Late Queen’s surprising reaction Princess Margaret’s tantrums revealed

The Queen had a very close relationship with Margaret, her only sibling. But there were inevitable tensions – and the Queen had a way of dealing with the Princess’ tantrums

The late Queen and her younger sister Margaret had a deep bond that lasted until the death of the princess in 2002.

Margaret was the monarch’s only sibling, and she spoke about how it was her role in life to support Elizabeth. The sisters are believed to have spoken every day with Margaret affectionately calling the Queen by her nickname, Lilibet.

While the pair were extremely close, they had very different personalities, with the older Elizabeth looking out for her more mischievous younger sister as children. Like many siblings, the Queen and Princess Margaret’s relationship was complicated, a fact that was only intensified by Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953.

At times, tensions arose and, according to Andrew Morton, Margaret’s attitude sometimes revealed ‘a resentment and indifference that seemed almost ill-mannered’.

In his book, Elizabeth & Margaret, Morton said, via the Daily Mail : “She could and would say things to the Queen and, for that matter, the Queen Mother that had even long-serving courtiers shaking their heads. In turn, her sister and mother rarely reacted with anything other than calm equanimity. They had seen and heard it all before – and then some.”

The author cited Margaret’s surprising behaviour at a state banquet in 1957, during which a government minister complimented the Queen on her evening dress. In response, she remarked: “Darling, that does show your bosom too much.’

On another occasion, while at a barbecue at Balmoral, Margaret threw a wet dishcloth at the Queen’s face. But her sister simply ducked and continued clearing up. “She had learnt not to show too much concern as it merely pandered to Margaret’s dramatic nature,” Mr Morton said.

Despite the occasional tensions, the pair were reported to have “a love, friendship, and conspiracy that were impressive to behold”, according to Reinaldo Herrera, a royal family friend.

“I never heard Princess Margaret refer to the Queen in public as anything but ‘The Queen’; in private she became ‘Lilibet’, her nickname since childhood, or, simply, ‘my sister’,” he told Vanity Fair in 2016.

And even after the Queen’s coronation, she and Princess Margaret were connected by a direct telephone line between their respective residences at Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, which they would use to talk and laugh with each other daily.

Certainly Elizabeth’s grief was clear when Margaret passed away at the age of 71. In the last years of her life, Margaret had been diagnosed with several illnesses linked to her heavy smoking and drinking.

In January 1985, she had to have part of her left lung removed. And while she gave up smoking years later, she continued to face health problems, including a series of strokes before her death in 2002. Buckingham Palace said at the time: “The Queen, with great sadness, has asked for the following announcement to be made immediately.

“Her beloved sister, Princess Margaret, died peacefully in her sleep this morning at 6.30am, in The King Edward VII Hospital. Her children, Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto, were at her side.

“Princess Margaret suffered a further stroke yesterday afternoon. She developed cardiac problems during the night and was taken from Kensington Palace to The King Edward VII Hospital at 2.30am. Lord Linley and Lady Sarah were with her, and The Queen was kept fully informed throughout the night. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and other members of the Royal Family are being informed.”

King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, also paid tribute to his “darling aunt” in a moving TV interview the day after the announcement, saying at the time: “This is a terribly sad day for all my family but particularly of course for the queen, my mama, and my grandmother, the Queen Mother, and also for Princess Margaret’s children, David and Sarah, and also my aunt’s wonderful friends who will, like all of us, miss her deeply.

“My aunt was one of those remarkable people who, apart from being so incredibly vital… also had such incredible talents,” he said, describing her as someone who lived life to the fullest. “And for that we will always remember her.”