A new book, Princess Margaret and the Curse: An Inquiry into a Royal Life, is set to be released on 9th September this year, aligning with International FASD Awareness Day.
The book, written by award-winning American biographer Meryle Secrest, raises questions about whether HRH Princess Margaret may have had Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) noting that at the time she was born in 1930, FASD had not been identified in medical research and therefore women were not advised to avoid alcohol consumption during pregnancy
While NOFASD Australia does not comment on individual diagnoses and we wish to emphasise that diagnosis simply by observation of behaviours and associated media commentary is not appropriate, we welcome the increased public attention this book may bring to the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the lived experience of those affected by FASD.
FASD affects a far larger percentage of the population than is generally recognised. Australian research released earlier this year confirmed a prevalence rate of 3.64% in the general Australian population – which is more prevalent than autism and equates to one child in every classroom. Despite its prevalence, FASD remains underdiagnosed and misunderstood. People with FASD are often mischaracterised as “naughty” or “difficult,” when in fact they are living with organic brain injury and such behaviours are a symptom of their disability.
FASD can impact:
- Memory and learning
- Impulsivity and emotional regulation
- Abstract thinking and social understanding
We have reached out to our colleagues at the National Organisation for FASD UK, who have released a detailed statement here about the forthcoming unauthorised biography of Princess Margaret.
NOFASD Australia would like to reiterate comments made in this statement that public discussion about FASD must be grounded in science and lived experience. Most importantly we wish to emphasise that FASD is not a ‘curse’—it’s a condition that people can live with successfully when given the right support.”
Learn more about FASD-informed strategies that are useful when supporting someone with FASD