Who was Princess Margaret’s “toy boy” Roddy Llewellyn?
<p>Princess Margaret’s antics before her death in 2002 at 71 have made up some of the juiciest royal drama in the past.</p>
<p>When the Queen’s younger sister was seen kissing on a beach, it was just the first in a series of marriage scandals that would plague the Royal Family for decades.</p>
<p>Although the Queen did not love the relationship between Margaret's toy boy Roddy Llewellyn, who was 17 years her junior, she soon accepted it.</p>
<p>The affair between Princess Margaret and Roddy was first made aware to the public in February 1976 when the pair were spotted in swimsuits on the Caribbean island of Mustique.</p>
<p>The Princess was 45 and married to Lord Snowdon, when she was seen with the then 26-year-old landscape gardener.</p>
<p>They were already almost three years into what would be an eight-year affair.</p>
<p>It was only weeks after the photographs made tabloids that the Queen’s younger sister and Snowdon announced their separation, divorcing in 1978.</p>
<p>After their romantic holiday that pulled in a flood of coverage, the media hounded Roddy until he issued a statement.</p>
<p>"I much regret any embarrassment caused to Her Majesty the Queen and the royal family, for whom I wish to express the greatest respect, admiration and loyalty," it read.</p>
<p>"Could we please be permitted by the media, who have besieged us, to carry on with our work and private lives without further interference."</p>
<p>However, the two were not left alone.</p>
<p>"When it emerged, that Margaret was having the relationship with Roddy Llewellyn, we were absolutely in the age of tabloid gossip and celebrity news and this was the perfect story to feed that machine," Chris Granlund, executive producer of the documentary <em>Margaret: A Rebel Princess,</em> said. </p>
<p>The producer explained Princess Margaret’s story fit perfectly in the narrative of the 1970s.</p>
<p>"Feminism was growing but still there was a double standard that for an older woman being with a younger man at that time was a huge thing, and much more than it would be today. And so that was a part of it, so he was constantly referred to as her 'Toy Boy'.</p>
<p>“Politicians called him that when they were attacking the royal family in parliament. So [their relationship] was used as a weapon against the royal family."</p>
<p>Through the course of the relationship between Margaret and Roddy, the young gardener released a self-titled album <em>Roddy</em>, in 1978. However, the press’ interest remained tightly on his personal life.</p>
<p>Christopher Warwick, Princess Margaret’s authorised biographer, explained: “The Queen didn't approve of Roddy or of the relationship, and she thought that in all of this Roddy business, her sister was behaving badly.”</p>
<p>In the documentary <em>Elizabeth: Our Queen</em>, Lady Anne Glenconner explained a conversation the British Monarch and she shared at Princess Margaret’s funeral.</p>
<p>“After Princess Margaret’s funeral, the Queen, she said, ‘I’d just like to say, Anne, it was rather difficult at moments, but I thank you so much [for] introducing Princess Margaret to Roddy ’cause he made her really happy,’” <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/02/the-queen-reportedly-approved-princess-margaret-affair-with-roddy-llewellyn">Glenconner said.</a></p>
<p>After the couple’s highly publicised relationship came to an end in July of 1981, Roddy went on to marry Tatiana Soskin. Together they have three daughters – Alexandra, Natasha and Rosie.</p>
<p>In 2002, he opened up about his and Princess Margaret’s relationship in an <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1384450/I-followed-my-heart-says-Llewellyn.html">open letter.</a></p>
<p>“I didn't think about the consequences of such a high-profile affair,” he said.</p>
<p>“If we all had crystal balls, we'd all know which horse to back, wouldn't we? I was just following my heart.</p>
<p>“I discovered a warm and witty woman, possessing a strong sense of duty and dedication to her country's interests, who has honoured me with her friendship since that first house party that was so filled with fun and laughter.</p>
<p>"We found we were all fond of charades and sing-songs. I have even sung to her accompaniment on the piano. To raise a laugh, HRH has donned a wig to sing a Sophie Tucker red hot momma number.</p>
<p>"In Princess Margaret I found a fine friend who could steady my restless nature and offer wise counsel," he said in a piece written by himself for the newspaper <em>News of the World</em>. </p>
