Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Rebecca Russell

'Other Charles' in the Royal Family with impressive title who we never get to see

The grandchildren of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon often fade into the background when it comes to shining spotlight focused on the Royal Family.

The late Queen's sister had three grandsons and one granddaughter who all manage to lead largely normal lives. They typically only appear for major national events, such as royal weddings, funerals or Trooping the Colour and were seen waiting with the other royals at Westminster Hall when Her Majesty's coffin was carried in on September 14.

Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, is the only one of Princess -Margaret's grandchildren to have a title. Despite being a great-nephew of The Queen, he never features in the headlines - but what do we know about him?

Viscount Linley (far right) with cousins Arthur and Samuel Chatto (CAMERA PRESS/Mark Stewart)

His grandmother Princess Margaret was born on August 21, 1930 to King George VI (then Prince Albert, Duke of York) and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (then Elizabeth, Duchess of York) and was the younger sister of the Queen.

In 1960, she married society photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon at Westminster Abbey. The couple went on to have two children, David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (b. 1961) and Lady Sarah Chatto (nee Armstrong-Jones b. 1964).

They lived in Apartment 1A of Kensington Palace - the former home of The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

After the couple made history in 1978 when they became the first senior royals to divorce since Henry VIII, their children stayed at Kensington Palace with their mother, until they left to start their own families.

Charles is Princess Margaret's grandson (Tim Graham Photo Library)
Charles' parents are the Earl and Countess of Snowdon (Getty Images)

Love the royals? Sign up for the Mirror's daily newsletter to get all the latest news on the Queen, Charles, Kate, Wills, Meghan, Harry and the rest of The Firm. Click here to sign up .

David Armstrong-Jones married the Hon. Serena Stanhope in 1993 and they went on to have their child, Charles Patrick Inigo Armstrong-Jones on July 1, 1999.

The young royal was the third grandchild of Princess Margaret and was born at the Portland Hospital in Marylebone. From 2000 to 2002, the couple and their son Charles lived at Kensington Palace with the ailing princess in her final years.

On May 14, 2002 Charles’ younger sister was born at the same hospital, Lady Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong-Jones.

Like many members of his family, Charles was educated at Eton College and was in the same year as his cousin Arthur Chatto, the second son of Lady Sarah Chatto.

Charles and Margarita Armstrong-Jones with their parents (Getty)

In 2012, he was made the first Page of Honour to his great-aunt, the Queen.

This ceremonial role required him to carry the long train of the Queen’s robes at state occasions, such as the Order of the Garter service. Since he ceased to carry out that role in 2015, he has lived largely under the radar.

Upon the death of his grandfather, the 1st Earl of Snowdon in 2017, his father inherited the title and became the 2nd Earl of Snowdon. This gave Charles the right to use his father’s subsidiary title of Viscount Linley.

In 2018, it was revealed that the 25th in line to the throne was studying product design engineering at Loughborough University.

After 27 years of marriage, his parents the Earl and Countess of Snowdon announced they had separated in February 2020 and had filed a case for divorce.

Ever since the death of Princess Margaret in 2002, it was well-known that The Queen stayed in close contact with her nephew and niece and always invited them and their families to spread Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.