KING ASKED TO BAN PRINCESS’ VISIT TO POPE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22942, 10 May 1949, Page 5

KING ASKED TO BAN PRINCESS’ VISIT TO POPE

(N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright.)

(10 a.m.)

LONDON, May 9

The British Protestant Truth Society today sent a telegram to the King praying for his immediate intervention on the proposed visit of Princess Margaret to the Pope at the Vatican tomorrow.

The telegram said that society was shocked and “expresses its profound grief at the persistent report in the press that, notwithstanding the strong feelings in the country on this matter, Princess Margaret will visit the Pope." Meanwhile the unofficial Vatican news service confirmed that the audience has been fixed for tomorrow.

The Princess will be escorted by Mr. J. V. T. Browne, British Minister to the Vatican.

Informed sources in Rome said today that not even regular Vatican photographers would be allowed to photograph the Princess on Vatican soil. Pope Pius XII rarely allows any photographs of an audience while it is in progress, but photographers are usually permitted to take pictures of Papal callers as they leave the Pontiff’s quarters. The British United Press correspondent in Vatican City says that Princess Margaret’s visit to the Pope tomorrow will be of a private nature. It will be “a visit” not “an audience.” In Rome today Princess Margaret visited some famous Roman Catholic churches, escorted by Sir Darcy Osborne, former British Minister to the Holy See. Later, she was to meet leading members of the Italian Government, Roman socialites and prominent Britons living in Rome at a reception given by Sir Victor Mallet, the British Ambassador.