Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, was a British photographer whose portraits reshaped royal and celebrity imagery, and whose marriage to Princess Margaret made him a household name. But questions about his death, his family, and his work continue to circulate.
He was born in London on 7 March 1930, studied at Cambridge, and built a reputation as a society photographer before becoming an official royal lensman. His life straddled glamour, tragedy, and unresolved rumours.
Below we examine the verified facts and the gaps that remain in the public record.
What Was Antony Armstrong‑Jones’s Cause of Death?
Antony Armstrong‑Jones died on 13 January 2017 at the age of 86. The official family statement did not disclose a specific cause; no medical details were released to the press. Some media outlets speculated about pneumonia, but that has never been confirmed by his family or physicians. Based on the published sources, the cause of death remains officially unspecified.
Antony Charles Robert Armstrong‑Jones
1st Earl of Snowdon
7 March 1930, London, England
13 January 2017 (aged 86)
Princess Margaret (1960–1978, divorced)
David Armstrong‑Jones; Lady Sarah Chatto
Photographer, filmmaker, designer
Royal portraits, Aberfan documentary, celebrity photography
Key insights:
- He was the first commoner to marry a British princess in over 400 years.
- His photography moved royal portraiture from stiff formality to natural, intimate shots.
- He secretly photographed the Aberfan disaster, creating a poignant record that influenced public opinion.
- Despite a glamorous public image, his marriage to Princess Margaret was troubled and he later admitted to affairs.
- The existence of an alleged love child remains unconfirmed; no substantial evidence has been made public.
- He established the Snowdon Award Scheme (now the Snowdon Trust) supporting disability projects.
- More than 280 of his works are held in the National Portrait Gallery collection.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Antony Charles Robert Armstrong‑Jones |
| Title | 1st Earl of Snowdon (created 1961) |
| Born | 7 March 1930, Belgravia, London |
| Died | 13 January 2017, Kensington, London (age 86) |
| Spouse | Princess Margaret (m. 1960; div. 1978) |
| Children | David Armstrong‑Jones (b. 1961), Lady Sarah Chatto (b. 1964) |
| Occupation | Photographer, filmmaker, television producer |
| Education | Eton College, Jesus College Cambridge |
What Was Antony Armstrong‑Jones’s Relationship with Princess Margaret?
Armstrong‑Jones became engaged to Princess Margaret in February 1960 and married her on 6 May 1960 at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was the first royal wedding to be broadcast on television.
How Did They Meet and Marry?
The couple met through mutual friends in the late 1950s. Armstrong‑Jones was already an established society photographer, and Margaret was drawn to his artistic circle. Their engagement was announced in early 1960, and the wedding later that year was a major media event.
How Long Were They Married?
The marriage lasted 18 years. They separated in the mid‑1970s and divorced in 1978. The divorce was the first royal divorce in Britain since the 16th century that did not involve an annulment.
What Caused the Marriage to End?
Biographers have described the relationship as increasingly strained, with both parties involved in extramarital relationships. Armstrong‑Jones later publicly acknowledged affairs. The divorce was officially granted on grounds of the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
The wedding was watched by millions on television. Armstrong‑Jones was created Earl of Snowdon immediately after the marriage, a title he held for life. The couple had two children together before separating.
Who Were Antony Armstrong‑Jones’s Children and Did He Have a Love Child?
He and Princess Margaret had two children: David Armstrong‑Jones (born 1961) and Lady Sarah Chatto (born 1964). David later inherited the title 2nd Earl of Snowdon.
Did He Have an Illegitimate Child?
Rumours have circulated for decades that Armstrong‑Jones fathered a love child with a former girlfriend before or during his marriage. However, the standard biographical record in the supplied sources – including the National Portrait Gallery, Wikipedia, and Yale retrospective – does not mention any acknowledged love child. No legal or public confirmation has ever emerged.
The question remains open, but based on available evidence, the claim is unsubstantiated.
Allegations about an unacknowledged child require separate sourcing. The provided research materials do not support the existence of a love child. Readers should treat such claims as rumour rather than established fact.
What Are Antony Armstrong‑Jones’s Most Famous Photographs?
Armstrong‑Jones was one of Britain’s leading portrait photographers. His work appeared in The Sunday Times (from 1962), Vogue (from 1964), and the Telegraph Magazine (from 1990). A Yale retrospective highlighted his shift toward intimate, informal portraiture.
Which Subjects Did He Photograph?
His subjects ranged from celebrities such as David Bowie and Laurence Olivier to political figures like Harold Wilson and the Queen. He also photographed theatre productions, fashion spreads, and documentary scenes.
What Are His Most Notable Royal Portraits?
He shot several official portraits of the royal family, including a famous 1968 photo of the Queen and Prince Philip. His candid images of Princess Margaret and their children became iconic.
Why Is His Aberfan Photography Important?
In 1966, he travelled to Aberfan after the coal‑waste disaster and photographed the aftermath. The images were published in the Sunday Times and are considered some of his most powerful documentary work.
Armstrong‑Jones often used natural light and unposed compositions. He favoured the Leica M3 and later Nikon cameras. His approach broke from the formal studio style that dominated royal photography before the 1960s.
What Was Antony Armstrong‑Jones’s Involvement in the Aberfan Disaster?
The supplied research does not connect him to the cause of the Aberfan disaster. That event – the 1966 collapse of a colliery spoil tip in Wales – is generally attributed to unstable coal waste sliding onto the village. Armstrong‑Jones’s role was as a photographer, not as a participant in the accident.
His photographs of the disaster were taken for the Sunday Times and are regarded as a key part of his documentary portfolio. They captured the scale of the tragedy and helped shape public awareness. Some art critics have described the images as works of art as well as news records.
Why Is His Aberfan Work Notable?
At the time, Armstrong‑Jones was known primarily for glamour and royal subjects. The Aberfan series showed his ability to move from society photography to hard‑hitting social documentary, demonstrating a versatility that elevated his reputation among serious photographers.
How Did Antony Armstrong‑Jones’s Life Unfold? A Timeline
The key events of his life are well documented, although some details – especially around his later years – remain sparse.
- 1930 – Born in London to a barrister and an actress.
- 1950s – Began career as a society photographer for Tatler and Vogue.
- 1960 – Married Princess Margaret at Westminster Abbey.
- 1961 – Created 1st Earl of Snowdon; son David born.
- 1964 – Daughter Sarah born.
- 1966 – Photographed the Aberfan disaster, published in the Sunday Times.
- 1978 – Divorced from Princess Margaret.
- 1980s–1990s – Continued photography, film and documentary work; established the Snowdon Award Scheme (now the Snowdon Trust) in 1981.
- 2017 – Died peacefully at home; cause of death not officially disclosed.
What Is Known and Unknown About Antony Armstrong‑Jones?
Several aspects of his life are firmly established, while others remain unclear or contested. The table below separates certain facts from areas of uncertainty.
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| He died on 13 January 2017 at age 86. | The exact medical cause of death has not been publicly confirmed; pneumonia was rumoured but not verified. |
| He photographed the Aberfan disaster in 1966. | No connection to the cause of the disaster itself. |
| He had two children with Princess Margaret: David and Sarah. | The existence of a love child is rumoured but not substantiated by available sources. |
| His marriage ended in divorce in 1978 after both parties admitted affairs. | Exact reasons for the breakdown, beyond the general irretrievable breakdown, are not detailed in official records. |
Why Does Antony Armstrong‑Jones Still Matter?
Armstrong‑Jones used his status and talent to capture both the elite and the devastated. His Aberfan photos demonstrated a shift from glamour to social documentary, and his royal portraits redefined how the monarchy was visually presented. His legacy remains intertwined with the British royal family, but his independent photographic work continues to be studied and exhibited. The Antony Armstrong‑Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon collection at the National Portrait Gallery holds more than 280 of his works.
What Do Primary Sources Say?
Contemporary accounts and biographies offer a nuanced view of the man behind the camera. Royal biographer Hugo Vickers described him as “a brilliant photographer, but also a difficult man.” The raw emotion of his Aberfan pictures has been called “works of art that force us to look.”
“He was a brilliant photographer, but also a difficult man.”
— Royal biographer Hugo Vickers, cited in a Tatler article
“The Aberfan pictures are not simply news photographs; they are works of art that force us to look.”
— Unattributed art critic, referenced in open web sources
Primary sources include the official Snowdon archive, the Tatler biography, CameraPress archive, and obituaries from The Guardian and Wikipedia.
What Is the Lasting Legacy of Antony Armstrong‑Jones?
Armstrong‑Jones left behind a body of work that spans high‑society portraiture, documentary photography, and design. The Snowdon Trust continues to support disabled students. His children, David Armstrong‑Jones and Lady Sarah Chatto, maintain the family’s public presence. While his marriage to Princess Margaret defined much of his celebrity, it is his photographs – from the candid royal portraits to the haunting Aberfan images – that form his enduring contribution to British visual culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Antony Armstrong‑Jones’s full name?
Antony Charles Robert Armstrong‑Jones.
Why was he called Lord Snowdon?
He was created 1st Earl of Snowdon upon his marriage to Princess Margaret in 1961.
How many children did he have?
He had two legitimate children: David Armstrong‑Jones and Lady Sarah Chatto.
Did he remarry after Princess Margaret?
He had long‑term relationships but did not remarry.
What camera did he use?
He often used a Leica M3 and later Nikon cameras.
Where is he buried?
He was cremated; his ashes were scattered in the grounds of the family home.
How old was he when he died?
86 years old.
What was his profession?
Photographer, film‑maker, and designer.
What is the Snowdon Trust?
A charity he established in 1981 that supports disability projects.
Was the love child rumour ever proven?
No. The rumour remains unconfirmed and is not supported by the available biographical sources.
Sophie Kendall is Celebrity News Editor at ShowbizUK.co.uk, covering celebrity news, public appearances, interviews, red carpet coverage, social media updates and audience-focused showbiz stories.