Queen is 'saddened' as nephew David Linley - Princess Margaret's son splits from his wife of 26 years

The Queen was said to be saddened last night as it emerged her nephew David Linley, the Earl of Snowdon, is to divorce his wife after more than 25 years of marriage.

Linley, Princess Margaret's son from her marriage to Lord Snowdon, announced an 'amicable' split from Serena, the Countess of Snowdon. Friends blamed the amount of time he spends away from home on business and insisted no one else was involved.

The Earl is best known for his high-end furniture company Linley's, makers of bespoke items and accessories.

A spokesman for the couple said: 'The Earl and Countess of Snowdon have amicably agreed that their marriage has come to an end and that they shall be divorced.


'They ask that the press respect their privacy and that of their family.'

It comes only a week after the Queen's eldest grandson, Peter Phillips, and his wife Autumn announced they had separated and were planning to divorce.