A BROKEN ROMANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 72, 27 March 1937, Page 11

A BROKEN ROMANCE.

PRINCE AND FILM STAR. A LIECHENSTEIN CRISIS. LONDON. Lieclienstein has been having its constitutional crisis. It came to a head when Prince Francis I. expressly forbade the young Prince Constantin to marry Virginia Field. 18-year-old film star, who has just had a leading part in "Lloyds of London." Miss Field is a daughter of a London lawyer. She met the Prince in 1935 when on a holiday at Salzburg. They fell in love and the Liechenstein Royal House recalled the Prince.

Nevertheless he continued to correspond with Miss Field, who went to Hollywood and then returned to play in "Llovds of London."

Tliev dec : ded to marrv, whereupon Ska ncis interposed. It is assumed that (Tie Prince will bow to his ruling to consult the welfare of his people.

Liechenstein. which is sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland, has had a romantic history. John T.. who had succeeded his father. Aloys 1., as seventh Prince in 1805, seceded from the Holy Roman Empire on July 12. ISftfi, and joined the Confederation of the Rhine under the Protectorate of the Emoeror Nawdeon 1., and after the fall of the French Empire joined the German Confederation on June 8. 1815.

He was succeeded hv his son. Aloys 11., whose son. John 11.. in 18.">8 began his long reign, which lasted till 1029. This Prince, who was of age at his succession. saw the dissolution of the German Confederation in August. 1800. and thereafter maintained the political independence of the principality. Francis 1., who is 83, succeeded his brother in 1929. The reigning family originated in the twelfth century and traces its descent through five barons, who, in 1008, became Princes of Liechtenstein. The monarchy is hereditary in the male line. Liechenstein has an area of 38.000 acres, and a population of nearly 12.000, of which 1700 are concentrated at Vaduz, the capital.