The BBC plans to explore Princess Margaret’s private life in a two-part documentary, after a character portrayal by Vanessa Kirby in popular Netflix series The Crown sparked its audience’s interest in the Queen’s sister.
Princess Margaret became the first King's daughter to wed a “commoner” in over 400 years, when she married Antony Armstrong-Jones, a photographer, in May 1960.
So far, The Crown has covered her forbidden love affair with divorcee Peter Townsend, her controversial wedding to Armstrong-Jones, and her strained relationship with her sister, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Telegraph reports that the documentary will feature interviews about the late royal with acquaintances and childhood friends including Lady Anne Glanconner, the princess’s lady-in-waiting, and Basil Charles, the former owner of Basil’s Bar in Mustique, where she had a holiday home.
In the upcoming programme, Charles calls her a “trailblazer” and “a little bit of a rebel… she wanted to have the [roya] life but she also wanted to have a normal life,” he reveals.
The BBC said the “deeply personal account” would focus on a royal figure “whose life and loves reflected the social and sexual revolution that transformed Britain’s during the 20th century”.
Political satirist Craig Brown is set to contribute, having once called the royal "the world's most difficult guest", and a woman who conscientiously "set people at their unease".
It is also set to look at the ways in which Princess Margaret “combined the rebellious force of modernity and a deep respect for tradition”.
Netflix recently unveiled the first look at Olivia Colman in character as The Crown lead Queen Elizabeth, as well as revealing who would portray Prince Charles and the Queen Mother in the upcoming third series.
Colman actor has replaced Claire Foy in the lead role of the Golden Globe-winning drama for its next two seasons.
Showrunner Peter Morgan decided to recast the royal roles every two seasons, stating: “You can’t ask someone to act middle-aged. Someone has to bring their own fatigue to it. The feelings we all have as 50-year-olds are different than the feelings we all have as 30-year-olds.“
Joining Colman for season 3 are Matt Smith's Prince Philip replacement Tobias Menzies (The Terror) and Helena Bonham Carter who will succeed Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret.
God's Own Country star Josh O'Connor will play Prince Charles, and Marion Bailey will appear as the Queen Mother.
Line of Duty actor Jason Watkins will also appear playing British PM Harold Wilson, following on from John Lithgow who won an Emmy for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the first season.
Elizabeth won't be the only Queen played by Colman in future projects. Just last week, a trailer for The Favourite - the new comedy-drama from The Lobster director Yorgos Lanthimios - was released showing her in character as a rather more irate monarch.
The Crown is expected to return to Netflix later this year.
