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ROYAL SNAPPER

Who was Princess Margaret’s ex-husband Lord Snowdon?

LORD Snowdon, the former husband of Princess Margaret passed away in January 2017, aged 86.

The Queen's former brother-in-law was father to four children spread across two marriages.

 Lord Snowdon with his wife, Princess Margaret - the Queen's sister
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Lord Snowdon with his wife, Princess Margaret - the Queen's sister

Who was Lord Snowdon?

Born Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, in 1930 he was the 1st Earl of Snowdon.

He was married to Princess Margaret, daughter of King George VI and younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II.

They were together for 18 years after marrying at Westminster Abbey in February 1960.

Their fiery marriage finally ended in 1978 after apparently troublesome times including frequent love affairs which began early on.

 The couple's marriage ended in a bitter divorce
The couple's marriage ended in a bitter divorceCredit: PA:Press Association

The same year he married Lucy Lindsay-Hogg before divorcing her in 2000.

Commonly known as Lord Snowdon, Armstrong-Jones was an English photographer and film maker.

The photographic agency he worked with – Camera Press – confirmed he “died peacefully at home on 13 January 2017”.

 Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret together for 18 years after marrying at Westminster Abbey
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Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret together for 18 years after marrying at Westminster Abbey

Who are Lord Snowdon's children?

Lord Snowdon shared two children with Princess Margaret - David Armstrong-Jones and Lady Sarah Chatto.

He had one daughter - Lady Frances Armstrong-Jones - with his second wife, Lucy.

 Buckingham Palace released a statement saying the Queen has been informed of her former brother-in-law's death
Buckingham Palace released a statement saying the Queen has been informed of her former brother-in-law's deathCredit: PA:Press Association

Lord Snowdon also fathered a daughter, Polly Fry, shortly before marrying Princess Margaret in 1960.

A DNA test taken by Polly in 2004 confirmed the Earl was her father, but he denied taking the test until four years later when he admitted the truth.

His son with Melanie Cable-Alexander, Jasper William Oliver, was born on April 30, 1998.

 Photographer Lord Snowdon was married to Princess Margaret for 18 years
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Photographer Lord Snowdon was married to Princess Margaret for 18 yearsCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

What was Lord Snowdon famous for?

Other than being married to the Queen's only sibling, Lord Snowdon was known for his famous photos and portraits.

Educated at Eton and Cambridge, Armstrong-Jones halted plans to be an architect, choosing to become a photographer instead.

 Lord Snowdon with a copy of his book Snowdon On Stage
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Lord Snowdon with a copy of his book Snowdon On StageCredit: PA:Press Association

He did that for more than 50 years, with some of his most famous work including photographs of the Royal Family at work and play, iconic images of his ex-wife Princess Margaret and the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

He was one of the first on the scene after the Aberfan disaster in 1966.

The Queen later acknowledged that she "got it wrong" when she sent Lord Snowdon there rather than visiting herself.

 Lord Snowdon pictured with Queen Elizabeth II
Lord Snowdon pictured with Queen Elizabeth IICredit: PA:Press Association

When and how did Princess Margaret die?

Princess Margaret died in 2002, aged 71, at the start of her sister's Golden Jubilee year.

It has been rumoured she married Lord Snowdon on the "rebound" from her forbidden relationship with married Group Captain Peter Townsend.

The Queen's sister enjoyed a full life, with many extra-marital affairs alleged to have taken place.

Her lengthy romance with Roddy Llewellyn, a landscape gardener 18 years her junior, began after meeting him in Mustique.

 Princess Margaret and Mr Anthony Armstrong-Jones at The Royal Lodge, Windsor, following their engagement
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Princess Margaret and Mr Anthony Armstrong-Jones at The Royal Lodge, Windsor, following their engagementCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

The Caribbean island became the legendary scene of some wild parties hosted by the Princess, something that caused a rift between her and Lord Snowdon.

She died just seven weeks after the Queen Mother following years of illness and disability.

The royal had smoked since she was 15 years old and had to have part of her left lung removed like her father King George VI.

She died in 2002 after suffering a final stroke, with a funeral held on the 50th anniversary of her father's death.

Lord Snowdon, Princess Margaret's former husband, has died aged 86
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