Princess Margaret's pal hits out at 'ridiculous' claim she had foetal alcohol syndrome

A former close friend of Princess Margaret has spoken out against the “bizarre and ridiculous” claims in a new book that the late royal was born with foetal alcohol syndrome.

According to Pulitzer prize winning biographer Meryle Secrest, Queen Elizabeth ’s younger sister was born with the “invisible disability”, which the author alleged was caused by the years of “heavy drinking” by the Queen Mother.

The biography, titled Princess Margaret and the Curse: An Inquiry into a Royal Life, speculated that Margaret exhibited classic symptoms of the condition throughout her life, including mood swings, stunted growth, difficulties learning how to write, and painful migraines.

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Despite the claims, which have never been proven, a former friend of Margaret has spoken out in defence of her late friend, saying not all of Margaret’s disadvantages can be attributed to choices made by the Queen Mother when she was pregnant.

“It is truly bizarre to suggest that everything that happened to the Princess can be put down to how much the Queen Mother drank while pregnant. And not just bizarre but ridiculous,” Margaret’s friend told the Daily Mail.

“Her life was not one long tragedy: she was an intelligent woman with a wide circle of interests and friends and was a mother and grandmother.”

The friend’s sentiments were echoed online, as many were similarly outraged by the book’s claims. Biographer and journalist Christopher Wilson wrote on X: “Crazy theory containing not a shred of proof turned into a book,” while a royal fan added: “Disgraceful. Princess Margaret was beautiful and elegant. Witty, fun and feisty. Her face showed no signs of FASD.”

The Telegraph, which has discussed the book’s claims, also said: "There is no firm evidence that Margaret suffered from an alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder, and the new biography has been written by comparing Margaret’s life, as attested in pre-existing written sources, with those who have suffered from the condition."

The book, which is expected to be released in September, cited that the Queen Mother’s Scottish family, the aristocratic Bowes-Lyon clan, were “hard drinkers” with an ability to “hold their liquor”. The author went on to clarify that when the Queen Mother was pregnant with Margaret in the 1930s, there was no official medical advice for expectant mothers to stop consuming alcohol.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition that develops in a foetus when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A syndrome is a group of symptoms that happen together as the result of a particular disease or abnormal condition. When someone has foetal alcohol syndrome, they're at the most severe end of what are known as foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).

The condition is life-long and can't be cured. It can be prevented if expectant mothers don't drink any alcohol during pregnancy, as even small amounts can damage the developing foetus.

As claims about Margaret’s came to light, the National Organisation for FASD issued a statement, saying while they are glad new light has been shone on the disorder: “We as an organisation do not speculate on who may or may not have FASD," adding: "We are concerned that any reporting about this book must sensitively reflect real lived experience and the latest science."