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Two decades after the death of her beloved sister, the Queen has made an incredible acknowledgement of the role played in Princess Margaret’s life by her toyboy lover, Roddy Llewellyn.
I can disclose that the retired landscape gardener, who had an eight-year affair with Margaret, was granted special permission to visit her final resting place on the anniversary of her death on Wednesday.
Llewellyn, 74, paid his respects to her in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor.
After the Princess’s death in 2002 at the age of 71, her ashes were placed in the tomb at St George’s Chapel to rest alongside the remains of her parents, George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Sir Roddy — who inherited a baronetcy upon the death of his brother, Sir Dai Llewellyn, in 2009 — has turned down many lucrative offers to divulge the secrets of his relationship with Margaret.
Their affair, which was revealed after photos of them embracing in Mustique in the Caribbean were published, hastened the end of her marriage to celebrated photographer the 1st Earl of Snowdon.
Sir Roddy, who now lives in a village in South-West France, had apparently asked for permission to visit Margaret’s grave. The Queen is the only person who can grant access to the Royal Family’s tomb.
Sir Roddy Llewellyn (right) pictured at the funeral of John Rendall, the man known for buying Christian the Lion from Harrods, on Wednesday
‘Going to Windsor was an enormously important moment for me,’ he told friends at a reception following the Chelsea funeral of conservationist John Rendall, at which Roddy was an usher.
‘After two years of having absolutely nothing in my diary, I had two crucial dates — to go to St George’s and to be at John’s funeral.
‘Very kindly, Mel [Rendall’s wife] moved the time of John’s service so that I could go to Windsor in the morning and be at his funeral in the afternoon.’
Sir Roddy went on to describe how ‘tiny’ the space was in the royal crypt, observing: ‘I don’t know how there will be space for the Queen; there’s hardly any room next to King George and the Queen Mother.’
He added that it had been Margaret’s express wish to be cremated, and that she did not want to be interred at Frogmore, the normal burial ground for lesser royalty, which she viewed as too gloomy.
Thus, on the day of her funeral, the Princess’s body was driven from Windsor Castle to Slough crematorium for a municipal cremation.
‘She was simply listed as ‘Number Eight’ at the crematorium. Can you imagine that!’ exclaimed Sir Roddy.
He was 17 years her junior when he met the Princess at a house party in Scotland and they began an affair. The couple were criticised after they were snapped at her Caribbean villa, with one headline blaring, ‘Give up Roddy or quit!’
Roddy (right) pictured with Princess Margarer in 1978. The retired landscape gardener had an eight-year affair with Margaret
The Queen was said to be despairing of her sister’s ‘guttersnipe life’ but Margaret refused to end the relationship.
Sir Roddy, whom the Princess once referred to as ‘my last great love’, remained on good terms with her long after their passion had cooled.
In 1981, he married Tatiana Soskin, an old friend, and Margaret became a regular visitor to the couple’s home in Warwickshire.
One of the Princess’s closest friends, Lady Anne Glenconner, said: ‘After Princess Margaret’s funeral, the Queen said, ‘I’d just like to say, Anne, it was rather difficult at moments, but I thank you so much for introducing Princess Margaret to Roddy because he made her really happy’.’
Nicole proves blondes have more fun!
Will Nicole Scherzinger still be recognised by her rugby star boyfriend Thom Evans?
The pop singer, 43, has undergone a dramatic makeover, with her usual dark hair dyed blonde.
She’s shared this photograph of herself in a striking one-shouldered red dress slashed to the thigh. Scherzinger explains that she’s having ‘a little fun’.
Nicole Scherzinger, 43, posted this picture in a red dress with her usual dark hair dyed blonde
Let’s hope that former public schoolboy Thom, 36, likes the transformation.
He’s been going out with the one-time X Factor judge since 2020. She was previously courted by Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.
Kate’s in the doghouse… with her cat
Look out Kate Beckinsale, or you’ll be in trouble with pet lovers!
The Hollywood star has been accused of causing distress to her cat, Willow, after sharing a video of her wearing a life-size poodle mask while on all fours.
The white Persian cat can be seen retaliating by clawing at the snout of Beckinsale’s mask.
Kate Beckinsale shared a video of her wearing a life-size poodle mask (pictured) while on all fours
‘Your cat is going to need therapy,’ chides one fan.
The daughter of late Porridge star Richard
Beckinsale jokes: ‘So, we’re not getting a poodle.’
Cat videos are a sensitive subject after West Ham footballer Kurt Zouma was seen drop-kicking and slapping his pet Bengal moggy.
Beckinsale, 48, has signed a petition calling for him to be prosecuted.
Get flexible with yogi viscountess
Fancy a stretch class with Britain’s most flexible aristocrat?
I hear Julie Montagu, wife of Viscount Hinchingbrooke, heir to the 11th Earl of Sandwich, is now qualified to teach yoga online.
The American, 47, who starred in the reality TV series Ladies Of London, was accredited by the Yoga Alliance following 200 hours of training.
Julie Montagu, wife of Viscount Hinchingbrooke has been accredited by the Yoga Alliance following 200 hours of training
‘It’s brilliant,’ she says.
‘Even just 15 minutes can give you more energy yet make you feel more tranquil.’
Any takers?
Jamie Theakston had his application to build a trendy outhouse in his garden rejected by planners last month after neighbours claimed it was an attempt to create a ‘beds-in-sheds style facility’.
But the actor and presenter, 51, is not taking it lying down, as he has now filed an appeal.
Locals said the plans at his £6.5 million house in West London were ‘excessive in size’ and ‘harmful to the wider conservation area’.
Self-important BBC presenter Nick Robinson says he’s barely recognised since he underwent an eye operation which meant he no longer needs his trademark specs.
‘I met a friend for dinner last week and he walked past me three times,’ the presenter, 58, tells me at the launch of Today programme colleague Justin Webb’s childhood memoir, The Gift Of A Radio, at Daunt Books in Marylebone.
‘I was waving at my friend frantically saying, ‘I’m over here, I’m over here.’
He just didn’t recognise me.’
Robinson adds: ‘I was in a pub watching the rugby at the weekend and nobody noticed me.
‘Then, when the game finished, I put my glasses on and a bloke over the other side of the bar shouted, ‘It’s you! I knew it was you’.’
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