Colonel-in-Chief of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

In the arts, two of Princess Margaret's great enthusiasms are music and ballet. In 1957, the same year that she was made an Honorary Doctor of Music of London University, she became the first President of the Royal Ballet, The Queen serving as Patron; she was also President of the Sadler's Wells Foundation.

Princess Margaret has undertaken numerous overseas visits. She has represented The Queen on many important occasions, and has opened British fairs and trade weeks, as well as making other less formal visits.

In February 1960 The Queen announced her consent to the engagement of Princess Margaret to Mr Antony Armstrong-Jones, and they were married in Westminster Abbey on 6 May. In October of the same year Mr Armstrong-Jones was created Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley.

They had two children. Their son, Lord Linley, was born on 3 November 1961 and christened David Albert Charles; their daughter, Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth, was born on 1 May 1964. The marriage of The Princess to Lord Snowdon was dissolved in May 1978.

Princess Margaret is Honorary Fellow of several learned societies, has received Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Cambridge and Keele, and is a Master of the Bench of Lincoln's Inn. She also serves as Colonel-in-Chief of a number of military units, including the Highland Fusiliers of Canada.

Princess Margaret was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1955, and was given the Royal Victorian Chain by The Queen in 1990. She is also Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St John of Jerusalem.

Princess Margaret died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 71 on Saturday, 9 February 2002.

She had suffered a stroke on Friday afternoon and, after developing heart problems, was taken to hospital in London in the early hours of Saturday morning.

In a statement Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen, with great sadness, has asked for the following announcement to be made immediately. "Her beloved sister, Princess Margaret, died peacefully in her sleep this morning at 6.30am in the King Edward VII Hospital."

 

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