Princess Margaret Dies

Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, has died "peacefully in her sleep" at the age of 71. In a statement Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen, with great sadness, has asked for the following announcement to be made immediately.

"Her beloved sister, Princess Margaret, died peacefully in her sleep this morning at 6.30am in the King Edward VII Hospital."

Her children Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto were at her side at the London hospital.

Princess Margaret, who has suffered several strokes in recent years, suffered a further stroke on Friday afternoon.

She developed cardiac problems during the night and was taken from Kensington Palace to the hospital at 0230GMT.

She was born Margaret Rose on 21 August, 1930, at Glamis Castle in Scotland, the ancestral home of her mother's family.

Margaret was last seen in public before Christmas at Princess Alice, the Dowager Duchess of Gloucester's 100th birthday party.

She was confined to a wheelchair and wore heavy dark glasses, her sight having been affected by a stroke. Margaret's face also appeared puffy, understood to be the effects of medication.

"The Great Famine, usually known as the famine of ’47, really began in ’45, with the blighting and failure of the potato crop, the peoples chief means of sustenance. It is calculated that about a million people died - either of direct starvation, or of the diseases introduced by the famines, and about another fled to foreign lands between ’46 and ’50. To relieve the acute situation, their first step was to send over a shipload of scientists to study the cause of the potato failure. Their second step was to bring in a new Coercion Bill for Ireland. The third step was - after they had voted two hundred thousand pounds to beautify Londons Battersea Park - to vote one hundred thousand pounds for the relief of the two million Irish people who were suffering keen distress. The simple reader, who knows not the way of Britain with Ireland, would here naturally come to the conclusion that the tenderhearted gentlewoman, full of sympathy for the thousands who were dying of starvation was directing her Parliament to try to save a multitude of lives. But this would be a mistaken conclusion. She was here referring to the handful of Anglo-Irish landlords and agents, whose lives must be solicitously protected whilst in trying times, they were endeavouring to hack and hew their usual pound of flesh from the walking skeletons in the bogs and mountains of Ireland. Public committees had been formed in various countries and hundreds of thousands of pounds were collected for the relief of Irish distress. With the money thus collected, shiploads of Indian corn were imported to Ireland from America. As there were in the country hundreds of thousands of people in want of food, who yet would not accept it in charity, it was proposed that imported corn should be sold to these people at reduced price - but the paternal Government forbade the irregular procedure. At length when conditions reached their most fearful stage, in ’47, and that the uncoffined dead were being buried in trenches, and the world was expressing itself as appalled at the conditions, the Government advance a loan of ten million pounds, on half to be spent on public works, the other half for outdoor relief. And this carried with it the helpful proviso that no destitute farmer could benefit from that windfall unless he had first given up to the landlord all his farm except a quarter of an acre. As the famine sufferings increased, the Government met the more acute situation by proposing a renewal of the Disarming Act, increase of police and several other British remedies. True, the Government now shipped in Indian corn. But there was more corn went out of the country in one month than the Government sent in, in a year. In those terrible years the people began flocking from the stricken land in tens and hundreds of thousands - to America, and to the earths end." "The Story of the Irish Race" by Seumas MacManus. No, those of us who lost members of our families from the famine and lack of English aid will not mourn the "Princess" passing. She like all of her "royal" family will have to face their Maker and account for their actions and inactions in the deaths of millions...

I guess it's my American upbringing, but I can't help thinking anyone hanging on to royal title should be ashamed of themselves.

It is this upbringing that, thank G-d, makes this country so different from the rest of the world.

Yet, we should not assume that what is good for us is good for other people.

Among us, too, there are plenty of people who, depsite their "American upbringing" admire royalty. Not having one in this country they use the JFK familty and Hollywood as proxies.

Actually, it started in the late 40's. After we imported all those Nazi and Russian spooks into our country, things started to get weird. You can thank them for creating our current police state.

I wish things were so simple. The fact is, a few people can make a difference in any society only if they have a good ground to grow on. A few Nazis affected the course of the German nation because the majority of the people were sufficiently confused. A few communists managed to stage a revolution in Russia because the majority of Russians were sufficiently ifnorant and confused. We can only blame ourselves and many people we know for becoming enchanted by socialism and other left leanings.

Had the country not been confused about its values, no spies, communist or any other, would have been able to do damage.

While one may mourn the death of another human being. I find the whole concept of a parasitic class of people called the nobility to be an anachronism whose time passed a long time ago.

I agree. My sympathy would go out to her family - especially her 100-year-old mother - at the loss but beyond simple civil considerations, I cannot see the point of these 'noble' parasites that other countries - especially Great Britain - insist on holding in awe and reverence, as if they actually accomplish something of value for their countrymen.

That said, it's England's 'Royal' family and they are free to waste as much money and emotional investment in these people as they may choose, but the whole concept of 'royalty' by virtue of being born into some 'royal' family line is absurd, especially in the 21st century.

I know many Americans use JFK and celebrities as 'royality' to gawk at and gossip about, but at least American 'royality' has to accomplaish something in life - even if it's only a hit movie or recording or getting elected President - unlike British 'royality' that simply - exists.

Oh please. One woman dies who was the great-great-great-granddaughter of a queen at a time of misery for many of her people and you turn some unproven guilt from the ancestor on her descendant? This is twaddle. It is exactly the same kind of thinking that now propels many poeople in the black community to argue in favor of reparations for slavery.

As a fellow freeper I wish you good fortune, but you will never be happy until you rethink your position. I forget what the bible says about forgiveness, but it is certainly a good thing.

Princess Margaret was a sad figure in public life, but she bore her travails with great dignity, did much good charitable work. Let us have some respect for the departed; one day it will happen to us.

Though I readily share your disgust with the welfare state-we are now in the authoritarian stage of that monstrosity-you sound somewhat dismissive of British Government & history. I somehow find your observations way too hostile & really quite ugly in the face of what is a major loss to the British citizens...THEY are close cousins & serious allies for many of us! The good Queen Herself was in tears at the events of Sept '01!

The Royals have served Britain well-some would say very well & they are part & parcel of a government & cultural system complex beyond the comprehension of many ordinary folk. The many institutions were built one upon the other & in conjunction with one another, yes-sometimes at great cost to the masses & perversly, with little concern for negative effects. But it is not our system-though we owe much to this nation & its culture. I should be glad to see some comment from the Moderator of the forum on this thread-a cautionary word may be in order-but I shall not punch the fear/abuse button. I leave that to gutless ninnies! I just wish you & those of your ilk might show some regard for propriety!

This has to be so hard on Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mum. They were a close family growing up.

I believe that Margaret's death by a series of strokes was a result of her long-time heavy smoking habit. Without that, she may have lived many more years like her sister and mother. Her dad died of lung cancer from smoking....also before his time.

She had a troubled life in spite of her royal title. She wanted to marry Townsend and was not able to. This current generation will do away with the taboo of marriage/divorce/commoner issues. I believe Charles will soon marry Camilla and that will be the end of it. William will have to lead the way for the following generation. The public will have such sympathy for him due to his mother's tragedy that he will be able to marry whomever he darn pleases without much criticism. IMHO.....

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