The Earl of Snowdon may be one of the lesser-known members of the royal family despite having grown up in Kensington Palace. He was the first child born to Princess Margaret and celebrity photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones.
David Armstrong-Jones was born on November 3, 1961 at Clarence House, Westminster, and was given the title of Viscount Linley at birth. He became the second Earl of Snowdon following his father’s death in 2017 but still goes by David Linley in a professional capacity.
Lord Snowdon was fifth in line for the throne when he was born. He is now 24th in the order of succession.
Lord Snowdon and his sister Lady Sarah Chatto were said to have shared a close relationship with the Queen, their mother’s sister. Princess Margaret was the only sibling of the Queen and died in 2002 at age 71 from cardiac problems.
The Earl and Lady Sarah grew up alongside the Queen’s children, going on holidays with King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Prince Andrew. Lord Snowdon even took classes alongside Prince Andrew in Buckingham Palace’s schoolroom.
Lord Snowdon attended a number of independent schools including Gibbs Pre-Preparatory School in Kensington, Ashdown House School in East Sussex, Millbrooke House School near Abingdon, in Oxfordshire, and Bedales School, Petersfield. By the 1980s he was studying at the School for Craftsmen in Wood at Parnham House in Beaminster, Dorset.
He set up his own business in 1993, eventually building a world-renowned furniture brand known as Linley’s. He continues to play a leading role in the business, Tatler reports .
In 2018 he controversially applied for a position in the House of Lords in a by-election, but withdrew his application. His father had been given a life peerage “by virtue”.
The Earl has two children with Serena, the Countess of Snowdon, who he split with in February of 2020 after 26 years of marriage. Their children are Charles Patrick Inigo Armstrong-Jones, 23, who holds the title Viscount Linley and studied Product Design Engineering at Loughborough University, and Lady Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong-Jones, 20, who is currently studying at Oxford Brookes University.
Is the Earl of Snowdon a working member of the Royal Family?
No, Lord Snowdon works independently from the royal family. As a furniture craftsman, his creations have graced the homes of celebrities including Elton John and Valentino, Town & Country reports .
Lord Snowdon has also worked as an international lecturer and author on the topics of furniture and styling the home. He is a chairman for Christie's auction house.
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