Royal Protocol and Show of Support

A photograph taken of Princess Margaret on the grounds of Kensington Palace, by Antony Armstrong-Jones — Though he would go on to become a renowned photographer whose pictures were seen by millions all over the world, it wasn't his art that made Antony Armstrong-Jones famous, according to Town and Country Magazine. “That honor, instead, goes to his first wife, Princess Margaret, who in marrying Armstrong-Jones became the first British royal to wed a non-aristocrat in 400 years. Between their headline-grabbing marriage, shocking divorce, and the salacious rumors that continued to swirl around his relationships for the rest of Armstrong-Jones's life, he continues to be one of the most controversial royal figures of the modern age.” 

On Eve of Wedding,

the Queen and Crowd Rebuff Critics of ‘Meg’s Tony’

LONDON (UPI) Queen Elizabeth today ordered that the divorced parents of Antony Armstrong -Jones be seated among royalty at Tony’s wedding Friday to Princess Margaret a rebuff to critics of the marriage. Another score for the young couple was chalked up Wednesday night when 50,000 persons massed before Buckingham Palace in a tumultuous demonstration of affection for the Princess. She was attending a pre-wedding dinner and ball given for her and Armstrong-Jones by the Queen. 

Queen’s Decision

The Queen’s decision on Armstrong-Jones’ parents came as Tony and Margaret went to Westminister Abbey today for a final dress rehearsal of the wedding. A large force of extra police was assigned to guard the abbey while Margaret, Tony, the Queen, the Queen Mother, the Duke of Edinburgh who is giving the bride away. Dr. Roger Gillian, the best man, and Queen Ingrid of Denmark went through the rehearsal. Scotland Yard tightened its arrangements to control the crowd that will jam the wedding procession route to Westminster Abbey Friday morning. Wednesday night some 50,000 broke through police lines to mob the automobile carrying the Princess and her fiancé to Buckingham Palace. 

Absolute Capacity 

Police now estimate that more than 500,000 people, absolute capacity, will pack the three-quarters of a mile from Clarence House and Buckingham Palace to the abbey when Queen Elizabeth and her procession and Princess Margaret in her glass coach travel, along flower-decorated streets to the wedding. Despite a relentless campaign of innuendo, almost since the engagement was announced 10 weeks ago, the crowds that cheered the Princess and her fiancé Wednesday night, were the biggest to gather around Buckingham Palace since the coronation, seven years ago. 

Vote of Confidence 

They cheered wildly a vote of confidence in her choice that brought smiles back to the lips of the little Princess who has been saddened by the insidious gossiping about her choice of husband. Armstrong-Jones, guest of honor for the first time at a royal function, a pre-wedding ball in the white and gold ballroom of Buckingham Palace, seemed overwhelmed and overjoyed by the reception. Queen Mother Elizabeth, who rode home with them, smiled benignly at the couple, as if to say, “I told you so.”— May 5, 1960

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