Princess Margaret was the Queen’s younger sister who sadly died in February 2002 after suffering a series of strokes. Throughout her life, the royal was seen as a symbol of British modernity and was dubbed the “party princess” for her love of socialising and lavish parties with icons such as Mick Jagger and Peter Sellers. But the diary of the Princess’ childhood friend has revealed a very different side to the royal.
Princess Margaret was four years younger than her sister Elizabeth, who would later become Queen aged just 25 in February 1952.
The two sisters had a close relationship throughout their life and especially bonded during their younger years.
During the Second World War, the Princesses befriended Alathea Fitzalan Howard while they sheltered from the blitz at Windsor Castle.
Alathea, the daughter of British peer Henry Edmund Fitzalan Howard, second Viscount Fitzalan of Derwent was sent to live with her grandfather in Windsor during the war, where she spent a considerable amount of time with the two sisters.
Princess Margaret has been described as “unmanageable and childish” by a childhood friend (Image: Getty)
Princess Margaret was dubbed the ‘party princess’ when she was younger (Image: Getty)
She often visited the two girls at Windsor Castle for parties and balls, as well as for other informal meetings such as picnics and cinema evenings.
During this period of her life, Alathea, who was 16 when she first moved to Windsor, recorded intimate details of her time with the future monarch in a personal diary, which includes an insight into how Margaret behaved as a child.
The diary is set to be published in the form of a book next month, and excerpts from the journal have been released by the Daily Mail.
Several diary entries suggest Princess Margaret could be quite a handful.
JUST IN: Queen scolded for being ‘unsuited to strong friendships’
Princess Margaret was four years younger than Elizabeth (Image: Getty)
One diary entry from February 3, 1944, also revealed the younger sister participated in a rather disgusting game.
The excerpt, which refers to Princess Elizabeth as PE and Princess Margaret as PM, read: “Biked to drawing, after which we had spitting competitions in the lake at Frogmore!
“P.M. was quite unmanageable while we were out — in some ways she is so v. young and childish, quite unlike P.E.”
But interestingly, when comparing the temperament of both royal sisters Alathea claims Princess Margaret was more approachable.
DON’T MISS:
Princess Margaret: How Queen’s sister broke CENTURIES of tradition [INSIGHT]
Royal fury: Princess Margaret and ‘bohemian’ lover sparked scandal [DETAILS]
Royal Family finance row forced Princess Margaret to do more worK [ANALYSIS]
Princess Elizabeth with her younger sister Princess Margaret on July 4, 1940 (Image: Getty)
King George VI’s coronation day (Image: Getty)
In a diary entry from November 11, 1943, the girl wrote: “P.E. was rather distant today.
“P.M. is more friendly and I nearly always go to her room to tidy, which to me is v. strange, but I know [P.E.] too well now to be hurt by it.”
Alathea also wrote she felt she could be a closer friend with Margaret, than Elizabeth.
An entry on June 24, 1943 states: “I think, were it not for the difference in our ages, I could make a greater friend of [M], though I shall always be deeply devoted to P.E.”
British line to the throne (Image: Express)
Alathea died in 2001, but the rights to the diary were acquired directly from her family.
The full book will be published on October 8, under the title ‘The Windsor Diaries: A Childhood With The Princesses’.
Alathea left her personal archives to friend Isabella Naylor-Leyland, who edited The Windsor Diaries.
Speaking about the book, Mrs Naylor-Leyland said: “The diaries are full of details of life with the princesses at Windsor but also tell Alathea’s own story, which can be both harrowing and occasionally very funny.
“The diaries were her refuge and show that she loved writing.
“I hope that by publishing I am honouring her wish.”
