{"id":19308,"date":"2022-11-09T09:13:47","date_gmt":"2022-11-09T08:13:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/?p=219152"},"modified":"2022-11-09T09:45:11","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T08:45:11","slug":"the-crown-s5-e4-real-history-the-queens-annus-horribilis-and-princess-margarets-relationship-with-peter-townsend","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/rss_feed\/the-crown-s5-e4-real-history-the-queens-annus-horribilis-and-princess-margarets-relationship-with-peter-townsend\/","title":{"rendered":"The Crown S5 E4 real history: the Queen\u2019s \u201cannus horribilis\u201d and Princess Margaret\u2019s relationship with Peter Townsend"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Lauren Good\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 09 November 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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This episode opens with the Queen<\/a> dabbing at tear-filled eyes. She is being driven to Guildhall in London, where she will make a public address following her \u201cannus horribilis<\/a>\u201c.<\/p>\n

Princess Margaret<\/a> watches this televised statement from her living room, her own eyes filled with anguish. Later, we discover she has reunited with Peter Townsend, a man she declares \u201cthe love of her life,\u201d and is furious at her sister\u2019s previous prevention of their relationship. Let\u2019s dig beneath this narrative, and unearth the historical truths of episode four\u2026<\/p>\n

What happened during 1992, Queen Elizabeth\u2019s \u201cannus horribilis\u201d (horrible year)?<\/h2>\n

The year 1992 saw the demise of not one, but three of the Queen\u2019s children\u2019s marriages. In March, it was announced that Prince Andrew and Duchess Sarah Ferguson would legally separate, an announcement soon followed in April of the divorce of Princess Anne<\/a> and Mark Phillips. In December, the third announcement came, with the royal family declaring that \u201cwith regret, the Prince and Princess of Wales<\/a> have decided to separate\u201d.<\/p>\n

When did Princess Anne marry Timothy Laurence?<\/h4>\n

In this episode, we see Anne declare that she will marry Timothy Laurence. \u201cYou cannot have all of me,\u201d she tells her mother, the Queen. \u201cAnd I will not give all of me. I will marry Tim.\u201d<\/p>\n

And marry him, she did. It was not long after her separation, in December 1992, that they made their vows. As the Church of England did not allow remarriages following divorce, they married in Scotland with only 30 guests.<\/p>\n

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Princess Anne (Claudia Harrison) and Timothy Laurence (Theo Fraser Steele) in \u2018The Crown\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n
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Commander Tim Laurence and Princess Anne are seen in their car after their wedding at Crathie Church 12 December 1992 in Scotland (Photo by EPA\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

In June 1992, came the publication of Andrew Morton\u2019s Diana: Her True Story<\/em>, which Sarah Gristwood describes as a \u201cdamning portrayal of what Diana saw as an unfeeling husband and uncaring monarchy\u201d. Diana\u2019s communication with Morton makes up much of the narrative in episode three, as she shares her experiences via tapes.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the upset of 1992 did not relent. On 20 November, the Queen and Prince Phillip\u2019s 45th wedding anniversary, a fire tore through Windsor Castle<\/a>. Within three hours of it being spotted, there were 225 firefighters from seven counties attending the scene. At the peak of the operation, 36 pumps were discharging 1.5m gallons of water.<\/p>\n