During her rich and varied life, Princess Margaret played an active role in the Royal Family's public work, supporting her elder sister, The Queen.

The Princess’s particular interests were in the broad field of welfare work, and in the arts.

She was patron or president of over 80 organisations, ranging from children's charities to ballet companies.

Her Royal Highness was President of the National Society and of the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, formerly Commandant-in-Chief of the Ambulance and Nursing Cadets of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, she later became Grand President of the St John Ambulance Brigade and Colonel-in-Chief of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

In the Arts, two of Princess Margaret’s great enthusiasms were music and ballet. In 1957, the Princess became the first President of the Royal Ballet, and she was also President of the Sadler’s Wells Foundation.

In 2000, to celebrate her 70th birthday, many dancers from different companies paid tribute to the Princess’s support for them by performing at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London.