Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones made royal history when they tied the knot on May 6, 1960.
The pair, who first met at a dinner party in 1958, kept their romance under wraps until they announced their engagement in February 1960. Armstrong-Jones popped the question with a ruby and diamond ring in the shape of a rosebud — a nod to Princess Margaret’s middle name, Rose.
Less than three months after announcing their engagement, Princess Margaret and Armstrong-Jones tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in London. Their nuptials, which were the first royal wedding to ever be televised, consisted of a lavish ceremony attended by over 2,000 guests, followed by an intimate breakfast reception.
During their 16-year marriage, Princess Margaret and Armstrong-Jones welcomed two children. Their son, David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones, was born in November 1961, followed by their daughter, Sarah Frances Elizabeth Armstrong-Jones, in May 1964.
The couple eventually separated in March 1976 before finalizing their divorce two years later. This marked the first royal marriage to end in the immediate family since King Henry VIII, who annulled his marriage to Anne of Cleves in 1540.
From their televised ceremony to the bride’s gown, here’s everything to know about Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones’ wedding.
They were married at Westminster Abbey
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Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon marries Princess Margaret in 1960.
Following royal tradition, Princess Margaret and Armstrong-Jones wed at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6, 1960. The morning ceremony marked the first time a king’s daughter had married a commoner in 400 years.
Princess Margaret rode to the church in the Glass Coach, which has brought many royal brides to their weddings, including Princess Anne in 1973, Princess Diana in 1981 and Sarah Ferguson in 1986.
At the ceremony, Princess Margaret was escorted down the aisle by her brother-in-law, Prince Philip. The traditional service was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, who also wed Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1947.
They had nine people in their wedding party
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Princess Margaret and her husband Antony Armstrong-Jones with their wedding group at Buckingham Palace, after their marriage at Westminster Abbey.
The royal couple had nine people in their wedding party, eight of whom were bridesmaids.
Princess Margaret’s bridesmaids included her niece Princess Anne, goddaughter Marilyn Wills and cousin Annabel Rhodes, per Tatler.
Armstrong-Jones was accompanied by his best man, Roger Gilliatt, who was the son of the Queen’s gynecologist, according to The New York Times.
Princess Margaret wore a silk organza ballgown
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Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones leaving Westminster Abbey on their wedding day.
Princess Margaret wore a silk organza ballgown for her nuptials, which featured long sleeves and a V-neckline. It was designed by Norman Hartwell, who also created the Queen’s wedding dress, and included nearly 100 feet of fabric in the skirt.
Life magazine reportedly called the gown “the simplest royal wedding gown in history,” but that was per Princess Margaret’s request. According to Tatler, the royal asked for a minimalistic gown that wouldn’t overwhelm her petite frame.
Breaking royal tradition, Princess Margaret chose to pair her wedding gown with a tiara she bought at an auction rather than borrow one from the Windsor family’s collection. The Poltimore Tiara was originally owned by Lady Florence Poltimore and designed by Garrard. The piece was convertible and could transform into a fringe necklace and brooches, which Princess Margaret wore several other times throughout her life, per Garrard.
It was the first televised royal wedding
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Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon during their wedding.
Princess Margaret and Armstrong-Jones’ nuptials marked the first time that a royal wedding was televised. This set a precedent for other royal couples, including Princess Diana and King Charles, to broadcast their weddings.
According to the BBC, Princess Margaret and Armstrong-Jones’s wedding was viewed by over 20 million people in the U.K. and 300 million worldwide.
They hosted a wedding breakfast reception
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Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones on their wedding day on May 6, 1960 at Buckingham Palace.
Immediately following the ceremony, Princess Margaret and Armstrong-Jones appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with other members of the royal family.
They later hosted a wedding breakfast at the palace with 120 guests, per Tatler. Beef filets, green beans and a “soufflé surprise Montmorency” were reportedly served at the reception.
They had a three-tier wedding cake
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Frank Jacobs puts the finishing touch to the official cake for the wedding of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones.
At their reception, Princess Margaret and Armstrong-Jones also served a lavish three-tier wedding cake at their reception.
The cake was made by J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. and featured hexagonal tiers to create a confection that weighed over 150 pounds and was five feet tall (a.k.a. the same height as the bride), per Brides. It was decorated with Princess Margaret’s coat of arms, the couple’s initials, an English rose and a Scottish lion.
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