Evening star., 1955-10-30
.Moreoret
Stopped BY
Duty, NotLow
Ry LouIs &. MATHER

0f1Ve T0un6 To- Mdfylc4Uuc
Registry Once he could pick
up . marriage license. The
next day he and Margaret
Rose Windsor could be mar
ried. They would have little
trouble finding q couple of
witnesses.
An application for . mar
riage license by Group Capt.
Townsend would be perfectly
In order. His divorce has been
final for some three years.
II he named Princess Mar
garet as his bride-to-he the
marriage license would Gtiil be
granted. In this case Princess
Margaret would be disregard
ing the remaining clauses Of
the Royal Marriage Act Of
1772. which still apply to her.
She chose to abide BY the act
and not attempt to marry un-
til after she was IS years old.
Other English girls are free
to marry without parental
consent at the age Of IL. They
can dos so earlier By getting
the consent Of q magistrate.
Now that she has reached
the age Of 25. Princess Mar
garet Is still required by the
Royal Marriage Act to give one
years notice Of her marriage
and seek approval Of the Priyy
Council. II she wishes to
ignore the act and 60 ahead
with her marriage as q private
subject she is free to do 50.
Such action, however. would
be likely TO lead to the loss Of
her title and royal privileges.
Nevertheless, such action Is
always possible. Margaret Is
not q prisoner Of her royal sit
uation. She could marry the
dashing Townsend without
the consent Of the Queen, the
approval Of Parliament, or the
blessing Of the Archbishop Of
Canterbury. But 1t Is evident
that Margaret prefers to avoid
hurting the prestige of the
throne or alternating the
church-going section Of the
British people. Negotiations
are now concentrated upon
enabling Princess Margaret to
marry without having 70 defy
the Royal Marriage Act.
Low Applies to All
Although the British Con-
stitution Is not wholly o
written one and much Of the
practice surrounding royalty Is
based upon convention, the
rule Of law applies to all. The
Duke Of Edinburgh must drive
on the left. The lord Of the
manor cannot shoot the peas
ants for target practice, and
the duchess must pay her
debts.
II, IN addition to accepting
their obiightions under the
law. the aristocracy, and par
ticulariy the royal family,
wish to accept disciplines
based on conventions which
make them an example Of de-
votion to public service. such
added duties are accepted VOL
unfairly. Legally Princess
| Margafet Of Mayfair has no
more obligations than Mary
Smith 81 Manchester. Real
isticalIy, although they may
hare the same objectiyes Of q
happy married Life and chill
dren. their situations-if they
wish 10 marry . divorced man
] --are very different.
Few would fail TO agree that
Princess Margaret and Feter
Townsend have shown reason.
restraint. and respect for the
Throne. They accepted d sepa-
ration Of almost three years.
Throughout that separation
they were both aware that
great pressure was being put
on Margaret to change her
mind. Her love for Townsend
enabled her to resist these
persiIasions. while at the same
time she graciously conducted
the, royal duties which came
her way. Townsend, through
out the period OF separation.
carried out his duties Is an
Raj ofiicer.
Margaret has been trained
from childhood TO consider the
feelings OF others. Townsend
seems to have been born with
q gift Of personal charm. Al
most 20 years Of Raj service
have taught him to put the
interests Of his country first.
Both appear ready to accept
any reasonable solution which
protects the prestige Of the
Crown and does not close the
door TO their personal happi-
ness.
Is Opposition Reasonable?
Opposition to the marriage
continues. II Is reportedly cen-
tered around the Duke Of Edin-
burgh within the royal circle,
and outside the palace around
the Archbishop Of Canterbury
In particular. The Church Of
England Is theoretically OPP
posed to the remarriage Of
divorced persons while the for-
n1er spouse Is alive. In prac-1
tice. ministers Of the Church of,