The Tragic End: 5 Key Facts About When Princess Margaret Died And Her Controversial Final Years

The question of "when did Princess Margaret die" marks a pivotal moment in modern royal history, representing the loss of one of the 20th century's most glamorous and controversial royal figures. As of the current date, December 18, 2025, the world continues to reflect on the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II's only sister, whose passing preceded that of her mother by less than two months, plunging the Royal Family into a period of profound mourning. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, passed away on February 9, 2002, at the age of 71, following years of declining health exacerbated by a lifelong habit of heavy smoking and a series of debilitating strokes. Her death, just three days after the 50th anniversary of her father, King George VI's death, brought to a close a life defined by duty, dazzling social circles, and a struggle for personal freedom within the confines of the monarchy.

Princess Margaret’s final decade was a stark contrast to her vibrant youth, characterized by increasing health battles that eventually culminated in a fatal stroke. Her journey, immortalized in popular culture, continues to fascinate, particularly the specific details surrounding her death, the official cause, and the unprecedented funeral arrangements that broke centuries of royal tradition. This article dives deep into the circumstances of her passing, the contributing factors, and the lasting impact of her life.

Princess Margaret: A Brief Royal Biography

To fully appreciate the context of her death, one must first understand the life of the woman known for her wit, beauty, and rebellious spirit. Princess Margaret Rose was a figure of contradiction, simultaneously a devoted sister and a royal maverick.

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• Full Name: Princess Margaret Rose
• Born: August 21, 1930, at Glamis Castle, Scotland
• Parents: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
• Sibling: Queen Elizabeth II
• Title: Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
• Husband: Antony Armstrong-Jones (divorced 1978)
• Children: David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (Lord Linley) and Lady Sarah Chatto
• Notable Controversies: Her forbidden romance with Group Captain Peter Townsend and her highly publicized divorce from Antony Armstrong-Jones.
• Died: February 9, 2002 (aged 71)
• Cause of Death: Stroke (Cerebrovascular accident) leading to cardiac problems.
• Final Resting Place: King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor.

The Tragic Decline: Princess Margaret's Final Years and Health Battles

The image of the glamorous, fun-loving princess began to fade in the 1990s as her health deteriorated rapidly, a decline largely attributed to her heavy, lifelong chain-smoking habit and excessive drinking. These factors severely compromised her cardiovascular and respiratory systems, leading to a series of serious medical incidents.

A Lifelong Smoker's Toll:

Princess Margaret began smoking at a young age and was known to smoke up to 60 cigarettes a day, a habit she maintained despite a lung operation in 1985 where a benign growth was removed. Her heavy smoking was a primary contributing factor to her later life illnesses.

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The Series of Strokes:

The princess’s health crisis began in earnest in 1998 when she suffered a mild stroke while on holiday at her private residence in Mustique. This first incident left her with significant mobility issues. Her public appearances became increasingly rare, and she was often seen using a wheelchair or a cane, a painful reality for a woman who had always been a symbol of style and vitality.

Further strokes followed, each one diminishing her quality of life. A scalding accident in her bathroom in 1999, which severely burned her feet and legs, left her with permanent mobility problems and required her to use a wheelchair more frequently. The physical and mental toll of these ailments was immense, and those close to her noted her increasing frailty and frustration.

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The Exact Circumstances of Princess Margaret's Death

Princess Margaret died on the morning of Saturday, February 9, 2002, at the King Edward VII's Hospital in Marylebone, London.

The Final Stroke:

The day before her death, the Princess suffered another severe stroke. This final cerebrovascular accident led to immediate and serious cardiac problems. She was rushed to the King Edward VII's Hospital, where she passed away peacefully in her sleep at 6:30 a.m.

The announcement from Buckingham Palace confirmed that her children, Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto, were by her side. The timing was poignant; her death occurred just three days after the 50th anniversary of her father's death, King George VI, and preceded the death of her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, by only seven weeks. This double tragedy within the span of a few weeks marked a devastating start to Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee year.

Breaking Tradition: The Funeral and Cremation

In a final act that was as unconventional as her life, Princess Margaret broke with centuries of royal burial tradition, a detail that continues to be a point of fascination and topical discussion.

The Cremation Request:

Unlike almost all senior members of the Royal Family, who are traditionally interred in a coffin, Princess Margaret requested to be cremated. This was a highly unusual decision for a royal. Her wishes were granted, and her body was cremated at Slough Crematorium in a private ceremony on February 15, 2002.

The primary reason for this choice was reportedly her wish to be buried with her beloved father, King George VI. The King George VI Memorial Chapel, where her father's tomb is located, is a small space. There was not enough room for a traditional burial plot for a full-sized coffin next to her father. By choosing cremation, her ashes could be placed in a small urn, which was then interred in the chapel.

Final Resting Place:

The funeral service was held at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on the 50th anniversary of King George VI's funeral. Following the cremation, her ashes were initially placed in the Royal Vault before being moved. Princess Margaret's final resting place is in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, alongside the remains of her father, King George VI, and later, her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who died a few weeks after her. This final arrangement cemented her place next to the two people who had perhaps the greatest influence on her turbulent life.

The Legacy of the Countess of Snowdon

Princess Margaret’s life, often portrayed dramatically in media like the Netflix series The Crown, remains a powerful symbol of the tension between royal duty and personal desire. Her death closed the chapter on the original "Fab Four"—King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess Margaret—a group that navigated the monarchy through World War II and the post-war era. Her turbulent love life, her passion for the arts, and her ultimate sacrifice of the man she loved (Peter Townsend) for the sake of the monarchy ensured her place as one of the most complex and memorable figures in the history of the British Royal Family. The memory of the "Rebel Princess" endures, a reminder that even within the most gilded cage, the search for a true self can be a lifelong struggle.