Diary – 21 July 2006

Princess Margaret’s grand car-boot sale at Christie’s last month reminded me of my own souvenir of PM. Several years ago I had decided to collect silver boxes, and a mutual friend asked if I would be interested in a couple belonging to her. ‘She’s having a clear-out,’ the friend explained, ‘Wants to get rid of a lot of junk. Would you be interested?’ He brought over a beautiful, and rather large, embossed square silver box for which I cheerfully coughed up £600. The following month PM had another clear-out and I bought another smaller but equally attractive box. When I opened the first box, I was fascinated to discover hidden under the velvet a small engraved card announcing ‘Presented to HRH Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones on the occasion of their visit to ________.’ (I shan’t reveal
the name of the country to save international embarrassment.)

That Christmas I gave my annual party and the friend declined my invitation because of a previous engagement with PM.