Time and Chance: An Autobiography

by Peter Townsend

THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF PETER TOWNSEND, THE MAN CONSIDERED TO BE THE GREAT LOVE OF PRINCESS MARGARET'S LIFE, EQUERRY TO KING GEORGE VI AND HERO OF THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN. ‘ A Royal fairy tale ’ Sunday Telegraph ‘ One of the saddest love stories of modern times ’ The Scotsman ' Exquisitely told ' Daily Mail ‘ One afternoon, at Windsor Castle, when everyone had gone to London for some ceremony, we talked, in the red drawing-room, for hours – about ourselves. It was then that we made the mutual discovery of how much we meant to one another. She listened, without uttering a word, as I told her, very quietly, of my feelings. Then she simply “That is exactly how I feel, too.” It was, to us both, an immensely gladdening disclosure, but one which sorely troubled us .’ The romance between Princess Margaret and Group Captain Peter Townsend in the 1950s rocked the British Establishment, pulled at the heartstrings of a nation and brought sorrow to two intensely human individuals. In Time and Chance , Peter Townsend tells his side of the story in intensely personal terms, and places the episode within the whole context of his full and varied life, a story which includes great heroism in World War II as well as his part in one of the most publicised love stories of the twentieth century. _______________ ‘ Peter Townsend was a dashing war hero ’ Anne Glenconner ‘ Brilliantly sincere and eminently moving ’ Edinburgh Evening News ‘ A war hero – dashing and distinguished ’ New York Times ‘ Townsend was always considered to be the great love of Princess Margaret’s life ’ Vanity Fair ‘ There is much frankness and honesty, much modesty and common sens e’ Economist _______________ Peter Townsend was a professional airman, and one who adored his work. When World War II came, he proved himself a brilliant fighter pilot who was as effective at planning the battles of others as he was at fighting his own. A distinguished career in the post-war air force seemed his destiny until, in February 1944, it was decided to widen the range from which the royal equerries were selected. Group Captain Townsend, desperately in need of a rest from flying, was put forward for the job. His assignment was for three months. In the event it lasted for eight years, destroyed his marriage and his career and changed the course of his life forever. In Time and Chance , Peter Townsend describes his life in the royal household in vivid detail, taking in his admiration and affection for the King and Queen, the quirks and qualities of his colleagues, the comradeship, the jokes and jollities, the occasional disasters, the pompous and the absurd. Above all, he describes his feelings for Princess Margaret with honesty and dignity. It is a sad, perhaps even tragic story – the love between two sincere and warm-hearted people in conflict with the demands of the Establishment. Townsend does not hesitate to apportion blame where he feels it is merited but he writes without bitterness or self-pity as an intense period of his life is viewed through the lens of a subsequent long and happy marriage. This is a fascinating and moving book written by a man whose sincerity and decency shine through on every page.

Genres: Biography, Royalty, Nonfiction, Aviation, History, Christianity, Autobiography

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Group Captain Peter Wooldridge Townsend, CVO, DSO, DFC and Bar, RAF was Equerry to King George VI 1944–1952 and held the same position for Queen Elizabeth II 1952–1953. Townsend is best known for his ill-fated romance with Princess Margaret. Despite his distinguished career, as a divorced man there was no chance of marriage with the princess and their relationship caused enormous controversy in the mid 1950s.

Peter Townsend spent much of his later years writing non-fiction books. His books include "Earth My Friend" (about driving/boating around the world alone in the mid 1950s), "Duel of Eagles," (about the Battle of Britain), "The Odds Against Us" (also known as "Duel in the Dark") (about fighting Luftwaffe night bombers in 1940-1941), "The Last Emperor" (A biography of King George VI), The Girl in the White Ship (about a young refugee from Vietnam in the late 1970s who was the sole survivor of her ship of refugees), The Postman of Nagasaki (about the atomic bombing of Nagasaki), and Time and Chance, (an autobiography). He also wrote many short articles and contributed to other books. [wikipedia]

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The greatest love stories usually involve the death of one of the lovers. In this case, which follows in the next generation of the Edward & Mrs. Simpson story, neither lover dies while in the midst of their relationship. And unlike Edward and Mrs. Simpson, Margaret and Peter are not united in marriage to live out their lives together. Now while there have been countless books and movies about Edward and Mrs. Simpson, I knew very little about Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend but their story is equally fascinating. Of course, most of this occurred before I was even born. Anyway, I intend to find out more about it from Princess Margaret's point of view, through whatever books were written about her life. And I wonder, in this year of Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee, if she has any regrets about her role in keeping Margaret and Peter apart. It would be wonderful if some movie producer brought this love story to the screen. Poor Margaret, it seems to me that they would have made a perfectly lovely couple.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Townsend wrote several books after his romance with Princess Margaret ended. This book, written In 1978 (more than 20 years after the denouement of the affair) is truly a memoir. This man is a true gentleman. He tells of his upbringing and his training to be a pilot and his success as a fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain with the same natural tone as the next phase of his life.
He was the first RAF officer to be “seconded” to Buckingham Palace to represent the service as an Equerry to King George VI (the present queen’s father). A 6 month assignment turned into 9 years and a particularly intimate - and successful - relationship with the Royal family. Peter had a stammer and this endeared him to the king.
Somewhat less successful was Peter not batting off Princess Margaret with a stick (as he should have done) when she started to fall for him. The only thing in this whole story that made me a bit nauseous is the man’s clear preference for women young enough to be his children (his eventual second wife was the 17 year old daughter of a friend).
What I thought really demonstrated what a class act Townsend was is the fact that while aiming some low grade vitriol at the members of the Royal household (his former colleagues) who did nothing to help him and then Princess navigate out of their hellhole, he has only the kindest words for Margaret and makes only the most passing reference to the irony that by the time he was writing this book (1978), she had divorced her husband (Peter’s divorce being the thing that stood in the way of their marriage in the eyes of the government and the establishment).

[Cathygillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful stuff, loved every minute and what a man, what a life and I wish I’d met him. In the book he meets Jan Smuts and Albert Schweitzer, both well renowned men of their time in their own elements in Africa, and when he meets Smuts he also encounters other Boer War veterans which is extraordinary.

His flying career was fascinating too and it’s great to read how much he loved flying and the freedom it gave him, freedom that he found again in his round the world trip after his relationship with Princess Margaret came to and end. He was so dignified about it, and although heartbroken by events he never showed any rancour except towards the Press and people who purported to be his friends but who were in it for what they could get out of him. He travelled widely and had a long and varied career, eventually settling in France with his wife and three children and letting his life there gradually heal all the wounds.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and am now going to read his other books “Duel in the Dark” and “Duel of Eagles.” Thanks to him for a wonderful read.

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time and Chance tells the life-story of Group Captain Peter Townsend, contextualized in terms of his ill-fated relationship with Princess Margaret in the early 1950s. Upon first hearing about how their marriage was precluded by “the establishment,” as Townsend called it, I was interested to learn more about the details surrounding it. The book, goes well beyond this goal, also detailing Townsend's childhood as he develops an interest in aviation, his experiences in the RAF during the Battle of Britain, his time as equerry to George VI, and his later travels around the world. Much of the latter half of the book contextualizes these experiences in terms of his relationship with Princess Margaret, whereas the first half of the book focuses on his growth as a pilot. Though, Townsend is most remembered for his relationship with Princess Margaret, this book has the potential to appeal to a number of different people, because of Townsend's varied life experiences.

[Charles Withington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Townsend was one of a kind in terms of chivalry, manners and consideration. He underplays his incredible bravery and even more so his resilience during the war years and where death was imminent all the time. So for me who had a father invalided out of the trenches in WW1 and then join the RFC and clock up 400 hours 3 forced landings one of which in the Channel, Townsend's flying story was riveting stuff so well related, calmly and with no gung ho!

His early travel with the Royal entourage and the desperately sad story of his relationship with Princess Margaret was all good stuff, but long motor journey half round the world was dry as dust, literally and figuratively, and 5 stars reduced to 4.

It would be most interesting to learn of what his boys were up to. PS - His second wife gets 5 stars for tolerance too.

[Sam Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed what I felt was a book written from the heart. He was little naive for a educated chap but we all make mistakes and some tough decisions were made for other peoples benefit. Could say he was a tad selfish but he made the best of a few awkward situations.

[Jonathan May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming and unpretentious.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

#84 of 120 books pledged to read during 2023

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time and Chance: Thoroughly readable, great insight into the man and the times. Well written, readable - am interested to read his other books as well now.