Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts [Paperback]

Princess Margaret was one of the most controversial royal figures of the twentieth century. Widely admired as a young woman, she was famous for her beauty and charisma, but also for her sense of loyalty and duty. The charismatic Princess not only brought colour and sex appeal into an otherwise colourless royal family, but did much to help bring the monarchy and its attitudes into the modern world. In recent years, dogged by accidents and ill-health, much of the Princess's youthful vigour and charm, not to mention her hard work, has been forgotten. Following her death on 9 February, in the Queen's golden jubilee year, and poignantly close to the anniversary of George VI's death, the story of her life is once again front pages news. In this fully updated memorial edition of his acclaimed study, originally undertaken with the co-operation of the Princess and many of those closest to her, her authorized biographer Christopher Warwick looks again at the life and work of this enigmatic and individual royal figure, and brings her story to a close with her funeral in Windsor. Written with authority and insight, Princess Margaret - A Life of Contrasts is a fitting tribute to an exceptional, deeply complex woman. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Published one year on from her death, this new paperback edition of the acclaimed biography looks at this enigmatic and individual royal figure, and completes the story of her life. Author Christopher Warwick was the only author Princess Margaret ever co-operated with, a personal friend of the Princess and the only biographer to attend her funeral. Written with authority and insight, Princess Margaret – A Life of Contrasts is a fitting memorial tribute to an exceptional, deeply complex woman.

One of the most controversial royal figures of the twentieth century, Princess Margaret was admired as well as vilified for most of her adult life. Described by the designer and hotelier Anouska Hemple as ‘Witty, wicked and wonderful’, this charismatic Princess not only brought colour and sex appeal into an otherwise colourless royal family, but did much to help bring the monarchy and its attitudes into the modern world. Adored younger daughter of King George VI and only sister of Queen Elizabeth II, Margaret was a pre-war princess whose world was hugely circumscribed by the strictures and protocol of another age, leading to conflict and misunderstanding in both her private and her public life.

As one of the acknowledged beauties of her generation, Princess Margaret's appeal was so great that thousands at home and overseas would camp out in the hope of catching a glimpse of her. During the 1950s, her ill-starred love affair with the divorced fighter pilot, Group Captain Peter Townsend, laid the foundation for the ‘Margaret legend’.

Christopher Warwick is the author of several best-selling biographies, among them the original authorised life of Princess Margaret; King George VI & Queen Elizabeth; George & Marina, Duke & Duchess of Kent; Abdication; and Queen Mary's Photograph Albums, based on the legendary Queen's private photographic collection at Windsor Castle. He subsequently wrote The Universal Ustinov, a popular celebration of the life and work of Sir Peter Ustinov. In addition, he has written widely for newspapers and magazines both at home and abroad, and frequently appears on television and radio.