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The Queen was able to rely on the full support of her younger sister Princess Margaret from a very early age. Her Majesty unexpectedly rose in the pecking order because of the abdication of her uncle Edward VIII but had Margaret backing with her full commitment to the Royal Family and her duty as sibling to the monarch. Speaking to Channel 5 documentary ‘Elizabeth and Margaret: Love and Royalty’, Dr Kate Williams said: “Margaret’s attempts to support the monarchy, her dutiful nature, the fact that she gave up Townsend, the fact she tried to stay in this toxic, abusive marriage with Snowden…that isn’t always seen.

“It isn’t always said, how Margaret sacrificed so much. She’s seen as more selfish but that wasn’t the case.

“She tried everything to support the monarchy and, really, at a very young age pretty much sentenced herself to being the single woman who supported the Queen who did little else but support the Queen and look after her children for the rest of her life.”

Princess Margaret in her youth had been forced to renounce dreams to marry her father’s former equerry, divorced Group Captain Peter Townsend, because of the impact their relationship could have had on the Queen as head of the Church of England.

She later married bohemian photographer Anthony Armostrong-Jones, who was elevated to the title of Earl Snowdown shortly after his marriage to Margaret.

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After years of turbulence in their relationship, the Earl and Countess of Snowdon ultimately divorced in 1978.

Historian Dr Ed Owens said: “She withdraws back into the family fold of the broader Royal Family.

“We see her basically saying enough is enough with the sensation, enough is enough with the gossip. Enough of the scandal.”

Margaret had been having a relationship with landscape artist Roddy Llewellyn from 1973 but the pair separated after eight years as the royal fully recommitted to helping out the Queen by representing her at public events.

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Documentary narrator Kate Fleetwood said: “From now on, Margaret would stand beside her sister, back to the way they used to be.

“During the 1980s and 1990s, Margaret went into royal overdrive, supporting her sister in an endless round of duties.”

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward noted the princess had built a reputation as a party girl in the earlier years of her wedding to Anthony Armstrong-Jones because of his connection to the celebrity world.

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But their divorce resulted in Margaret renouncing her more rebellious streak to focus on supporting her older sister.

Ms Seward said: “Margaret, despite her partying, smoking, drinking and her dramas, had great respect for the institution of the monarchy.

“And great respect for her sister being the head of the monarchy by being Queen.”

Princess Margaret also reportedly played a pivotal role in helping Her Majesty accept the breakdown of the marriages of three of her four children.

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