By Daventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer. Public Domain.
If you've watched The Crown, you know one of Taking London's heroes. Peter Townsend (not The Who guitarist) flew Hawker Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain. The gripping, action-packed details can be found in TL. Suffice to say, the man was a great pilot. He survived several near death experiences in aerial combat.
Townsend later got married and divorced. He then fell in love with Princess Margaret, sister to Queen Elizabeth. It makes sense that a royal would fall for a dashing war hero, particularly one who received national recognition as one of the nation's best pilots. As Churchill stated, Townsend was one of "The Few" who saved Britain from Nazi invasion.
But that was not to be. The Queen denied their request to be married, citing his divorce.
Read all about what came next in the final pages of Taking London — on sale in stores everywhere on June 11. And if you're in Southern California that week, stop by the Barnes and Noble in Aliso Viejo on June 15. I'll be speaking and signing books starting at 2 p.m.
