Princess Margaret’s former lady-in-waiting compares her ‘spare’ struggles to Prince Harry’s
“She did gripe about it a bit”
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Princess Margaret's former lady-in-waiting has shared some thinly-veiled comparisons between Prince Harry (opens in new tab) and Princess Margaret, explaining that they both struggled after being born the "spare" to future monarchs.
- Lady Anne, Princess Margaret's former lady-in-waiting, has voiced her comparisons between Prince Harry and Princess Margaret, who were both the 'spare.'
- Lady Anne revealed that while 'she was so loyal to her sister,' Princess Margaret did 'gripe' about her role as the spare.
- In other royal news (opens in new tab), Royal roles at King Charles’ coronation revealed including Kate Middleton and Prince Harry (opens in new tab).
While the title of spare has seemingly only recently entered the public consciousness thanks to Prince Harry's scathing autobiography Spare (opens in new tab), many royals have previously had to grapple with having the title - though less publicly than Harry.
Princess Margaret's former lady-in-waiting, Lady Anne, has now made some thinly-veiled comparisons between Prince Harry and Princess Margaret, noting that they were both born the "spare" to future monarchs.
The former royal lady-in-waiting entered the royal circle when she was just a child, growing up with Princess Margaret as they lived close by. Speaking with the Daily Beast, she admitted that while she often doesn't like to talk about Harry and Meghan Markle (opens in new tab), she did find some 'interesting' comparisons between the couple and her former friend, Princess Margaret.
Speaking with the Daily Beast about the couple's attendance at the King's upcoming coronation, the 90-year-old Lady Anne said, "Charles would probably like them to come but I just don’t know. I don’t particularly like talking about Harry and Meghan, but the interesting thing is that of course I knew and was with another 'spare', Princess Margaret."
Lady Anne, whose family has been linked to the royals for generations, explained that while she had "never heard Margaret criticise" her older sister, the late Queen, "she did gripe about" their differing upbringings "a bit".
The former lady-in-waiting explained, "She was so loyal to her sister. The only thing she did say was that she wished she’d been better educated. The Queen had tutors who came in from Oxford and Cambridge to teach her, but all Margaret ever had was a governess and I think that did annoy her.
"She did gripe about it a bit, but other than that she was completely loyal. And the Queen had everything! Margaret didn’t even have her own house in England. The only house she ever actually owned herself was the one that we helped to build on Mustique."
The home Lady Anne refers to is the one built for Princess Margaret on land that Lady Anne and her late husband Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner, gave to the Princess following her marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones, Lord Snowdon, in 1960. The land was located on a private island called Mustique.
A residence was later built there for the royal couple and it eventually became a beloved home for Margaret following her divorce from Lord Snowdon.
Related articles:
- What is the royal line of succession, how does it work and who is next in line for the throne? (opens in new tab)
- How to apply for Coronation concert tickets - everything you need to know (opens in new tab)
- Kate Middleton and Prince William 'don't want' to follow in the Queen's footsteps for this 'modest' reason (opens in new tab)
- Why Princess Charlotte is unlikely to be a 'working royal' when she grows up (opens in new tab)
- Royal roles at King Charles’ coronation revealed including Kate Middleton and Prince Harry (opens in new tab)
Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse is royal news and entertainment writer for Goodto.com. She began her freelance journalism career after graduating from Nottingham Trent University with an MA in Magazine Journalism, receiving an NCTJ diploma, and earning a First Class BA (Hons) in Journalism at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute. She has also worked with BBC Good Food and The Independent.
-
-
Netflix's The Night Agent ending explained: Who was the mole?
The new spy thriller series has viewers obsessed if not a little confused - read The Night Agent ending explained
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse • Published
-
Prince William praised by Poland’s LGBTQ+ community after spending a 'great night' out at local LGBTQ+ restaurant during recent visit
The Prince of Wales reportedly ordered a pulled pork sandwich with fries
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse • Published
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Frogmore Cottage eviction was ‘just the start’ of King Charles III’s ‘five-year’ plan to slim down the monarchy, claims senior source
"The King is not some sort of housing association for distant relatives"
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse • Published
-
How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s roles at King Charles III’s coronation will differ to other royals
The couple will miss out on a few of the days key moments if they decide to attend
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse • Published
-
Anna Wintour thinks Meghan Markle is ‘amazing’ though her and Prince Harry’s ‘current status within the Royal Family’ may cost them their Met Gala invite
Will we see the royal couple at this year’s prestigious event?
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse • Published
-
Princess Lilibet set to become 'most famous' US celebrity as Prince Harry and Meghan start ‘another Royal Family'
The Sussex youngster is tipped for big things by royal expert
By Selina Maycock • Published
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle given THIS advice from Oprah Winfrey over attending King Charles’ Coronation
The talk show host has revealed what she thinks the Sussexes should do come May
By Selina Maycock • Published
-
Actress Rebel Wilson says Meghan Markle is “not as cool” or “naturally warm” as Prince Harry as she recounts meeting the couple with her mum
“He could not have been nicer”
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse • Published
-
King Charles set to ‘offer’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle rooms they have ‘always wanted’ at Buckingham Palace
“He’s not a bad man”
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse • Published
-
Buckingham Palace planning for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s hinted attendance at King Charles’ coronation
The couple have reportedly been included in arrangements for cars, seating and dining
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse • Published