Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-13
~ the A,,oeio,.d Pres,

LONDON, Mar. IA choice
between love or duty appeared to
be building up tonight for Prin-
cess Margaret as reports persist
ed Of her intention to marry
Group Capt. Peter Townsend.
Britons buzzed with talk about
their rights or wrongs of her pur-
ported romance with a divorced
40-year-old commoner.
Few voices were heard disput-
Ing her right to marry any man
of her choice. But the Church
of England could not officially
approve her marrying a divorced
man whose first wife is still
alive. And some devout church
folk were qualifying their private
approval with such phrases az
"a shame she must go against
the position Of the church"
Minority Critical
AS the discussion grew, some
Britons-a small minority of
those heard, but a vocal minority
were saying that marriage be-
tween the 24-year-old Princess
and Capt. Townsend would lower
the prestige of the monarchy.
1.-TWO wrong marriages in 20
years-that is lot" one Eng
lishman commented, recalling
the abdication of Edward VIII.
Margaret rested in the seclu-
sion of the Royal lodge at Wind
sor tonight as talk about her
and Capt. Townsend took on the
proportions Of a national debate.
Queen Mother Elizabeth was
Joining her there tonight, after
a day at hunt meeting at Chel-
tenham.
Queen Elizabeth II-"defender
OF the faith" which Margarets
marriage would f1out - was
spending the week end quietly
with Lord and Lady Mountbatten
at their Hampshire country
home.
Capt. Townsend, meanwhile,
again spoke to newsmen in Brus-
sells, where he is air attache to
the British Embassy.
May Be Testing Opinion
No official would confirm the
point, but it seemed apparent
that he had authority to keep
talking so the romance story
would stay alive and public opin-
ion could be tested.
Prime Minister Stanley Bald
win used public opinion-as he
read it-as his most persuasive
argument in the events that led
to Edward WIS abdication in
1896.
Princess Margaret has no
throne at stake. She is third
In the line of succession behind
Prince Charles and Princess
Anne, and the prospect of her
being called to reign is remote.
But fear of "jeopardizing" the
British monarchy gripped Ed
ward VIII during the abdication
crisis, he said in his memoirs.
And the same possibility would
have to be weighed if Margaret
marries Capt. Townsend.
Before going into marriage
with the middle-aged war hero,
Margaret also would have to
face up to sharp change in
her position. The general ex-
pectation is that she would have
to withdraw from the glitter of
state affairs.
Opposed to Exile
The Woman's Sunday Mirror
said under banner headlines to-
night that if Margaret and Capt.
Townsend marry she must never
be sent into rowing exile like her
uncle the Duke of Windsor.
"It would not be reasonable,
human or decent to condemn
Princess Margaret to such a
miserable and futile existence"
the tabloid said.
There were hints that If the
princess marries Townsend she
may make her home in a remote
Scottish castle. Queen Mother
Elizabeth recently bought Castle
Mey, overlooking the Pentland |
Firth IN Scotland. Lately, she |
has been reported looking over
Keiss Castle, which is IL miles
away.
What would the queen
mother want with two Scottish |
castleS?" the Daily Herald asked.
Gould one be a wedding present |
for her daughter?"
Ignored by Several Papers
Several main London news
papers continued scrupulously to
ignore reports of Margaret's love