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  • England
    Jan, 1955
    Margaret Thatcher

    The Orpington by-election

    England
    Jan, 1955

    In 1954, Thatcher was defeated when she sought selection to be the Conservative party candidate for the Orpington by-election of January 1955.




  • Harwell, Didcot, England
    Feb, 1955
    Computer

    The First Completely Transistorized Computer

    Harwell, Didcot, England
    Feb, 1955

    The first completely transistorized computer was the Harwell CADET of 1955, built by the electronics division of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell.




  • England, United Kingdom
    Tuesday Apr 5, 1955
    Winston Churchill

    Churchill retired as Prime Minister

    England, United Kingdom
    Tuesday Apr 5, 1955

    Churchill retired as Prime Minister in April 1955 and was succeeded by Eden.




  • United Kingdom
    Tuesday Apr 5, 1955
    James Bond

    Moonraker was published

    United Kingdom
    Tuesday Apr 5, 1955

    Moonraker novel was published. Moonraker is the third novel by the British author Ian Fleming to feature his fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond. It was published by Jonathan Cape on 5 April 1955 and featured a cover design conceived by Fleming.




  • London, England, United Kingdom
    Saturday May 21, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Daily Express published an editorial demanding that Buckingham Palace confirm or deny the rumors

    London, England, United Kingdom
    Saturday May 21, 1955

    That spring Townsend for the first time spoke to the press: "I am sick of being made to hide in my apartment like a thief", but whether he could marry "involves more people than myself". He reportedly believed that his exile from Margaret would soon end, their love was strong, and that the British people would support marrying. Townsend received a bodyguard and police guard around his apartment after the Belgian government received threats on his life, but the British government still said nothing. Stating that people were more interested in the couple than the recent 1955 United Kingdom general election, on 29 May the Daily Express published an editorial demanding that Buckingham Palace confirm or deny the rumors.




  • London, England
    Saturday Jul 9, 1955
    Atomic Bomb

    The Russell–Einstein Manifesto

    London, England
    Saturday Jul 9, 1955

    The Russell–Einstein Manifesto was issued in London on July 9, 1955, by Bertrand Russell in the midst of the Cold War. It highlighted the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and called for world leaders to seek peaceful resolutions to international conflict.




  • England, United Kingdom
    Aug, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Margaret wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Eden

    England, United Kingdom
    Aug, 1955

    Why a betrothal did not occur is unclear. Margaret may have been uncertain of her desire, has written to Prime Minister Anthony Eden in August that "It is only by seeing him in this way that I feel I can properly decide whether I can marry him or not".


  • Scotland, United Kingdom
    Sunday Aug 21, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Margaret was free to marry

    Scotland, United Kingdom
    Sunday Aug 21, 1955

    The press described Margaret's 25th birthday, 21 August 1955, as the day she was free to marry, and expected an announcement about Townsend soon. Three hundred journalists waited outside Balmoral, four times as many as those later following Diana, Princess of Wales. "COME ON MARGARET!", the Daily Mirror's front page said two days earlier, asking her to "please make up your mind!".


  • Scotland, United Kingdom
    Saturday Oct 1, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    More than 100 journalists waited at Balmoral when Eden arrived to discuss the marriage with the Queen and Margaret

    Scotland, United Kingdom
    Saturday Oct 1, 1955

    More than 100 journalists waited at Balmoral when Eden arrived to discuss the marriage with the Queen and Margaret on 1 October 1955. Lord Kilmuir, the Lord Chancellor, that month prepared a secret government document on the proposed marriage.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 12, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Townsend returned from Brussels

    England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 12, 1955

    On 12 October Townsend returned from Brussels as Margaret's suitor. The royal family devised a system in which it did not host Townsend, but he and Margaret formally courted each other at dinner parties hosted by friends such as Mark Bonham Carter. A Gallup poll found that 59% of Britons approved of their marrying, with 17% opposed. Women in the East End of London shouted "Go on, Marg, do what you want" at the princess. Although the couple was never seen together in public during this time, the general consensus was that they would marry. Crowds waited outside Clarence House, and a global audience read daily updates and rumors on newspaper front pages.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 12, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Margaret may have told Townsend that governmental and familial opposition to their marriage had not changed

    England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 12, 1955

    Margaret may have told Townsend as early as 12 October that governmental and familial opposition to their marriage had not changed; it is possible that neither they nor the Queen fully understood until that year how difficult the 1772 Act made a royal marriage without the monarch's permission.


  • London, England, United Kingdom
    Saturday Oct 15, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    NOW - THE NATION WAITS

    London, England, United Kingdom
    Saturday Oct 15, 1955

    "Nothing much else than Princess Margaret's affairs is being talked of in this country", The Guardian said on 15 October. "NOW - THE NATION WAITS" was a typical headline.


  • England, United Kingdom
    1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Leslie Hutchinson had a "brief liaison" with Margaret

    England, United Kingdom
    1955

    According to biographer Charlotte Breese, entertainer Leslie Hutchinson had a "brief liaison" with Margaret in 1955.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Monday Oct 17, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    NO RING YET!

    England, United Kingdom
    Monday Oct 17, 1955

    As no announcement occurred—the Daily Mirror on 17 October showed a photograph of Margaret's left hand with the headline "NO RING YET!"—the press wondered why. Parliamentarians "are frankly puzzled by the way the affair has been handled", the News Chronicle wrote. "If a marriage is on, they ask, why not announce it quickly? If there is to be no marriage, why to allow the couple to continue to meet without a clear denial of the rumors?".


  • London, England, United Kingdom
    Oct, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    First time the palace discussed the princess's recent personal life

    London, England, United Kingdom
    Oct, 1955

    Observers interpreted Buckingham Palace's request to the press to respect Margaret's privacy—the first time the palace discussed the princess's recent personal life—as evidence of an imminent betrothal announcement, probably before the Opening of Parliament on 25 October.


  • London, England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 26, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    The QUEEN's sister married to a divorced man (even though the innocent party) would be irrevocably disqualified from playing her part in the essential royal function

    London, England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 26, 1955

    An influential 26 October editorial in The Times stating that "The QUEEN's sister married to a divorced man (even though the innocent party) would be irrevocably disqualified from playing her part in the essential royal function" represented The Establishment's view of what is considered a possibly dangerous crisis.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Friday Oct 28, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Margaret would announce that she would marry Townsend and leave the line of succession

    England, United Kingdom
    Friday Oct 28, 1955

    In the 28 October 1955 final draft of the plan, Margaret would announce that she would marry Townsend and leave the line of succession. As prearranged by Eden Anthony, the Queen would consult with the British and Commonwealth governments, then ask them to amend the 1772 Act. Eden would have told Parliament that it was "out of harmony with modern conditions"; Kilmuir estimated that 75% of Britons would approve of allowing the marriage. He advised Eden that the 1772 Act was flawed and might not apply to Margaret anyway.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Friday Oct 28, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Daily Mirror on 28 October discussed The Times's editorial with the headline "THIS CRUEL PLAN MUST BE EXPOSED"

    England, United Kingdom
    Friday Oct 28, 1955

    The Daily Mirror on 28 October discussed The Times's editorial with the headline "THIS CRUEL PLAN MUST BE EXPOSED". Although Margaret and Townsend had read the editorial the newspaper denounced as from "a dusty world and a forgotten age", they had earlier made their decision and written an announcement. On 31 October Margaret issued a statement: I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend. I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage. But mindful of the Church's teachings that Christian marriage is indissoluble and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before others. I have reached this decision entirely alone, and in doing so I have been strengthened by the unfailing support and devotion of Group Captain Townsend. "Thoroughly drained, thoroughly demoralized", Margaret later said, she and Townsend wrote the statement together. She refused when Oliver Dawnay, the Queen Mother's private secretary, asked to remove the word "devotion". The written statement, signed "Margaret", was the first official confirmation of the relationship. Some Britons were disbelieving or angry while others, including clergy, were proud of the princess for choosing duty and faith; newspapers were evenly divided on the decision. Mass-Observation recorded indifference or criticism of the couple among men, but great interest among women, whether for or against. Kenneth Tynan, John Minton, Ronald Searle, and others signed an open letter from "the younger generation". Published in the Daily Express on 4 November, the letter said that the end of the relationship had exposed The Establishment and "our national hypocrisy".


  • England
    Jan, 1955
    Margaret Thatcher

    The Orpington by-election

    England
    Jan, 1955

    In 1954, Thatcher was defeated when she sought selection to be the Conservative party candidate for the Orpington by-election of January 1955.


  • Harwell, Didcot, England
    Feb, 1955
    Computer

    The First Completely Transistorized Computer

    Harwell, Didcot, England
    Feb, 1955

    The first completely transistorized computer was the Harwell CADET of 1955, built by the electronics division of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Tuesday Apr 5, 1955
    Winston Churchill

    Churchill retired as Prime Minister

    England, United Kingdom
    Tuesday Apr 5, 1955

    Churchill retired as Prime Minister in April 1955 and was succeeded by Eden.


  • United Kingdom
    Tuesday Apr 5, 1955
    James Bond

    Moonraker was published

    United Kingdom
    Tuesday Apr 5, 1955

    Moonraker novel was published. Moonraker is the third novel by the British author Ian Fleming to feature his fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond. It was published by Jonathan Cape on 5 April 1955 and featured a cover design conceived by Fleming.


  • London, England, United Kingdom
    Saturday May 21, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Daily Express published an editorial demanding that Buckingham Palace confirm or deny the rumors

    London, England, United Kingdom
    Saturday May 21, 1955

    That spring Townsend for the first time spoke to the press: "I am sick of being made to hide in my apartment like a thief", but whether he could marry "involves more people than myself". He reportedly believed that his exile from Margaret would soon end, their love was strong, and that the British people would support marrying. Townsend received a bodyguard and police guard around his apartment after the Belgian government received threats on his life, but the British government still said nothing. Stating that people were more interested in the couple than the recent 1955 United Kingdom general election, on 29 May the Daily Express published an editorial demanding that Buckingham Palace confirm or deny the rumors.


  • London, England
    Saturday Jul 9, 1955
    Atomic Bomb

    The Russell–Einstein Manifesto

    London, England
    Saturday Jul 9, 1955

    The Russell–Einstein Manifesto was issued in London on July 9, 1955, by Bertrand Russell in the midst of the Cold War. It highlighted the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and called for world leaders to seek peaceful resolutions to international conflict.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Aug, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Margaret wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Eden

    England, United Kingdom
    Aug, 1955

    Why a betrothal did not occur is unclear. Margaret may have been uncertain of her desire, has written to Prime Minister Anthony Eden in August that "It is only by seeing him in this way that I feel I can properly decide whether I can marry him or not".


  • Scotland, United Kingdom
    Sunday Aug 21, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Margaret was free to marry

    Scotland, United Kingdom
    Sunday Aug 21, 1955

    The press described Margaret's 25th birthday, 21 August 1955, as the day she was free to marry, and expected an announcement about Townsend soon. Three hundred journalists waited outside Balmoral, four times as many as those later following Diana, Princess of Wales. "COME ON MARGARET!", the Daily Mirror's front page said two days earlier, asking her to "please make up your mind!".


  • Scotland, United Kingdom
    Saturday Oct 1, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    More than 100 journalists waited at Balmoral when Eden arrived to discuss the marriage with the Queen and Margaret

    Scotland, United Kingdom
    Saturday Oct 1, 1955

    More than 100 journalists waited at Balmoral when Eden arrived to discuss the marriage with the Queen and Margaret on 1 October 1955. Lord Kilmuir, the Lord Chancellor, that month prepared a secret government document on the proposed marriage.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 12, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Townsend returned from Brussels

    England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 12, 1955

    On 12 October Townsend returned from Brussels as Margaret's suitor. The royal family devised a system in which it did not host Townsend, but he and Margaret formally courted each other at dinner parties hosted by friends such as Mark Bonham Carter. A Gallup poll found that 59% of Britons approved of their marrying, with 17% opposed. Women in the East End of London shouted "Go on, Marg, do what you want" at the princess. Although the couple was never seen together in public during this time, the general consensus was that they would marry. Crowds waited outside Clarence House, and a global audience read daily updates and rumors on newspaper front pages.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 12, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Margaret may have told Townsend that governmental and familial opposition to their marriage had not changed

    England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 12, 1955

    Margaret may have told Townsend as early as 12 October that governmental and familial opposition to their marriage had not changed; it is possible that neither they nor the Queen fully understood until that year how difficult the 1772 Act made a royal marriage without the monarch's permission.


  • London, England, United Kingdom
    Saturday Oct 15, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    NOW - THE NATION WAITS

    London, England, United Kingdom
    Saturday Oct 15, 1955

    "Nothing much else than Princess Margaret's affairs is being talked of in this country", The Guardian said on 15 October. "NOW - THE NATION WAITS" was a typical headline.


  • England, United Kingdom
    1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Leslie Hutchinson had a "brief liaison" with Margaret

    England, United Kingdom
    1955

    According to biographer Charlotte Breese, entertainer Leslie Hutchinson had a "brief liaison" with Margaret in 1955.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Monday Oct 17, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    NO RING YET!

    England, United Kingdom
    Monday Oct 17, 1955

    As no announcement occurred—the Daily Mirror on 17 October showed a photograph of Margaret's left hand with the headline "NO RING YET!"—the press wondered why. Parliamentarians "are frankly puzzled by the way the affair has been handled", the News Chronicle wrote. "If a marriage is on, they ask, why not announce it quickly? If there is to be no marriage, why to allow the couple to continue to meet without a clear denial of the rumors?".


  • London, England, United Kingdom
    Oct, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    First time the palace discussed the princess's recent personal life

    London, England, United Kingdom
    Oct, 1955

    Observers interpreted Buckingham Palace's request to the press to respect Margaret's privacy—the first time the palace discussed the princess's recent personal life—as evidence of an imminent betrothal announcement, probably before the Opening of Parliament on 25 October.


  • London, England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 26, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    The QUEEN's sister married to a divorced man (even though the innocent party) would be irrevocably disqualified from playing her part in the essential royal function

    London, England, United Kingdom
    Wednesday Oct 26, 1955

    An influential 26 October editorial in The Times stating that "The QUEEN's sister married to a divorced man (even though the innocent party) would be irrevocably disqualified from playing her part in the essential royal function" represented The Establishment's view of what is considered a possibly dangerous crisis.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Friday Oct 28, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Margaret would announce that she would marry Townsend and leave the line of succession

    England, United Kingdom
    Friday Oct 28, 1955

    In the 28 October 1955 final draft of the plan, Margaret would announce that she would marry Townsend and leave the line of succession. As prearranged by Eden Anthony, the Queen would consult with the British and Commonwealth governments, then ask them to amend the 1772 Act. Eden would have told Parliament that it was "out of harmony with modern conditions"; Kilmuir estimated that 75% of Britons would approve of allowing the marriage. He advised Eden that the 1772 Act was flawed and might not apply to Margaret anyway.


  • England, United Kingdom
    Friday Oct 28, 1955
    Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

    Daily Mirror on 28 October discussed The Times's editorial with the headline "THIS CRUEL PLAN MUST BE EXPOSED"

    England, United Kingdom
    Friday Oct 28, 1955

    The Daily Mirror on 28 October discussed The Times's editorial with the headline "THIS CRUEL PLAN MUST BE EXPOSED". Although Margaret and Townsend had read the editorial the newspaper denounced as from "a dusty world and a forgotten age", they had earlier made their decision and written an announcement. On 31 October Margaret issued a statement: I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend. I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage. But mindful of the Church's teachings that Christian marriage is indissoluble and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before others. I have reached this decision entirely alone, and in doing so I have been strengthened by the unfailing support and devotion of Group Captain Townsend. "Thoroughly drained, thoroughly demoralized", Margaret later said, she and Townsend wrote the statement together. She refused when Oliver Dawnay, the Queen Mother's private secretary, asked to remove the word "devotion". The written statement, signed "Margaret", was the first official confirmation of the relationship. Some Britons were disbelieving or angry while others, including clergy, were proud of the princess for choosing duty and faith; newspapers were evenly divided on the decision. Mass-Observation recorded indifference or criticism of the couple among men, but great interest among women, whether for or against. Kenneth Tynan, John Minton, Ronald Searle, and others signed an open letter from "the younger generation". Published in the Daily Express on 4 November, the letter said that the end of the relationship had exposed The Establishment and "our national hypocrisy".


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