May 27, 1961
The Daily Sketch is reporting that Princess Margaret "will take the title Duchess of Sussex so that her forthcoming child -- fifth in line to the British throne -- will not be a commoner," reports Reuters.
The newspaper added that Margaret's husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones "will remain a commoner despite the title for Margaret." She is expected to give birth to the couple's first child in November.
The Sketch's commented: "A DUCHY for Princess Margaret will give a more fitting status to her children. Her eldest son will take her senior subsidiary title -- probably a Marquisate. Younger sons and all daughters will bear the courtesy title of Lord and Lady."
This view was echoed by the Daily Herald, a pro-labor newspaper, which published today: "Princess Margaret's baby will be fifth in line to the throne and so, it is said, must have a title. But in practice, No. 5 on the list is about as near as No. 100. There could always be a courtesy title of prince or princess."
What a wonderful idea, sadly there is no reason to believe it would have occurred or appealed to the Queen or those who advised her. I don't think the Queen sees the need for gender equality regarding family titles, unlike other monarchs.
ReplyDeleteI think it was made up by the newspaper. Margaret was never going to get a peerage in her own right. Tony turned down an earldom but changed his mind in the final weeks of Margaret's pregnancy
ReplyDeleteThis idea may resurface now that succession is by absolute primogeniture. But not in this reign, I don't think. Princess Charlotte may be the first beneficiary of the idea, upon her marriage.
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