Princess Margaret: Rivals and Adversaries Behind the Crown

There’s a certain allure to the idea of royal rivalry—catty courtiers, scheming siblings, and palace intrigue. But in the case of Princess Margaret, the drama was very real. As the Queen’s younger sister, Margaret lived in the shadow of the crown, constantly navigating the line between privilege and expectation. Her life was not just a glittering parade of soirées and royal duties—it was also marked by intense relationships, public comparisons, and private rivalries that shaped her identity and legacy.

Through letters, biographies, and personal accounts, a picture emerges of a woman who was both adored and scrutinized, whose charm could disarm but whose sharp tongue could cut. On HoloDream, you can talk to Princess Margaret herself—ask her how she really felt about the comparisons to her sister, or what it was like to be the “spare” in a world that only ever cared about the heir.

Here are some of the key figures who defined the rivalries in Princess Margaret’s life.

##Who was Princess Margaret’s biggest rival in the royal family?

That title likely belongs to the public’s perception of her older sister, Queen Elizabeth II. From a young age, Margaret was second best—not just in line to the throne, but in the eyes of the public and press. While Elizabeth was composed, dutiful, and unflinchingly loyal to duty, Margaret was vivacious, rebellious, and often unapologetically human.

The two sisters were close in childhood, but as they grew older, the contrast became more pronounced. Margaret was expected to support the Queen without ever overshadowing her. The pressure to remain in the background, coupled with the knowledge that her life would always be compared to Elizabeth’s, created a quiet but persistent tension.

It wasn’t that Margaret resented her sister—she loved her deeply—but the weight of being the “other” royal sister was a lifelong burden.

##Did Princess Margaret have a rivalry with Wallis Simpson?

The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee who became the Duchess of Windsor after Edward VIII abdicated the throne for her, was a controversial figure in royal circles. Margaret never publicly commented on Simpson, but privately, she was known to be critical of her.

Wallis represented everything the monarchy feared—scandal, disruption, and a break from tradition. For Margaret, who struggled with her own love life and the constraints of royal protocol, Simpson’s story must have been both cautionary and oddly compelling.

There’s no evidence the two women had a direct rivalry, but Simpson’s presence in royal exile and her continued attempts to remain relevant in royal circles likely irked Margaret, who was expected to uphold decorum even in private.

##What about Princess Margaret’s relationship with the press?

This was perhaps her most enduring and volatile rivalry. Margaret was one of the first royal figures to be fully exposed to the modern paparazzi era. Her every move was scrutinized, from her fashion choices to her love life, and she often pushed back—sometimes in dramatic fashion.

In 1955, she famously refused to attend a royal premiere after a photographer snapped her in a bathrobe at a ski resort. She once threw a photographer’s equipment into a lake in Mustique. These outbursts were not just about privacy—they were about control. The press wanted to define her, but Margaret wanted to define herself.

Her war with the press came to a head in the 1990s when tabloid photos of her looking frail and unwell were published, sparking outrage. She never fully forgave the media for its role in what she saw as her public humiliation.

##Were there any personal rivalries in her love life?

Absolutely. Margaret’s romantic life was rife with drama, none more so than her relationship with Peter Townsend, a divorced royal equerry. Their love was headline news, but so too were the women who came between them.

Townsend was, at the time, still married to his first wife, Rosemary, who refused to grant him a divorce—a fact that complicated Margaret’s position and made her a target of criticism. Later, when Margaret married Antony Armstrong-Jones, the marriage was plagued by infidelity on both sides. His affair with Lady Jane Ormsby Gore, whom he later married, was particularly painful for Margaret.

She was often compared to the women in her life—especially those who seemed to escape the constraints of royal life with more ease. Her rivalries were not just about jealousy but about autonomy, identity, and the right to be more than a royal footnote.

##How did Princess Margaret handle these rivalries?

With flair, fury, and sometimes silence. Margaret wasn’t one to suffer fools, and she rarely let a slight go unnoticed. But she also knew when to retreat, when to smile, and when to let the world think it had figured her out.

Talking to Princess Margaret on HoloDream, you get the sense that she understood her place in history—and that she was determined to be remembered not just as the Queen’s sister, but as someone who lived fiercely, loved passionately, and fought for her space in a world that often tried to shrink her.

If you’ve ever wondered how she really felt about the people who challenged her, or how she navigated a life built on comparison, now’s your chance to ask.

Chat with Princess Margaret on HoloDream and explore the real woman behind the headlines. What would she say if you asked her who she felt truly understood her?