Inside Queen Elizabeth’s sister Princess Margaret’s scandalous affair with ‘toy boy’ young garden designer
PRINCESS Margaret earned a reputation as a “royal rebel” because of her hedonistic lifestyle, including a scandalous affair with a “toy boy”.
The Queen‘s younger sister, who died in 2002, was known as a free spirit who loved life and lived it to the full.
She had a string of celebrity lovers, including actors Peter Sellers, David Niven and Peter O’Toole, with whom she had an eight-year affair.
And as her marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones fell apart, she bedded society gardener Roddy Llewellyn.
The pair were introduced by mutual friend Colin Tennant in 1973 at the Café Royal in Edinburgh.
While on holiday on the Caribbean island of Mustique in 1976, Princess Margaret and lover Roddy were pictured swimming, exposing their controversial affair.
Margaret was 45 at the time and snapped in a strapless bathing suit, while Roddy, who was 28, was wearing tiny Union Jack trunks.
The photographs caused a media frenzy back home and became a huge scandal for the Royal Family.
At the time, Roddy issued a statement which read: “I much regret any embarrassment caused to Her Majesty the Queen and the royal family, for whom I wish to express the greatest respect, admiration and loyalty.
“Could we please be permitted by the media, who have besieged us, to carry on with our work and private lives without further interference.”
It eventually led to the breakdown of the princess’s marriage to Lord Snowdon, with Kensington Palace announcing their divorce in 1978.
During their relationship, Llewellyn launched a music career and released one album called “Roddy”.
The eight-year romance eventually came to an end and Roddy married Tatiana Soskin in 1981.
They have three daughters together: Alexandra, Natasha, and Rosie.
Margaret’s biographer Theo Aronson noted: “He was well-mannered, well-spoken, and amusing; above all, he was very sweet-natured.”
Roddy reflected on his relationship with Margaret in 2002.
He said: “I didn’t think about the consequences of such a high-profile affair.
“If we all had crystal balls, we’d all know which horse to back, wouldn’t we? I was just following my heart.”
Roddy continued: “I discovered a warm and witty woman, possessing a strong sense of duty and dedication to her country’s interests, who has honoured me with her friendship since that first house party that was so filled with fun and laughter.
“In Princess Margaret I found a fine friend who could steady my restless nature and offer wise counsel.”
Actress Helena Bonham Carter, who played the Queen’s sister in The Crown, met Llewellyn before filming.
She said: “He came to tea with me and Harry [Treadaway], who plays Roddy.
“He was so fun and warm — that’s what she needed. He’s very musical. He started singing a song in my kitchen.”
“They found each other just at the right time,” Bonham Carter continued. “They were both very lost, both felt somewhat outsiders, just not quite accepted by the family – or not quite good enough.
“Her confidence was really undermined by the breakdown of her marriage.
“He also gave her fun at a time when she hadn’t been having much.”
Roddy & Margaret: The Affair that Shook the Royals is airing on Channel 5 on Saturday at 9pm.
It will look more closely into her relationship with Roddy.