How did Princess Margaret die? A sad and painful end to an atypical Royal

Queen Elizabeth's younger sister, Princess Margaret, had a rebellious streak and led an unconventional lifestyle in her prime.

Her health gradually declined during her later years, On February 9, 2002, she suffered a stroke while at the King Edward VII's Hosptial, and passed away at the age of 71.

As reported by Pop Sugar, interest in Princess Margaret's life grew after the television show about her life, The Crown, premiered on Netflix in November 2016.

Princess Margaret was the youngest daughter Prince George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the only sibling the reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

When her father became King, she was officially known as Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret of York. When she married at the age of 30, she became HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon.

While her sister was being prepared to one day take the throne, Princess Margaret was relegated to the background, Not having the responsibilities of being an immediate successor to the throne suited her fine.

Princess Margaret was known for being a controversial figure; she was described as a free spirit with a penchant for being bored easily, according to NY Times.

One of the earliest scandals in her life was when Princess Margaret developed romantic feelings for her father’s equerry, Group Captain Peter Townsend.

Townsend was divorced, and as was the custom, divorcees were not allowed to remarry in the Church of England. At that time, Princess Margaret was third in line to the throne

In 1953, she asked Queen Elizabeth permission to marry Townsend, a request which the Queen denied. After pressure from her family intensified, Margaret eventually ended her relationship with Townsend.

Seven years later, she married Anthony Armstrong-Jones. Upon their marriage, the award-winning photographer was given the title Earl of Snowden.

The couple had two children, but announced their divorce in 1978, after 18 years of marriage. As a free woman, she had affairs with several men, including Mick Jagger, Peter Sellers, and Warren Beatty.

Princess Margaret battled many health problems during her final years. A heavy smoker since the age of 15, Margaret had to have a piece of her lung removed in her mid-fifties.

She gave up smoking six years after the operation but continued to drink heavily. In 1993, was hospitalized for pneumonia, and suffered a stroke five years later.

After yet another series of strokes, she was left partially blind and paralyzed on the left side. Following her death in 2002, she was cremated.

Throughout her life, many may have perceived hers a petulant or snobbish. While that may be true, she was also passionate about several causes near and dear to her heart and supported the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Cruelty, among others.