Constitutional Rights Of Princess After Birthday

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27739, 17 August 1955, Page 11

Constitutional Rights Of Princess After Birthday

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, August 16L “To counter inaccurate statements which have caused 'the Royal Family much distress,” the “Daily Telegraph” columnist, “Peterborough.” discloses in detail the position, of Princess Margaret and the personal resonsibility she will assume next Sunday, when she becomes 25 years of age. The approach of this date, he says, has renewed much ill-informed talk about the Princess and her private “Those who imagine that after next Sunday the Princess is automatically released from all control by the Sovereign should consult the Royal Marriages Act. This was passed in 1772 to safeguard the Crown against the possible danger of alliances con? sidered unsuitable. “It provides that no descendant of George 11, except the issue of Princesses married into foreign families, shall be capable of contracting matri? mony before the age of 25 unless the Sovereign consents.

“After that age, marriage may take place after this consent. But if it is refused, the Privy Council must be given 12 months’ notice of any contemplated alliance. “There is one other possible bardisapproval of both Houses of Parliament expressed within the year. This section of the act was designed to pro? tect the Royal children from despotic influence with their future by the Sovereign. “In the unlikely event of Princess Margaret marrying without the Queen’s consent, she would almost certainly have to renounce the right of succession of herself and her descendants.

“Probably, also, she would forfeit her £6OOO annual civil list allowance and the further £9OOO payable to her on ner marriage. “At present she stands third in the line of succession. Any legislation to change the position would require con-

sulfation with the Dominion Governments. “It is inconceivable that Princess Margaret, who has always observed custom and precedent scrupulously, would make any abrupt departure from them. “Amid the rumours of the last two years, she has shown patience and decorum in difficult circumstances. That speculation will cease is too much to expect. But it is time her situation was properly understood,” said “Peterborough.” Woodrow Wyatt, writing in the “Sunday Express,” says that even if the Princess decided to renounce her privileges as a Princess, and her allowances. she would still be rich. “Mrs Ronald Grenville left her £20.000, and Queen Mary and King George VI both left her large sums in their wills.

“In all the Princess must have a fortune of more than £100,000.”