The Queen pays
THE Queen led three generations of her family yesterday in honouring the memory of her rebellious former brother-in-law, Princess Margaret’s ex-husband Lord Snowdon.
She and Prince Philip were joined by Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, her grandson Prince William and the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent.
They were among more than 600 friends and family, including prominent figures from the arts such as the writer Alan Bennett, Sir Tim Rice, musician Jools Holland, playwright Sir Tom Stoppard and entertainer Stephen Fry, who packed into St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, to celebrate his life.
Modesty
Snowdon, born Antony ArmstrongJones, died on January 13 this year aged 86.
The Swinging Sixties playboy, photographer, designer, and disability rights campaigner, was married to the Queen’s sister from 1960 to 1978.
His five children from two marriages and two other relationships were all present, along with several of his former lovers.
Lord Snowdon’s son, David, the second Earl Snowdon, described his father as his hero.
He said growing up with him was like being in the same room as James Bond, Leonardo Da Vinci, the architect Inigo Jones, and the designer of the Mini, Alec Issigonis.
Despite his strengths, Snowdon, who left Cambridge after failing his second year architecture exams, was a disappointed rebel, David said. “He felt he failed as an architect, he loathed being called an artist and made fun of being a photographer, not out of false modesty,” he said.
“He generally thought of himself as a failure.”
But he added: “In my eyes too he was a failure – as a failure that is.”
He added: “It is said one should never meet one’s heroes, for fear that they might disappoint. I had