Hansley Beard

Royal Weddings of the Past: Part 2

Today I’d like to share with you some images and text about Princess Margaret’s wedding in 1960.

On Saturday April 23rd 1960, Sheffield Star produced a special Picture Souvenir supplement about Princess Margaret’s wedding showing images of the future bride and groom:


In it is a copy of the official wedding announcement:

The next set of images is taken from a special Royal Wedding edition of The Illustrated London News, May 14, 1960.

‘After the Romantic wedding: H.R.H Princess Margaret and Mr Anthony Armstrong-Jones leave Westminster Abbey together hand in hand, man and wife’:

‘A charming wedding group: The Bride and Bridegroom with the Best Man, Dr Roger Gilliat and the eight Bridesmaids’:

‘At the Altar: The beginning of the wedding of Princess Margaret and Mr Anthony Armstrong-Jones. In Westminster Abbey – A scene of ritual splendour and colourful pageantry’:

‘Man and wife: Princess Margaret and Mr Anthony Armstrong-Jones going down the choir, with the bridesmaids behind’:

‘The official wedding cake which was presented by J.Lyons and Co.Ltd. This was the cake cut by Princess Margaret at the reception’:

‘After the Wedding: The Glass Coach, bearing Princess Margaret and her Bridegroom, after the drive up the Mall, swings towards the palace’:

‘Whom the crowds had come to cheer: The Bride and Bridegroom on the balcony of the palace with Lady Rose Nevill, a bridesmaid’:

‘The formal Wedding group in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace’:
‘Seated in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace after the Wedding: Princess Margaret in her Hartnell Wedding Gown’:

‘Princess Margaret’s dress, which had caused so much speculation before the wedding, aroused complete admiration. It was of extremely simple design and set off effectively the magnificent tiara which the Princess wore. It was made from white silk organza with a closely-fitted bodice with a high V-neckline. The skirt consisted of three layers of organza with hundreds of yards of tulle, cut into twelve panels that widened down from waist to hem. Her shoes were made of white crepe with a white satin facing running round the edges. Her bouquet was of orchids’.

The London News supplement also includes an interesting article called ‘Princess Margaret’s marriage to a Commoner – What are the precedents?’ showing images of former Princesses who had married commoners:

In the Sunday Graphic Newspaper in June 1960 they advertise a pictorial keepsake book all about Princess Margaret’s Wedding Day:

Finally, I’d like to finish this blog post with a lovely little newspaper graphic from the Sheffield Star Supplement!:

Next time…images of the last Kate to become a Princess…The Duchess of Kent….

• Tweet

Posted Tue, 26 Apr, by Jennie Beard
Categories: Royal Weddings, Vintage Weddings
1 Comments