The Washington times., 1920-05-16
Distressing Dilemma of the En-
Wealthy and Beautiful Ameri'
WidOW Who Recently Marie
Prince Christopher of Greece
and Now Discovers That She
Has No Royal Title, Rank
or Privileges
BY a Retired Diplomat.

RI widow, Mrs. William Is. Leeds peen
cheated out of her title Of "Prin-
cess?"
Upon his marriage Prince christopher
of Greece renounced his title OF Prince
and his right of succession to the throne
and assumed the title Of Count Guecks-
burg" says one announcement.
Prince Christopher of Greece has not
renounced his title or right of succession
to the throne" announces the Princes
lawyer curtly.
IL the Prince renounced his royal title
and assumed the Danish title OF Count
Gluecksburg, then he has given his vile
title of no particular importance. II,
on the other hand he has not renounced
his royal title, but has made no provision
for his wife to share it, then she is placed
in a still more undesirable position. In
any event the American woman finds her
self placed between the horns Of a very
unpleasant dilemma. But there are indi-
cations that at this moment she is trying
hard to find way out Of her difficulties.
For the present, at least Europeans are
ly become princess, as all Americans
have assumed her to be.
In the first place it must be remem-
bered that no American woman has ever
married into full-fedged European
royal family and acquired the rank Of a
tion of the former Alice Heine, Princess
of Monaco, and in that case her husband,
the dependent of republic, was not him
self regarded as the complete equal OF
d@er royalties. Several American girls
have married princes, as in the case Of
Prince Cantacuzene and Miss Julia Grant,
but those princes were only members Of
the nobility, not royalty. A great distinc-
tion is made between princes of reigning
families and members of the nobility.
however high their titles.
Mrs. Leeds, 1t Is we'll known has been
courted by the most highly placed noble
men in Europe, and Prince Christopher
could hardly be an attraction to her unless
she we're to share fully his royal rank.
In order that a marriage with a prince
Of a royal family may give the wife all
the status and rights of royal princess 1t
must conform with various laws have the
consent of the sovereign and"in most cases
OF the government of the country con-
cerned. In the case of Greece the con-
sent of the King and government is re-
quired.
In modern times many princes have
desired to enjoy simple domestic happi-
ness with a non-royal wife and shake off
the pomp Of royalty. In that event it has
been customary for them to renounce
their royal status and accept a title of
nobility
Persons well informed about royal GUS
toms read with amaZement and incre-
dulity that Prince Christopher of Greece
had married Mrs Leeds without the GUS
tomary renunciation of his royal rank and
that his wife had acquired all the rights
which would have accrued to a princess
married in accordance with the formali-
ties required in such cases. The mar
riage occurred on January 81, at Vevay,
Switzerland.
The impression that Mrs. Leeds had ac-
quired all the rights of a princess was not
confined to Americans, who are apt to be
optimistic in such matters, but was quite
widely shared by English and European
newspapers.
There were circumstances which
stamped the marriage as being Of greater
public importance than other unions of
non-royal women with princes. No
formal renunciation OF his rank was pub
lished In advance, such as had occurred
in other cases. Mrs. Leeds changed her
religion before marriage and became a
member Of the Greek Orthodox Church,
to which princes of the Greek royal fam
lily are required by law to belong. Upon
her reception into the church she adopted
a Greek name, "Anastasia," which she
now signs This certainly indicated that
she expected to take formal place at
the Greek court.
Moreover, there was a very impressive
attendance OF royalties at the wedding,
in spite Of the conspicuous absence Of ex-
King Constantine and ex-Queen Sophie OF
Greece. Chief among those present was
Sne Dowager Queen Olga of Greece,
mother OF the Prince, who has for some
time shown a warm approval OF her sons
choise. other royalties. there were Prince
Andrew OF Greece, Princess Nicholas OF
Greece and several members OF the fallen
Russian imperial family.
The marriage was opposed very vigor-
ously by exQueen Sophie. sister Of the
German Kaiser, a formidable woman, who
had forced her husband TO pursne the pro.
German policy in Greece that ended in
HIS fdeposition nv the Allies She de-