Piano Princess Margaret gave to her toyboy lover Roddy Llewellyn who was blamed for the breakdown of her marriage to Sir Antony Armstrong-Jones is set to fetch £7,000 at auction

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A piano given by the Queen's sister Princess Margaret to her lover Sir Roderic Llewellyn is set to fetch thousands at auction.

Llewellyn was a British garden designer, journalist and author who had an eight-year relationship with Margaret and was deemed responsible for the break-down of her marriage to the Earl of Snowdon.

The princess - a highly accomplished pianist and keen singer, who loved playing and performing at parties - would often play duets with Llewellyn, who later tried becoming a professional pop singer.

Now a stunning piano gifted by Margaret to then-partner Llewellyn is on sale. It is expected to fetch between £5,000 to £7,000 when it's sold at Piano Auctions on June 28.

Margaret and Llewellyn famously hit the headlines in 1976 after they were photographed holidaying on the island of Mustique together - Margaret's marriage to Lord Snowdon ended just a month later. 

A piano (pictured) given by the Queen's sister Princess Margaret to her lover Sir Roderic Llewellyn is set to fetch thousands at auction

Llewellyn was just 25 when he fell in love with Princess Margaret, who was then 43 and a mother of two children

Margaret and Llewellyn famously hit the headlines in 1976 after they were photographed holidaying on the island of Mustique together - Margaret's marriage to Lord Snowdon ended just a month later. Pictured, Helena Bonham Carter and Harry Treadaway portrayed the couple in The Crown

The affair was said to have broke up Margaret's marriage to Lord Snowdon, with whom Margaret had two children

The Bechstein upright dated 1890 was manufactured for Royal Warrant Holders Mitchell & Briggs, of Briggate, Leeds.

The piano was purchased by famed biographer Lindy Woodhead, whose book on Harry Gordon Selfridge was adapted by ITV as Mr Selfridge, in the early 1980s.

She said: 'There is a wonderfully romantic back story attached to the piano because it was a gift to Roddy from his loving friend, HRH The Princess Margaret during their well-charted relationship following their first meeting in 1973 throughout the rest of the decade.'

Princess Margaret and Llewellyn parted in the early 1980s, remaining good friends until her death.

He subsequently met and married fashion designer Tania Soskin and the piano went on loan to a mutual friend before being bought by Lindy who strived - but sadly failed - to master the keyboard.

The Bechstein upright dated 1890 was manufactured for Royal Warrant Holders Mitchell & Briggs, of Briggate, Leeds

The piano was purchased by famed biographer Lindy Woodhead, whose book on Harry Gordon Selfridge was adapted by ITV as Mr Selfridge, in the early 1980s

Lindy is now parting with the piano, and said: 'I hope the new owners will enjoy playing with as much gusto as Princess Margaret did'

She is now parting with the piano, and said: 'I hope the new owners will enjoy playing with as much gusto as Princess Margaret did.

'It really does deserve to be heard at many more marvellous, fun and fashionable parties - the Princess and Roddy had a lot of fun and he made her very happy at a difficult time in her life'.

Llewellyn was just 25 when he fell in love with Princess Margaret, who was then 43 and a mother of two children. 

She married Antony Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon in 1960 and the couple divorced in 1978.