Princess Margaret's Lavish Lifestyle and Bold Proposition
Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, maintained a remarkably indulgent daily routine that would begin with waking at 9am, followed by two additional hours of luxurious relaxation in bed. Her morning continued with an extensive sixty-minute bath before her day truly commenced with a vodka 'pick-me-up' at precisely 12.30pm, leading into a substantial four-course lunch.
However, as revealed by swashbuckling financier John Bentley – father of Lord Zac Goldsmith's first wife, Sheherazade Bentley – the princess's indulgences extended far beyond culinary pleasures. The young Bentley, standing at an impressive 6ft 4in, handsome and enjoying tremendous success in London's financial district, first attracted Margaret's attention while he was courting Lady Jacquie Rufus Isaacs, the glamorous daughter of the Marquess of Reading.
Royal Scrutiny and Personal Comments
The princess, affectionately called 'Margot' by her husband Lord Snowdon, was reportedly aware that Snowdon harboured attraction toward Lady Jacquie, as he made little effort to conceal his interest. Periodically, the royal couple would invite the younger pair to join them for riding excursions at their relatively modest Sussex residence, where Bentley found himself under continuous and intense scrutiny from the princess.
In his compelling memoir, Mr Internet TV: The Ego And The Id, published in December, Bentley recounts how Margaret would make pointed personal remarks about his appearance. She expressed disapproval if he arrived with weekend beard stubble, yet offered compliments when he appeared clean-shaven, demonstrating her close attention to his presentation.
The Unexpected Proposition
In due course, 'Margot' made her intentions unmistakably clear by extending a direct proposition. "She proposed that I should visit her sans Jacquie," remembers Bentley, now 86, speaking from his home in France. He describes finding her "imperiously amusing" yet ultimately resisted the invitation, recognising the potential complications.
"She was trouble with a capital T, and I was not about to play her games," Bentley reflects, adding practical considerations about the princess's petite stature of barely five feet tall. He humorously questioned whether it would constitute poor etiquette to withdraw from such an encounter without formal permission.
Unforgotten Encounters at Blenheim
If Bentley believed Margaret had moved on from her interest, he received definitive correction years later during a summer ball at Blenheim Palace. Invited by Jamie Blandford, heir to the Duke of Marlborough, Bentley and his then-girlfriend settled at a table occupied only by Princess Margaret and her new young lover, Roddy Llewellyn.
Minutes later, Bentley received a tap on the shoulder from Marlborough's secretary, instructing him to leave immediately. Upon departure, he encountered the duke and inquired about the reason for his expulsion. The duke responded apologetically, explaining it was "at the request of the only person here I cannot refuse."
Alternative Consolations and Controversial Company
Princess Margaret ultimately sought consolation elsewhere, enjoying the company of not only Llewellyn but also London gangster John Bindon. Photographs captured the princess alongside Bindon during her pleasures in Mustique, with the gangster wearing a T-shirt boldly declaring 'Enjoy Cocaine' during their encounter.
This revelation from Bentley's memoir provides fresh insight into the complex social dynamics and personal relationships within aristocratic circles during the mid-twentieth century, highlighting the princess's unconventional approach to relationships and her willingness to challenge social norms.
