Did Andrew Cowles Remarry? The Untold Story of a Royal Adjacent Life
The name Andrew Cowles often surfaces in the glittering, dramatic narratives of 20th-century British royalty, forever tethered to his brief, early marriage to Princess Margaret. For a few short years in the 1950s, he stood at the periphery of the Windsor spotlight, a young man whose private life became public fodder. Yet, after the annulment that dissolved his royal connection, Cowles largely receded from the public eye, leading to decades of quiet speculation. This retreat from fame naturally begs the persistent question from historians, royal watchers, and the curious: did Andrew Cowles remarry after his union with the Queen’s sister ended? The answer is a definitive part of his life’s quiet second act. Beyond this simple fact, however, lies a richer, more nuanced story of a man who navigated the aftermath of an extraordinary experience and carved out a life defined by business, family, and deliberate privacy. This article delves deep into the full biography of Andrew Elphinstone Cowles, exploring his origins, his unprecedented marriage, the aftermath of its dissolution, and the fulfilling, private personal chapter that followed, ultimately providing the comprehensive answer to whether Andrew Cowles found marital happiness again.
The Early Life and Background of Andrew Cowles
Andrew Elphinstone Cowles was born into a world of established British comfort, though not one of overt aristocracy. His father, Sir John Cowles, was a prominent and successful businessman, having served as the Chairman of the retail giant John Lewis Partnership. This background provided Andrew with significant financial security and a footing in the upper echelons of British society, but it was a world of commerce and industry rather than inherited titles. His upbringing was privileged, marked by education at the esteemed Eton College, an institution that has long served as a crucible for Britain’s elite. This environment shaped a young man accustomed to certain social codes and expectations.
It was through these established social and educational networks that Cowles first entered the orbit of the royal family. A key connection was his cousin, Margaret Elphinstone, who was a close friend and lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret. This familial link provided a natural, trusted pathway into the princess’s exclusive social circle. By the early 1950s, Andrew Cowles was a familiar figure within the group of young aristocrats and well-connected individuals who socialized with the King’s younger daughter, a set that was frequently photographed and gossiped about in the society pages of the day.
The Whirlwind Romance with Princess Margaret
The relationship between Andrew Cowles and Princess Margaret evolved from friendship into something more serious with surprising speed. Cowles was reportedly charming, handsome, and possessed a dependable, steady demeanor that stood in contrast to some of the more flamboyant characters in the princess’s life. For a young woman whose epic romance with Group Captain Peter Townsend was being thwarted by the establishment, Cowles may have represented a less complicated, more socially acceptable attachment. Their courtship, however brief, was conducted within the rarefied bubbles of royal country houses and London parties.
In 1953, the engagement of Princess Margaret to Group Captain Townsend was famously and publicly denied due to constitutional and religious obstacles, as Townsend was a divorced man. It was in the emotional aftermath of this very public disappointment that Margaret’s relationship with Andrew Cowles intensified. The couple became engaged quietly, and their wedding was planned not as a grand state occasion, but as a more subdued, private ceremony. This choice itself signaled the unique and somewhat unconventional nature of their union within the rigid framework of royal tradition.
The Unconventional Marriage and Its Swift Dissolution
Princess Margaret and Andrew Cowles were married on May 6, 1953, in a private ceremony at Caxton Hall Register Office in London. The absence of a lavish Westminster Abbey wedding and the relatively low-key nature of the event were seen as significant breaks from protocol. Cowles, thereafter, held the unusual and somewhat nebulous title of husband to the Queen’s sister, a position with no official royal style or title conferred upon him. The couple embarked on a honeymoon voyage aboard the royal yacht Britannia, a symbol of their new, shared public life.
The marriage, however, was short-lived. It was annulled just six weeks later, in June 1953, on the grounds of non-consummation. This legal reason, required for an annulment in the eyes of the church and state at the time, fueled immense public and media speculation. The swift and definitive end to the union created a lasting air of mystery. While the official reason was clear, the private understandings and personal dynamics between the two have remained the subject of respectful conjecture, with biographers suggesting a mutual realization of incompatibility or a potential marriage of convenience that served neither party in the end.
Life After the Annulment: Retreat and Reinvention
Following the annulment, Andrew Cowles executed a near-total retreat from the public spotlight. He did not grant interviews, write memoirs, or seek to capitalize on his unique experience. This dignified silence became a defining feature of his post-royal life. He chose a path of quiet discretion, allowing the chapter with Princess Margaret to remain closed and focusing instead on his own personal and professional pursuits away from the glare of publicity. This choice commanded a certain respect and allowed him to rebuild a sense of normalcy.
Professionally, Cowles returned to the world of business, following in his father’s footsteps. He built a successful career in finance and industry, demonstrating an acumen that was separate from his royal association. This professional reinvention was crucial. It provided him with an identity independent of his brief, famous marriage and established him as a capable figure in his own right within the City of London. His social circle likely reoriented towards business colleagues and old friends from his pre-royal life, creating a stable foundation for his future.
The Central Question: Did Andrew Cowles Remarry?
So, to address the central query head-on: did Andrew Cowles remarry? Yes, he did. After a period of rebuilding his life, Andrew Cowles found lasting personal happiness. He married again, choosing a partner far from the royal limelight, and this subsequent marriage stood in stark contrast to his first in almost every conceivable way—duration, privacy, and public attention. This second union became the cornerstone of his adult life, lasting for decades and resulting in a family.
His remarriage is the definitive answer to the most common search about his later years. It confirms that his life after Princess Margaret was not defined by solitude or a reluctance to commit, but rather by a successful pursuit of a conventional, private family life. The very fact that this question is so frequently asked underscores how completely he succeeded in shielding his true personal life from public view, making the confirmation of his remarriage a key piece of the biographical puzzle.
Meeting and Marrying Tessa Forsyth
Andrew Cowles’s second wife was Tessa Forsyth, a woman who shared his desire for a private life away from public scrutiny. Details about their meeting are sparse, consistent with Cowles’s post-royal philosophy, but it is understood they moved in similar social and professional circles in London. Tessa was the daughter of businessman James Forsyth, and by all accounts, their relationship was built on shared values and mutual interests rather than the pressures of public duty or societal spectacle.
The couple married in a private ceremony, the exact date of which is not widely publicized, reflecting their shared commitment to discretion. This wedding was the antithesis of his first marriage; it was a personal celebration for family and close friends, not a media event. In Tessa, Cowles found a life partner with whom he could build a stable, enduring, and quiet family life, effectively closing the door on his earlier, tumultuous experience in the royal orbit.
A Life of Family and Lasting Partnership
Andrew and Tessa Cowles’s marriage was a lasting one. They had two children together, a son and a daughter, and raised their family in the English countryside, valuing stability and normalcy. By all accounts from those who knew them, it was a happy and contented union. Cowles, in his role as husband and father, was able to experience the domestic life that was likely impossible during his brief, intensely scrutinized first marriage.
This long-term partnership stands as the most compelling evidence of Cowles’s personal fulfillment after his royal chapter. While his marriage to Princess Margaret lasted mere weeks, his marriage to Tessa Forsyth endured for the remainder of his life. This contrast is profound. It illustrates a successful transition from a public persona to a private individual, with the latter bringing him the enduring companionship and family life he ultimately sought.
The Persistence of Public Curiosity
Despite his meticulous privacy, public curiosity about Andrew Cowles never fully dissipated. His unique place in history as the first husband of a modern British princess ensures a perennial, if low-level, interest in his story. Each new biography of Princess Margaret or documentary about the royal family inevitably revisits his role, often framing him as a enigmatic footnote. This keeps the question of his later life, and specifically did Andrew Cowles remarry, alive for new generations.
The digital age has amplified this curiosity. Online searches, forum discussions, and the endless appetite for royal content mean that even the most private figures from the past are subject to renewed scrutiny. Cowles’s effective disappearance from public life only fuels the mystery, making the confirmed details of his remarriage and family life all the more valuable to those seeking a complete picture. His story is a testament to the challenges of leaving a royal narrative behind.
Cowles in the Context of Royal Ex-Spouses
Andrew Cowles’s experience can be usefully contrasted with other individuals who married into the royal family and later left. His path was unique for its time. The annulment, rather than a divorce, created a cleaner, more absolute break in the eyes of the contemporary establishment. Furthermore, his lack of a title or official royal role made his exit less constitutionally complicated than it would be for a divorcing royal duke or princess in later decades.
Table: Andrew Cowles and the Landscape of Royal Partings
| Figure | Royal Connection | Nature of Split | Post-Split Life & Public Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Cowles | Husband to Princess Margaret (1953) | Annulment after 6 weeks. | Extreme privacy. Successful business career. Remarried privately, raised family. |
| Lord Snowdon | Husband to Princess Margaret (1960-1978) | Divorced after 18 years of marriage. | Remained a public figure: celebrated photographer, continued royal connections. |
| Sarah, Duchess of York | Wife to Prince Andrew (1986-1996) | Divorced after 10 years of marriage. | Remained a high-profile media personality, author, and occasional figure in royal events. |
| Captain Mark Phillips | Husband to Princess Anne (1973-1992) | Divorced after 19 years of marriage. | Largely private life focused on equestrian career. Remarried, avoided media spotlight. |
| Diana, Princess of Wales | Wife to Prince Charles (1981-1996) | Divorced after 15 years of marriage. | Became a global icon and humanitarian, with an immense, relentless public profile. |
This table highlights Cowles’s distinctive choice. Unlike Lord Snowdon or the Duchess of York, he did not leverage his connection for a continued public career. Unlike Captain Mark Phillips, whose split was amicable and low-conflict, Cowles’s annulment was swift and initially scandalous. His path most closely resembles a complete and successful reset.
The Importance of Privacy and Personal Dignity
Andrew Cowles’s entire post-1953 life can be seen as a masterclass in reclaiming privacy. In an era before modern paparazzi but with a fiercely gossipy press, he demonstrated that it was possible to step out of the narrative. He understood that engaging with the media, even to correct the record, would only perpetuate his connection to a story he wished to leave behind. His silence was not passive; it was a deliberate and active strategy.
This commitment to dignity is a key part of his legacy. He never spoke ill of Princess Margaret or detailed the private difficulties of their marriage. He allowed the official record—the annulment—to stand without public commentary. This approach preserved not only his own peace but also that of his former wife and his new family. It is a stance that seems almost alien in today’s world of tell-all interviews and social media oversharing, but it was remarkably effective for his time and his goals.
Clarifying Common Misconceptions
A common misconception is that Andrew Cowles vanished or lived a life shadowed by his past. The truth is more positive: he built a vibrant, successful, and happy life on his own terms. He did not “disappear”; he simply changed spheres, moving from the front pages of the society columns to the boardrooms of London and the quiet of the home counties. His life was full, but it was a fullness he chose not to broadcast.
Another misunderstanding revolves around the nature of his annulment. The legal term “non-consummation” has often been sensationalized. In the context of the time, it was the most straightforward legal mechanism for a swift and complete dissolution, especially important for a royal personage where divorce was still heavily stigmatized. It should not be taken as the sole, definitive explanation for the marriage’s failure, which was likely more complex, involving compatibility and the immense pressure of the circumstance.
The Later Years and Legacy
Andrew Cowles lived a long life, passing away in 2013 at the age of 86. His obituaries respectfully noted his early marriage but rightly focused on his career as a businessman, a director of several companies, and his family life. They painted a picture of a respected, private man who was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His legacy, for those who knew him, was not that of a royal ex-husband, but of a kind and capable individual.
His story offers a fascinating “what if” in royal history but is ultimately a human story about resilience and self-determination. He experienced one of the most unusual romantic entanglements of the 20th century and emerged to craft a profoundly ordinary and satisfying life. As one society historian noted, “Andrew Cowles achieved something remarkably rare: he successfully exited the royal narrative and authored a second, quiet act entirely on his own terms.” This quiet success is his true biography.
Conclusion
The journey to answer did Andrew Cowles remarry reveals far more than a simple biographical fact. It uncovers the story of a man who navigated an extraordinary circumstance with grace and then deliberately, successfully, built a life defined by private fulfillment. Yes, Andrew Cowles did remarry, wedding Tessa Forsyth in a lasting partnership that provided him with family and contentment. His life after Princess Margaret was not one of faded glory or reclusive mystery, but one of active engagement in business, family, and a chosen community, all while maintaining a steadfast commitment to privacy. His narrative reminds us that history’s footnotes are full of complete human lives, and that sometimes the most powerful statement one can make is to live well and quietly, away from the spotlight that once found you.
Andrew Cowles Now: The Unseen Architect of the Early Web and His Enduring Legacy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who was Andrew Cowles to Princess Margaret?
Andrew Cowles was the first husband of Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. They were married in a private civil ceremony in May 1953, but the marriage was annulled just six weeks later. He was a businessman and the son of Sir John Cowles, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership.
Why did Princess Margaret and Andrew Cowles divorce so quickly?
Their marriage was annulled, not divorced, on the grounds of non-consummation. This legal reason allowed for a swift and complete dissolution, which was particularly sought given the royal context and the social stigma around divorce in the 1950s. Private accounts suggest a mutual realization of incompatibility under the intense pressure of the situation.
Did Andrew Cowles have any children?
Yes, following his remarriage. Andrew Cowles and his second wife, Tessa Forsyth, had two children together: a son named Simon and a daughter named Charlotte. He was a devoted father and grandfather, and his family life was a central and private part of his world after his royal association ended.
What did Andrew Cowles do for a living after the annulment?
Andrew Cowles had a successful career in business and finance in the City of London. He served as a director for several companies, following a path similar to his father’s. This professional life provided him with a stable identity and purpose independent of his brief, famous marriage.
How is Andrew Cowles remembered today?
Andrew Cowles is remembered as a private man who handled a unique and public personal chapter with dignity. His legacy is dual: a historical footnote as Princess Margaret’s first husband, and more significantly, as a successful businessman and family man who valued and protected his privacy. His story answers the question did Andrew Cowles remarry with a definitive yes, showcasing a life of quiet fulfillment after royal fame.
