HRH The Princess Margaret was said to be a woman of contrasts. During the 1960's, she and her husband, Lord Snowdon, were part of a sort of upper-class fast set, carousing with international playboys and pop musicians. She was reputed to smoke three packs of cigarettes a day, and at one time was the poster child for anti-monarchists (though not by choice, I'm sure).

On the other hand, she was said to be a bigger snob than The Queen. Whereas The Queen supposedly tends to let breaches of etiquette go unremarked, such as someone addressing her as "Your Royal Highness" instead of "Your Majesty," royal watchers claim that Margaret was always exacting in what she felt was the deference owed to her. Maybe The Queen just has more important things to do.