Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend, also known as Peter Townsend, was a highly respected and decorated member of the Royal Air Force.
He was known for his bravery and flying skills and for his illustrious career as a courtier and author.
Townsend served as groom to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, making him a key figure in the royal family for nearly a decade.
File
- Full name: Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend
- Stage Name: Peter Townsend
- Date of birth: November 22, 1914
- Date of death: June 19, 1995 (age: 80)
- Place of birth: Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)
- Nationality: UK
- Occupation: British Air Force Officer
- Height: 5’95’9
- Parents: Lieutenant Colonel Edward Townsend and Gladys
- Siblings: Paul Townsend, Simon Townsend
- Spouse: Rosemary Pawle, Marie-Luce Jamagne
- Children: Isabelle Townsend, Hugo Townsend, Giles Townsend, Pierre Townsend, Marie-France Townsend.
- Relationship: married
- Net worth: $150 million
Early life and education
Peter Townsend was a British army officer born on 22 November 1914 in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma).
He was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Edward Townsend and Gladys and had two siblings, Paul Townsend and Simon Townsend.
Townsend graduated from Cambridge University and went on to have a successful career in the military, eventually becoming an Air Marshal.
He also became famous for his controversial relationship with Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. Townsend died in 1995 at the age of 80.
Career
Peter Townsend was a talented and highly accomplished pilot who joined the Royal Air Force in 1930 and trained at RAF Cranwell.
His passion and talent for flying led him to become a pilot officer in 1935 and flew various aircraft such as the Hawker Fury and Vickers Vildebeest.
During World War II, Townsend’s leadership abilities were recognized; he became a Squadron Commander, commanding squadrons such as No. 85 Squadron and No. 605 Squadron (a night fighting unit). He also attended the Royal Air Force Staff College, further honing his skills and expertise.
Townsend’s impressive wartime record included nine confirmed kills, two general kills, two probables, and four destructions of enemy aircraft.
After his time as Equerry, Townsend became a successful author and television presenter. However, his relationship with the royal family caused controversy when he fell in love with Princess Margaret, the King’s daughter.
Their relationship was considered scandalous because Townsend was a divorcee, and the Church of England at the time did not allow remarriage after divorce.
Despite public support for the couple, they ultimately decided not to marry and ended their relationship.
Peter Townsend was a Royal Air Force officer and war hero who served as Auditor to the Queen Mother after the King’s death.
However, his relationship with Princess Margaret, the King’s youngest daughter, was public and controversial.
Due to social norms and regulations prohibiting marriage within five years of the monarch’s death, Townsend was pressured to resign from the Royal Air Force in 1953.
Although he retired from the RAF in 1955, he continued to play a role in the royal family, serving as Air Attaché in Brussels for a period.
Social Media
Peter Townsend has no social media accounts.
Personal life
Edward Townsend was a man who had many relationships and marriages throughout his life. His first marriage was to Rosemary Pawle in 1941, with whom he had two sons.
However, this marriage ended in divorce in 1952. Townsend then married Marie-Luce Jamagne in 1959 and had several more children with her.
In his later years, he wrote an autobiography, “Time and Opportunity,” reflects his life and experiences.
He is the father of five children in total: Isabelle Townsend, Hugo Townsend, Giles Townsend, Pierre Townsend and Marie-France Townsend.
Net asset value
Pete Townshend has had a long and successful career in the music industry, earning a net worth of $150 million.
He is known as a talented rock musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and author.
Through hard work and dedication to his craft, he has amassed a fortune from his professional career in the music industry.
