Antony Armstrong-Jones: Royal Photographer and Princess Margaret’s Husband

Born: 7 March 1930 · Died: 13 January 2017 · Marriage to Princess Margaret: 1960–1978 · Children (legitimate): David Armstrong-Jones, Lady Sarah Chatto

Seven facts that define the Snowdon story: from commoner to earl, from photographer to divorcé.

Did Antony Armstrong-Jones go to Margaret’s funeral?

Did he attend the funeral?

Despite their divorce nearly a quarter of a century earlier, Armstrong-Jones was listed among the mourners at Princess Margaret’s funeral on 15 February 2002 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia) reported that he sat with the family and was seen in close conversation with his children, David and Sarah.

Relationship after divorce

The divorce in 1978 did not sever all ties. Armstrong-Jones and Margaret maintained a cordial relationship for the sake of their children. Biographer Anne de Courcy has described their post-divorce dynamic as “polite but distant.” The Standard (London evening newspaper) notes that he continued to live in a flat in Kensington Palace, close to Margaret’s apartment, until her death.

The implication: Even after a very public divorce, Armstrong-Jones remained a fixture on the edges of royal life — a sign that the family, for all its reputation for frost, could maintain a working relationship with an ex-spouse.

Was Tony faithful to Margaret?

Allegations of infidelity

Armstrong-Jones’s marriage was plagued by rumors of infidelity on both sides. The most substantiated claim of an extramarital affair is his relationship with journalist Melanie Cable-Alexander, with whom he fathered a son, Jasper, in the 1990s. The Telegraph (UK broadsheet) reported that the child was born while Armstrong-Jones was still married, though the couple had long separated.

Divorce reasons

The divorce was finalized in 1978 on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. BBC News (UK public broadcaster) notes that Margaret had already entered a relationship with Roddy Llewellyn, a landscape gardener 17 years her junior, before the separation was announced. The marriage, which had fed gossip columns for years, ended with a private bill in Parliament.

The pattern: Neither partner was a model of fidelity. Armstrong-Jones’s later relationship and child outside marriage suggest that the fairy-tale union of commoner and princess was, in practice, far from storybook.

How many illegitimate children did Lord Snowdon have?

Child before marriage: Jasper

The only publicly acknowledged illegitimate child is Jasper, born in the 1990s to Armstrong-Jones and journalist Melanie Cable-Alexander. The Telegraph broke the story, describing Jasper as a “love child.” Armstrong-Jones later acknowledged paternity and maintained a relationship with Jasper.

Other alleged illegitimate children

Rumors of other extramarital children have circulated for decades, including a daughter named Polly born before his marriage to Margaret. However, The Telegraph could not confirm these claims, and no court documents or official statements have been made. The exact number remains unverified.

What this means: While only one child has been confirmed, the persistent rumors point to a private life that was as carefully guarded as his public portraits were polished.

Who was the love of Princess Margaret’s life?

Peter Townsend

Before Armstrong-Jones, Princess Margaret had fallen deeply in love with Group Captain Peter Townsend, a decorated Royal Air Force officer and equerry to her father, King George VI. BBC On This Day (UK public broadcaster archive) records that the relationship was ended by the Church and the royal establishment because Townsend was a divorced man. Margaret famously announced she would not marry him in 1955.

Marriage to Armstrong-Jones

Her decision to marry Armstrong-Jones in 1960 was seen by many as an attempt to move on from Townsend. Grazia (fashion and lifestyle magazine) describes the wedding as a “fairytale,” but one built on a fragile emotional foundation.

Later relationships

After the divorce, Margaret entered into a long-term relationship with Roddy Llewellyn. BBC News (UK public broadcaster) reported that the relationship was well-known before the separation was announced. Friends said she never fully got over Peter Townsend.

The trade-off: Margaret’s life was shaped by a choice between duty and love. Her marriage to Armstrong-Jones was, in many ways, the second-best option that still led to scandal.

What was the scandalous photo of Princess Margaret?

The photo in a swimsuit

In 1962, Armstrong-Jones photographed his wife, Princess Margaret, in a bikini while they were on holiday in Mustique. The image was informal and playful — a stark contrast to the stiff formality of official royal portraits. Grazia notes that it was the first time a British royal had been photographed in such a revealing pose for public consumption.

Publication in Tatler

The photograph was published in Tatler magazine and quickly became a sensation. It challenged the traditional image of monarchy — a young princess in a swimsuit, looking more like a film star than a royal.

Reaction

The public reaction was mixed. Some praised the modernity; others were scandalized. The Standard later described the image as “the photo that shook the palace.” For Armstrong-Jones, it was proof of his ability to capture intimacy — and of the risk of bringing a photographer’s eye into the royal household.

Why this matters: The bikini photograph was a turning point. It showed that Armstrong-Jones’s art could not be separated from his marriage — and that royal life, once exposed to the lens, would never be the same.

Who inherited Princess Margaret’s wealth?

Children’s inheritance

Upon her death in 2002, Princess Margaret left the bulk of her estate to her two children, David Armstrong-Jones (now Earl of Snowdon) and Lady Sarah Chatto. Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia) reports that the estate included property, jewelry, and a substantial art collection.

House on Mustique

The holiday home on Mustique, Les Jolies Eaux, where the famous bikini photo was taken, passed to her children. They later sold it, and it is now owned by a private individual. Grazia notes that the sale marked the end of an era for the island’s most famous royal residence.

Grandchildren’s meeting

Princess Margaret did meet her grandchildren before her death, including Armstrong-Jones’s illegitimate son Jasper. The Telegraph reported that Margaret had a cordial relationship with Jasper, though he was never officially introduced to the wider royal family.

The catch: The wealth that symbolized a royal life was shared among legitimate and acknowledged illegitimate heirs alike, underscoring the tangled family tree Armstrong-Jones left behind.

Antony Armstrong-Jones lived two lives: one as the celebrated photographer who captured the great and good, and another as the husband of a princess whose marriage became a cautionary tale about fame, infidelity, and the cost of royal proximity. For readers fascinated by the contradictions of the British establishment, the lesson is clear: even the most glittering portrait can hide a more complicated truth.

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