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CNN Saturday Morning News

Britain Mourns Loss of Princess Margaret

Aired February 09, 2002 - 08:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We start this hour in Great Britain, where a nation is mourning the death of Princess Margaret.

CNN's Richard Quest joining us live now from outside Buckingham Palace -- Richard.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Miles.

Yes, indeed, it was during the night that Princess Margaret, who had suffered a stroke while at Sandringham, was taken to the hospital, King Edward VII hospital here in London. And then, as a result of cardiac respiratory problems she died at 6:30 this morning.

The severity of her condition meant that they were able to bring to her children, Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah, to her bedside and they were with her when she passed away.

Lord Snowden, her former husband whom she divorced in 1978 is said to be in contact with the children and is said to be exceptionally saddened by his former wife passing away.

Queen Elizabeth, who had been at Sandringham with Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who herself is not enjoying good health at the moment, went to Windsor Castle overnight to be close to the British capital and to keep in touch with developments. Then this morning she came back to Buckingham Palace to receive the news that her sister had, indeed, passed away.

The Union flag has been flying at half mast over all government buildings, including Buckingham Palace. And now arrangements are being made for the funeral. We don't know exactly what form that will take next week, whether it will be a totally private funeral at Windsor Castle or a semi-private one, depending on the dignitaries, friends and family that wish to attend.

For the nation as a whole, though, the passing of Princess Margaret perhaps won't come as too much of a surprise. In recent years, she had looked very ill, indeed. She was last seen just before Christmas at the 100th birthday celebration of Princess Alice, dowager Duchess. And before then, of course, we'd seen her at the Queen Mother's 101st birthday celebrations. On that occasion it had been a real shock. She'd been in a wheelchair. Her arm was in a sling. She was wearing dark sunglasses. Her face was puffy from the effect of medication from the various strokes that she had taken and that she had suffered from.

The announcement was made this morning, though, that the princess had passed away and in accordance with normal royal protocol, what happens is that a formal statement, the one that you just read out, Miles, that statement is pinned up on the gate outside the royal home. In this case it was at Kensington Palace, just a couple of miles from where I am at the moment.

Here at Buckingham Palace, tourists have been arriving. Just over to my right, flowers and tributes are starting to bring in.

Finally, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, he's in Africa on an official visit. He has said that he's exceptionally saddened by the events -- Miles, London is now waiting to hear what the effect in the funerals will be.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Richard Quest at Buckingham Palace, thank you very much. We'll check in with you in just a bit.

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