Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon attended the Opening of the Royal Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City on this day in 1974, 50 years ago.
Ahead of the Performance, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon met the Duchess of Windsor at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
Princess Margaret wore her Diamond Earrings and Diamond Floral Brooch in her hair.
Jackie Kennedy and Lee Radziwill were also in attendance as Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon presided over the Opening Performance of ‘Mann’ by the visiting Royal Ballet Company at the Metropolitan Opera House:
Outside, about 2,000 spectators, including a contingent of placard‐waving Irish demonstrators who seized the opportunity to protest British involvement in Northern Ireland, were kept at bay—and so were hundreds of bewildered ticketholders.
“Are you ready? Is everyone ready?” asked one official nervously.
“I don’t know about an’one else, but they’re sure ready,” said an usher, pointing to the ticket holders clamouring to get in behind the rope. “At this rate, we might as well give a performance for the two and send everyone else home.”
The audience was finally let in, but they did not proceed to their seats. Curiosity got the better of them; they packed the lobby and the balconies above so that when the royal party finally arrived, it looked like a set from the musical “Oklahoma!” Agnes DeMille, who was in the receiving line to greet the Princess, could not have choreographed it better.
The polite applause the onlookers gave the Princess, who swept in like a fairy godmother in a billowing white chiffon dress and cape, was the kind given to a play destined to fold after opening night. More interested were the cameramen and photographers who closed In on her as she entered her state box, and kept snapping for about 10 minutes. The Princess appeared dizzy under the high intensity lights and beads of sweat appeared on her brow.
