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Birth of a princess - Princess Margaret Rose was born on August 21, 1930, at Glamis Castle in Scotland.

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Little princess - She was widely recognized as being the willful, impulsive, and prettier sibling, contrary to older sister Elizabeth who was dutiful and serious.

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Traditional upbringing -

Elizabeth and Margaret, who were born four years apart, had a sheltered childhood in London and were looked after by nannies. It was never expected that their family would be thrust into the direct line of succession to the British royal throne.

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Normal family - Young Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth pictured in the grounds of Windsor Castle with their grandfather King George V, grandmother Queen Mary, and mother, the Duchess of York in 1933.

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Nicknames - A two-year-old Princess Margaret and seven-year-old Princess Elizabeth, who was known as "Lilibet" during her childhood, are photographed together in 1933.

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Change of course - It was in 1936, when the girls' paternal uncle King Edward VIII abdicated to be allowed to marry his twice-divorced American lover, Wallace Simpson, that their lives were pushed into the public eye.

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Royals - On receiving the news that their father would become king, Margaret apparently turned to her older sister, now heiress presumptive, and said earnestly "Oh, Lillibet, poor you," while putting her arm around her.

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Father's coronation - When King George VI was crowned in May 1937 and their mother became queen, life for the two sisters became very different.

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Two sisters - Though the two were always close, Margaret's struggle to find her place became a lifelong source of tension. While Elizabeth started having constitutional history lessons in preparation for her role as future queen, Margaret was left out.

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Royal duties - The royal family in South Africa in 1947. It was from Cape Town that Princess Elizabeth broadcast a speech pledging her dedication to the commonwealth on her 21st birthday, in preparation for her role as future queen.

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Pride and joy - King George VI once referred to the different characters of his two daughters, one dutiful and one vivacious, saying "Lilibet is my pride, Margaret my joy."

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Princess Elizabeth's wedding - Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten in 1947, with Margaret at her side as a bridesmaid.

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Side by side - Elizabeth cradles her second child, Princess Anne, after the baby's christening at Buckingham Palace in 1950. Aunt Princess Margaret and grandfather King George VI look on.

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Death of King George - After King George VI died in 1952, at the age of 56, the 26-year-old Princess Elizabeth became queen.

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Coronation day - Princess Margaret supported the Queen on her coronation day in June 1953.

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Family affair - Princess Margaret (right) watches Queen Elizabeth's coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey along with a young Prince Charles and the Queen Mother.

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Sisterly support - Though her elder sister was the star of the show, 22-year-old Margaret caused a stir during the ceremony when she was spotted wiping dust off a man's collar.

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Captain Peter Townsend - The man in question was Captain Peter Townsend, an RAF officer who had been one of her father's equerries. He was 16 years older than Margaret and the pair's love affair had up until then been kept secret from the public.

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Captain Peter Townsend - The two wanted to wed, but as Townsend was a divorced man, the government decided that Margaret would have to give up her royal privileges if she married him.

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Separation - After a long wait, Princess Margaret announced in 1955 that she would give up Townsend, putting her duty to the commonwealth first. The tragic end to the love affair won her much public sympathy.

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Rebellious sister - Heartbreak affected Margaret deeply. Always the more whimsical of the two sisters, she began to develop more extreme drinking and smoking habits, that lasted for most of her life.

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Lap of luxury - According to her biographer Craig Brown, in her mid-twenties the Princess spent two hours a morning in bed, chain-smoking and listening to the radio, followed by a vodka "pick-me-up" at 12:30 pm, and large quantities of wine and whisky at lunch and dinner.

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Antony Armstrong-Jones - After a time of withdrawal, she met society photographer and bohemian Antony Armstrong-Jones and the two announced their engagement in 1960.

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Princess Margaret's wedding - As the modern royal figure she was, Margaret's wedding was the first royal one ever to be televised, drawing in a global audience of about 300 million viewers.

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Prince Philip - Since her father had died in 1952, it was her brother-in-law, Prince Philip, who walked her down the aisle at Westminster Abbey.

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Earl and Countess of Snowdon - Margaret and her new husband were given the titles of Earl and Countess of Snowdon upon marrying.

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Affairs - The union seemed happy at first, but it soon ran into rocky ground, with rumors of affairs coming from both sides. The pair eventually drifted apart.

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Children - It was said that Margaret's greatest pleasure from her marriage came from being a mother. Her two children, David and Sarah, were born in 1961 and 1964.

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Peter Sellers - Margaret was rumored to have had several affairs during her marriage, including with actor Peter Sellers (pictured), and musician Mick Jagger, though these are unproven.

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Boy toy - It was two friends of Margaret's, Lord and Lady Tennant (pictured), who first introduced her to a new love in 1973, Roddy LLewellyn.

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Roddy LLewellyn - Llewellyn was a British aristocrat who was 17 years younger than the 43-year-old Princess. The two had an eight-year long affair.

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Mysterious Mustique - Margaret and Llewellyn spent many holidays together on the island of Mustique, meaning their romance was kept secret until a photographer got snaps of the couple together on the island in 1976.

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Marriage breakdown - After news of Margaret's affair hit the headlines, the Snowdons publicly separated and finally divorced in 1978.

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Meeting the stars - In spite of heartbreak and an unhappy marriage, Margaret started to forge her position as a patron of arts and culture in the royal family, meeting many celebrities throughout her life.

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Sofia Loren - Princess Margaret meets Sofia Loren at the premiere of 'The Key' in 1958.

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The Beatles - Talking with The Beatles in 1965 at the premiere of their movie 'Help!' in London.

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My Fair Lady - The Princess talks with actors Julie Andrews, Rex Harrison, and Stanley Holloway after a stage performance of 'My Fair Lady' in London, 1966.

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Mia Farrow - Margaret meets actor Laurence Harvey and Mia Farrow at a screening of 'The Taming of the Shrew' in London, 1967.

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Brigitte Bardot - Her Royal Highness chats with Brigitte Bardot at the premiere of 'Shalako' in London, 1968.

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Valentino - Princess Margaret together with Italian fashion designer Valentino in 1968.

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Neil Diamond - Meeting American musician Neil Diamond in London, 1977.

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Abba - The Princess stands with the four members of Swedish pop group Abba, in 1977.

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Character - However, the Princess's haughty attitude and rudeness often caused hiccups with the famous figures she met.

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Her Royal Highness - She insisted that she always be addressed as "Ma'am," though her close friends were permitted to call her "Ma'am darling." Even her own children were expected to refer to her as Princess Margaret in front of others, says the New York Times.

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Grace Kelly - Upon meeting actress Grace Kelly in America, Margaret reportedly told Kelly that she didn't look like a movie star.

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Elizabeth Taylor - At the same event, the Princess allegedly told actress Elizabeth Taylor that her 33-carat engagement ring from Richard Burton was "vulgar."

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House guest from hell - Her demanding habits and put-downs led her to be referred to as a the "house guest from hell."

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House guest from hell - She was often late and made hosts and guests wait for her, as English novelist Nancy Mitford once commented.

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House guest from hell - Reportedly she also once insisted that no guest could leave until she gave them permission.

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Later years - Despite her patronage of the arts, many say that Margaret never managed to carve out a definitive role for herself in the royal family.

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Royal appearances - Nevertheless she carried out royal duties and appeared with the rest of the royal family at events throughout her life, such as here at the State Opening of Parliament in 1995.

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Royal appearances - Princess Margaret attends ascot with the Queen Mother in 1995.

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Royal appearances - At a Household Cavalry presentation ceremony with her sister the Queen in 1993.

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Always second place - She always knew that her place came after her older sister's.

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Friends - Though Margaret caused a lot of controversy for the royal family over the years, the sisters remained close.

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Illness - After years of excessive drinking and smoking, Margaret sadly suffered from a number of health problems later in life, including several strokes. She looked much older and worn than her older sister.

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Death - Following a third stroke in 2002, the Princess died at the age of 71. About a month and a half later the Queen Mother, aged 101, also passed away. Queen Elizabeth was devastated.

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Close trio - The mother and two daughters had been close, even though tensions over Margaret's various scandals had caused tricky moments.

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Margaret's funeral -

At her sister's funeral, Queen Elizabeth was seen wiping away tears in an extremely rare public display of emotion.

See also: Historic funeral processions and memorial services

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