In an era before influencers and hashtags, there was Margaret Duchess of Argyll, a woman famous for being famous thetimes.co.uk/article/a-very…
Her fame turned to infamy in 1963 when she was the victim of revenge porn, distributed by her husband, Ian Campbell, the 11th Duke of Argyll
Ahead of her time, she was vilified by the press, silenced by the British legal system and exiled from the establishment
Ahead of her time, she was vilified by the press, silenced by the British legal system and exiled from the establishment
Now the racy tale of wealth, status, sex and public opprobrium is being retold in the BBC miniseries A Very British Scandal
Claire Foy and Paul Bettany star as the couple, whose divorce was one of the bloodiest and most notorious in 20th-century legal history
Claire Foy and Paul Bettany star as the couple, whose divorce was one of the bloodiest and most notorious in 20th-century legal history
Some might view Margaret’s attitude to sex as progressive, but it was evident she was searching for love that was lacking elsewhere
The only thing Margaret could control was her image and from a young age her manicured beauty set her apart from her upper-class contemporaries
The only thing Margaret could control was her image and from a young age her manicured beauty set her apart from her upper-class contemporaries
Her brief engagement to a Texan named Joe Thomas would seal Margaret’s fate, although at the time she was unaware of it
At her London home, the pair took explicit photographs in various rooms. Margaret kept a set, stashed behind a bookcase, and two were given to Thomas
At her London home, the pair took explicit photographs in various rooms. Margaret kept a set, stashed behind a bookcase, and two were given to Thomas
In 1949, Margaret met Ian Campbell once more – the first time being in 1947, on the Golden Arrow train between Paris and London. When they had reached London, Margaret invited Ian to her home and into her bed, unaware he had caught her, hook, line and sinker
Ian had since inherited the dukedom of Argyll and she wanted to be a duchess. In her memoirs, she wrote, “I was so alone and felt drawn to this troubled man who had so much charm”
They married on March 22, 1951
They married on March 22, 1951
Their relationship turned sour – from debts and affairs, to forgery and libel. Ian even tried to have her certified insane due to a head injury from 1941
When their marriage hit the courts, the most damning piece of evidence was the explicit Polaroids found behind a bookcase
When their marriage hit the courts, the most damning piece of evidence was the explicit Polaroids found behind a bookcase
Lord Wheatley, a judge known for harsh sentences for crimes involving sex, concluded such photographs would belong to a woman with a sex perversion rather than a man with a similar interest
Nobody challenged the misogyny at play. The law was against her. She was damaged goods
Nobody challenged the misogyny at play. The law was against her. She was damaged goods
The newspapers started calling her “the Dirty Duchess”
She turned to psychics for guidance and was a client of Eva Petulengro. In her memoirs, Petulengro wrote, “She was like a cross between a high-class whore and the wicked witch who gave Snow White the apple”
She turned to psychics for guidance and was a client of Eva Petulengro. In her memoirs, Petulengro wrote, “She was like a cross between a high-class whore and the wicked witch who gave Snow White the apple”
Claire Foy – who was drawn to the “shame, judgment and controversy” that surrounded Margaret's sexuality – will introduce her to an audience viewing women’s stories through the lenses of #FreeBritney and #MeToo movements
It’s the posthumous justice Margaret deserves
It’s the posthumous justice Margaret deserves
Read the full story: thetimes.co.uk/article/a-very…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
