PRINCESS MARGARET

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25579, 21 August 1948, Page 7

PRINCESS MARGARET

PARIS RUMOUR ABOUT ENGAGEMENT

PARIS, August 19. The Marquess of Blandford, the 22-year-old heir of the Duke of Marlborough, may propose to Princess Margaret on her eighteenth birthday, on Saturday, according to the Right Wing Paris newspaper “I’Aurore.” Quoting well-informed Court circles, ‘TAurore 7 ’ says it was admitted that there was every chance of such a match being made. “If a marriage were arranged, it is hardly likely that an-official announcement would be made immediately because Their Majesties the King and Queen would prefer to await their return from their New Zealand and Australian tour,” it says. “The Royal Family is traditionally opposed to prolonged engagements. “On the other hand, a marriage before their departure would set difficult problems. The Princess could not think of abandoning her visit because of the disappointment this would cause New Zealanders and Australians. The engagement may be announced towards the middle of July, 1949—the date of the Princess’s return from Australia—and the marriage would then take place in the autumn.” This story, which is signed by the newspaper’s special correspondent, J. R. Percheral, says that the Marquess has been specially invited to Princess Margaret’s birthday party. “This event naturally gave further encouragement to the rumour that a marriage is virtually certain,’’ the correspondent adds.