PRINCES ROMANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18834, 24 March 1931, Page 2

PRINCES ROMANCE.

ROYAL CONSENT REFUSED; Prince Lennart, the 21-year-old grandson of King Gustav of Sweden, talked to a representative of the “Daily Mail" in London over the telephone from Stockholm recently of his engagement of Mile. Karin Nissvandt, the beautiful 19-year-old daughter of a Stockholm business man. “I am definitely engaged to Mile. Karin,” the Prince said, in his perfect English. “ lam glad you have telephoned, for I am only too anxious for the truth to be known.” “Is is true that the King has forbidden your marriage?” the interviewer The Prince: That is correct, and because of the King's objections we shall not get married in Sweden. Do you intend to elope?—Well, we are certainly going to Germany to get married. And then . . . .?—We shall make our home abroad. Prince Lennart was asked when the wedding would take place. “We plan to get married in a year or so and we shall go to the island of Mainau, in Lake Constance, south-east Germany,” he said. _ _ Will you follow any occupation? —I certainly do not intend to be idle, and for that reason I am studying agriculture. I intend to take up farming there. The Prince, who had a note of enthusiasm in his voice, added: “One reason why we are not getting married for a year is to enable me to complete by agricultural studies. My fiancee is studying German in preparation for our new life abroad.” The interviewer asked Prince Lennart whether Mile. Karin had any special interests. “She has no special knowledge of agriculture,” he replied, “but she is very keen on gardening. We shall be very happy.” Is she keen on sport—riding, for instance?—She likes riding, but is, I think, more keen on motoring. Prince Lennart was informed that his romance seemed to have aroused widespread and sympathetic interest, and the correspondent offered his good wishes. “Thank you, thank you,” answered ' a merry voice. “Good-bye!” And this | Prince, whose love story will have a | Hans Anderson ending in a romantic island castle, rang off. The honeymoon Castle of Mainau was bequeathed to Prince Wilhelm, second son of King Gustav, and Prince Lennart’s father, by the late Queen Victoria of Sweden, with reversion to Prince Lennart.

The Prince's decision to marry in spite of the King’s veto means that he will renounce his rights to the throne—he is in the direct line of succession. In thus surrendering his royal privileges to marry the girl of his heart, he is following the example of Prince Oscar Bernadotte, the King’s brother.

The report that the engagement was about to be anounced was published in the Stockholm newspapers on January 25. when it caused a sensation in court circles. Formal announcement of the engagement, according to the newspapers, awaited the consent of the King, because Prince Lennart is in the line of succession to the throne. A journalist was informed at the royal palace, however, that King Gustav was officially of the opinion that the couple were too young for marriage. The real reason for the withholding of the royal consent, however, was stated to be that the Swedish royal family, and virtually the entire Swedish nobility, believed that Miss Nissvandt’s family were responsible for the publication of the engagement report. In other words, it was alleged that Miss Nissvandt’s family, in order to preclude any possibility of King Gustav banning the marriage, allowed the impression to get abroad that the engagement was an accomplished fact. King Gustav, it was stated, was fully aware of this, and it was for this reason that he decided to withhold his consent. It was subsequently stated that King Gustav had said that if Prince Lennart was' of the same mind five years hence, he would not withhold his consent.