PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

British Press Has No Sympathy For Meg

Stroke victim Princess Margaret got little sympathy Wednesday from Brit
tabs, which blamed her illness on a lifetime of heavy smoking and drinking.

``The Fags (cigarettes) Catch Up With Mags,'' headlined the Star.

``We Told Her to Give Up,'' screamed the Daily Mirror, adding that
``Princess Margaret is paying for decades of wild living'' and noting for
good measure that she ``swears like a trooper.''

It quoted her saying once: ``My vices are cigarettes and drink. I don't see
myself giving these up.''

But it noted: ``She has tried to make a few small concessions, though --
trying to stop drinking at lunchtime.''