The 'Comrade Princess': How Princess Margaret Conquered a Communist Dictator
The Royal Rogue: Princess Margaret's Scandalous Reign as Worst Houseguest of All Time
In a recent episode of The Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast on thescholarlynote.com, hosts Robert Hardman and Kate Williams dished out the dirt on the most infamous royal houseguests in history. And at the top of their list was none other than Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II and notorious for her outrageous behavior.
While Margaret's sharp wit and love of a good drink have been well-documented over the years, it seems that her charm didn't always extend to those who had the misfortune of hosting her. In fact, according to Royal biographer Robert Hardman, Margaret was known to behave "phenomenally rudely" on several occasions, causing diplomatic incidents and offending even the most powerful figures of her era.
One such incident took place in the 1950s at a grand lunch held in Paris for Princess Margaret. The occasion was supposed to be a high-society event, with all the young and beautiful people of the time attending to meet the princess. However, Margaret's hangover from the previous night's shenanigans proved too much to bear, and she excused herself by claiming she had a cold.
As soon as the guests left, Princess Margaret summoned her hairdresser, Alexandra, to come and work her magic on her tangled locks. It was just another example of the princess's blatant disregard for those who were trying to host her with dignity.
But what really sealed her reputation as a royal rogue was her tendency to upstage even the most esteemed guests at social events. Historian Kate Williams shared an anecdote about Margaret's infamous singing skills, which she demonstrated at a ball hosted by the legendary Lady Rothermere. With no regard for the other guests' entertainment, Margaret commandeered the microphone and launched into a hilarious – but utterly tone-deaf – rendition of Cole Porter.
The resulting booing from the back of the ballroom was led by none other than the infamous artist Francis Bacon, who was also well in his cups at the time. However, it seems that even Princess Margaret's questionable singing voice couldn't withstand Bacon's sharp tongue, which sliced through the room like a knife.
Despite her many flaws, there was one notable exception to Princess Margaret's chaotic behavior: Yugoslavia's Communist dictator President Tito. In the early 1970s, the Queen and Prince Philip were due to meet with Tito in Britain to strengthen ties between their countries. However, tensions between Yugoslavia and Britain ran high due to ideological differences.
Enter Princess Margaret, who proved herself to be a master of charm even under the most trying circumstances. According to Hardman, the princess was sent ahead to visit Tito in Yugoslavia before the state visit, and her visit proved to be a resounding success. So impressed was Tito with Margaret's warmth and charisma that he affectionately addressed her as "Comrade Princess" – a title she still bears fondly in what used to be Yugoslavia.
It seems that even the most recalcitrant of royal houseguests can have their softer side when it comes to charming the right people. And for those who were on the receiving end of Margaret's antics, it's clear that her talent for being a loose cannon was matched only by her ability to disarm even the toughest of opponents.
So, if you're planning on inviting Princess Margaret over for dinner anytime soon, be warned: she may very well turn up hungover, commandeer the microphone at your next party, and leave a trail of chaos in her wake. But hey – who knows? You might just find yourself charmed by her infamous antics.
To listen to more juicy tales about history's worst royal houseguests, search for The Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast on your favorite platform now!
