First Lady’s Marriage Broke All The Rules

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30725, 14 April 1965, Page 2

First Lady’s Marriage Broke All The Rules

(By

SUSAN VAUGHAN

If ever there was a marriage which the world wrote off from the start, this was it. It broke all the rules. It was a marriage across race barriers, national barriers, class barriers. Yet after 16 years of the most unyielding strains, it is as solid as a rock—the marriage of Ruth Williams, a white woman to Seretse Khama.

She was a confidential secretary with Lloyd’s, the London insurance people, when she met Seretse, heir to the paramount chieftainship of the Bamangwato tribe in Bechuanaland. while he was studying law in London. They fell in love and, in spite of protests from Ruth’s parents and Seretse’s tribe, they married. In the political storm that followed, the couple were barred by the British Government from Bechuanaland. Set Up Home In 1956, when they were allowed to return to set up home in Serowe, the chief township in the Bamangwato tribal area, their difficulties were not over, only modified. She became to be known as Africa’s loneliest woman. She rarely left her home. Her husband was often

away on business. The tribesmen rarely approached her, for although Seretse gave up his title to wed. Ruth was still regarded as “queen.” The white population ignored her.

But she had her children—four, including twins. And Ruth and Seretse had each other, and they had tolerance “Seretse.” she would say, adores his cattle and spends much time at his various dis-

tant cattle stations. I would no more dream of stopping him than he would dream of stopping me doing the things I enjoy. I love swimming. He hates it, yet he has built me a pool. I love riding. He isn’t interested yet, but he bought two ponies. He is very generous and understanding; “It’s not having the same background or interests or colour that matters in marriage. It’s learning to get along together.” Now they have had a special reward for their trust in each other. Seretse, now 43. has just been elected Bechuanaland’s first Prime Minister. Ruth, aged 40, is the country’s first First Lady. As she packed to move to the country’s capital, Gaberones, Ruth was asked if she felt any irony or triumph over the fact that she and her husband are now Bechuanaland’s most important people. “Possibly I would have, had it happened a few years ago, but that has all been forgotten now,” she said. (All Rights Reserved)