Princess Margaret is often remembered as the royal rebel, her life marked by glamour, heartbreak, and turbulence. However, when her sister Queen Elizabeth heard about her threat of suicide, the monarch’s reaction wasn’t exactly sympathetic.
Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t moved by her sister Princess Margaret’s suicidal threat
Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t exactly known for her warm and affectionate demeanor. But one incident with sister Margaret painted her in a rather cold light. According to Radar Online, the late Queen had a rather savage reply when the princess threatened suicide.
Royal Family biographer Andrew Morton has reflected on an incident in 1974. Margaret was reportedly struggling to come to terms with the breakdown of her marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon. Talking to a friend on the phone, she is said to have threatened “If you don’t come over, I’ll throw myself out of the window!”
The friend, who was hosting a dinner party at the time, contacted the Elizabeth in a panic. But the Queen’s response was probably not what she expected. Instead of springing into action, the monarch laughed the threat off: “Carry on with your house party. Her bedroom is on the ground floor,” she is reported to have said.
While it may give the impression that there was animosity between the sisters, they were actually very close. The Queen stood by her sister through many a scandal, including her fling with a much younger man. The romance saw Margaret labeled a “floosie” by many, and resulted in her divorce.
The marriage had been plagued by a host of issues, making it surprising lasted as long as it did. The relationship had suffered under the weight of affairs, addiction issues and heavy scrutiny from the media and public.
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