A new biography claims that Princess Margaret may have suffered from foetal alcohol syndrome due to the Queen Mother's drinking during pregnancy. The condition, which develops when a baby is exposed to alcohol in the womb, can cause lifelong problems including learning difficulties, hyperactivity, and mood swings.
Pulitzer Prize-nominated biographer Meryle Secrest made the claims in her book 'Princess Margaret and the Curse: An Inquiry into a Royal Life'. She speculates that the princess, who died aged 71 in 2002, had an 'invisible disability' caused by the condition. However, the claims have not been proven, and there is no firm evidence that Margaret suffered from an alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder.
The book notes that while Margaret lacked the tell-tale facial symptoms of foetal alcohol syndrome, she displayed characteristic mood swings, stunted growth, difficulties learning to write, and painful migraines. It also cites accounts of the Queen Mother's drinking in later life, including claims from a former equerry that she enjoyed gin and Dubonnet during the day.
Foetal alcohol syndrome was not well understood until the 1970s, so the Queen Mother would likely not have been advised to avoid alcohol during her pregnancy with Margaret. However, in letters from when she was pregnant with Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother wrote that she could not bear the thought of wine, suggesting she may have drunk less while expecting the future queen.
The biography compares Margaret's life with those who have suffered from the condition and is set to be released by Skyhorse Publishing in the US.
