There’s a reason the story of Antony Armstrong-Jones still fascinates: he was a working photographer who married a princess, helped design public access spaces, and lived a life full of both acclaim and scandal. A portrait of Winston Churchill, an award-winning documentary on disability, and a divorce from the Queen’s sister – his was a life of sharp contrasts.
Full name: Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon · Born: 7 March 1930 · Died: 13 January 2017 · Occupation: Photographer · Spouse: Princess Margaret (1960–1978) · Known for: Portrait photography, royal marriage
Quick snapshot
- Contracted polio as a child (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- Married Princess Margaret in 1960, divorced 1978 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Fathered two children: David and Sarah (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- Died of a stroke in 2017 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Exact number of extramarital affairs (Vanity Fair (cultural magazine))
- Whether he had male lovers – subject of speculation (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Possibility of a love child beyond his two acknowledged children (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- Born in London (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- Married Princess Margaret at Westminster Abbey (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- Divorce finalized (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Died at home (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- His photography remains archived at the National Portrait Gallery (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- His son David Armstrong-Jones became 2nd Earl of Snowdon (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- His legacy as a disability advocate continues through design accessibility (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
Seven key facts that define the life of Antony Armstrong-Jones, from birth to legacy:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon |
| Born | 7 March 1930 |
| Died | 13 January 2017 (aged 86) |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Spouse | Princess Margaret (m. 1960; div. 1978) |
| Children | David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon; Lady Sarah Chatto |
| Cause of death | Stroke |
What happened between Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones?
How they met and married
- Armstrong-Jones met Princess Margaret through his work as a society photographer (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- They married on 6 May 1960 at Westminster Abbey, the first commoner to wed a king’s daughter in nearly four centuries (Vanity Fair (cultural magazine)).
- The couple had two children: David (born 1961) and Sarah (born 1964) (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
Separation and divorce
- The marriage lasted 18 years; divorce was finalized in 1978 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- Princess Margaret and Armstrong-Jones separated after about 16 years (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- He later married BBC researcher Lucy Mary Lindsay-Hogg in 1978; that marriage ended in 2000 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Was Antony Armstrong-Jones unfaithful to Princess Margaret?
Reports of extramarital affairs
- Multiple affairs were reported on both sides of the marriage (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- Armstrong-Jones was known to have had relationships with other women during the marriage (Vanity Fair (cultural magazine)).
Allegations of male lovers
- His sexuality has been subject to speculation, with rumors of male lovers (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- The rumored male lover Roddy Llewellyn was actually linked to Princess Margaret, not Armstrong-Jones (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
What was Antony Armstrong-Jones disability?
Polio diagnosis in childhood
- He contracted polio as a child, which affected his left leg (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
- He used a walking stick or crutch for much of his life (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- Despite the disability, he had an active career and later became an advocate for accessibility, even co-inventing an electric wheelchair (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
His personal experience with polio informed his advocacy, leading to real-world impact on public accessibility design in the UK.
Did Tony Armstrong-Jones attend Princess Margaret’s funeral?
Funeral attendance and aftermath
- He did attend Princess Margaret’s funeral in 2002, present at the private family service (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- Despite their divorce, he remained part of the extended royal family circle (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
Why did Antony Armstrong-Jones marry Princess Margaret?
Romantic connection and royal pressure
- He was a successful society photographer; she was a glamorous royal princess (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- The marriage was widely seen as a modern fairy-tale, bridging the establishment and bohemian worlds (Vanity Fair (cultural magazine)).
- It ended in divorce after 18 years (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
What seemed like a triumph of love over tradition became a cautionary tale about the incompatibility of artistic independence and royal duty.
Timeline
- 1930: Born in London (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- 1950s: Started career as photographer for Tatler and other magazines (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- 1960: Married Princess Margaret (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- 1961: Birth of son David (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- 1964: Birth of daughter Sarah (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- 1978: Divorced from Princess Margaret (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- 2002: Attended Princess Margaret’s funeral (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- 2017: Died of a stroke at home (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
Confirmed facts
- He contracted polio as a child (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- He married Princess Margaret in 1960 and divorced in 1978 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- He fathered two children with Princess Margaret (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
- He died of a stroke in 2017 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- He attended Princess Margaret’s funeral in 2002 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
What’s unclear
- The exact number of extramarital affairs on his part (Vanity Fair (cultural magazine))
- Whether he had any male lovers – subject of rumor (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Whether he had a love child beyond his two acknowledged children (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
Lord Snowdon, the photographer who married Princess Margaret, has died at the age of 86.
— BBC News (UK public broadcaster)
He died peacefully at home on 13 January 2017.
— Family spokesperson, reported by BBC News (UK public broadcaster)
For admirers of his photography, the lesson is clear: his best work came from his own vision, not his title. His portraits of cultural icons and his advocacy for disabled access remain his most enduring contributions.
Armstrong-Jones’s life reminds us that even a royal marriage cannot shield personal struggles, and that artistic legacy often outlasts scandal.
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For a deeper look at his photography legacy and family, see his photography legacy and family.
Frequently asked questions
What was Antony Armstrong-Jones cause of death?
He died of a stroke at his home on 13 January 2017, at the age of 86 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Who are Antony Armstrong-Jones children?
He had two children with Princess Margaret: David Armstrong-Jones (born 1961, now 2nd Earl of Snowdon) and Lady Sarah Chatto (born 1964) (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
What are some famous photos by Antony Armstrong-Jones?
His iconic portraits include images of Winston Churchill, David Bowie, and Princess Diana. More than 280 of his photographs are held by the National Portrait Gallery (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
Did Antony Armstrong-Jones have a love child?
There have been rumors of a love child from an earlier relationship, but this has never been confirmed (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
Was Antony Armstrong-Jones a commoner?
Yes, he was a commoner before his marriage to Princess Margaret. He became the first commoner in about four centuries to marry a king’s daughter, and was later created Earl of Snowdon (Vanity Fair (cultural magazine)).
What title did Antony Armstrong-Jones receive after marriage?
He was created Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley by Queen Elizabeth II on 6 October 1961 (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
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Edward Davies Bennett is Editor-in-Chief and Responsible Publisher at Insight Britain, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and the corrections process.