Secrets of a Prince's Courtship.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 245, 26 January 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

Secrets of a Prince's Courtship.

Royal Suitor,

Will Mis. William B. Leeds, ono of America's richest widow* -and most beautiful woman, many Prince Chri.vtophoros. the youngest brother of King Constantino of Greece? The quoistion is being discussed with enormous interest in society circles, and while th'ei'o is no doubt about an enijaiciiAint, lit is open to question whether a marriage will ever take place. In fact, it is probable that Cupid was never m> heavily handicapped as in the case of -Mrs. Leeds's romance. This is not due to any lack of devotion on the part of the Pi'ince, who fell in love with the beautiful widow tluve years ago, but chiefly on account o 1 Royal etiquette, which bars anyone not born in the ruling caste from matrimonial alliances with rulers or prospective rulers. In other words, a commoner cannot become a Princess and be recognised by tier husband's family. As a romantic episode the courtship of Prince Christophoros leaves nothing to be de.sirod. The affair began in Paris at a sumptuous dance given :i little over three years ago by Mrs. Leeds. Prince and Princess Nicholas o f Greece were guests, and brought with them handsome Prince Uhristophoros, then twenty-six years of age. It was a case of love at first sight, and being of an ardent temperament, the Prince laid immediate seige to the lady's heart. At that time several English dukes and French princes were ip the running. MPS. LEEDS WORTH £3,(XX),000. The dinner took place in October, and subsequently Mrs. Leeds's friends invariably included tho Prince whenever they had Mrs. Leeds as guest. It was all very significant. But Mrs. Leeds steered carefully through various shoals and squalls, and gave the Prince no chance to declare himself. It took tho masterly tactics of the Grand Duchess Anastasie of Mecklenburg, the Russian mother of the Crown Princess of Germany, to bring the young Prince's courtship within the bounds of possibility. This was no easy matter, for Mrs. I/Ceds, whose fortune i- estimated at £3,000,000, had to be approach ed in a very diplomatic manlier.

The Grand Duchess was won to the Prince's cause bust winter when they were both staying in Paris. Inspired by the Royal lady, who has a pretty air of authority, and whose social position is of very high standing, the lovely widow leased a magnificent villa in the Riviera. With numerous English servants and l loads of luggage, Mrs. Leeds arrived at Monte Carlo early .n tho spring, followed shortly afterwards by the Royal wooer, and the engagement of the young Greek to the American was unofficially announced in June last by the Grand Duchess. But tho question still remains, will King Constantine sanction the match?

LOVE-MAKING ON THE RIVIERA

Mrs. Leeds liad many other suitors of noble birth, but in none of these many courtships did tho element of romance figure so largely as in the present one. No one who knows the recent history of the affair wonders that the much-wooed lady has capitulated. No one wonders that she willingly faces tho terrific ordeal of overcoming tho handicaps imposed by her lover's unusual position. Tiro Grand Duchess staged her romance charmingly. The Villa Primavera, which Mrs. Leeds occupied, is in the loveliest part of the Riviera. A French banker squandered several million francs on ib. The grounds are full of nightingales, orange-blossoms, and temples of love, and it was in this wonderful garden that most of the roman-

America's Richest Widow and Her

tic courtship took place. Who wotilJ not fall in love with a Greek prince in such a place? 31 rs Leeds had no chance at all; siie simply could not help losnia. all; she simply could not help losing her heart.

It is now up to the Grand Duchess to persuado the various Royalties to welcome the lady of millions. Mrs.Leeds is quite frank about the matter, and >s determined that she will not be r, party to any left-handed 01 morganatic marriage.

Tlio difficulties which lie in her path are apparently unsurmountable. Sueli a marriage would place Mrs. Leeds m a position never occupied by an American. She would become cousin to Kin;; George and to Queen Victoria of Spain. Among other interesting relationships, Mrs. Leeds would become a near relative of the German Emperor and a niece of Queen Alexandra. VISITING QI'EEX MARY. On tlie lace of it, therefore, tlie Grand Duchess Ann.stasie, the Prince, and Mrs. Leeds have a formidable task ahead of them. The Prince js a plucky youth, and lie lias tackled his job right manfully. As soon as Mrs. said. " Yes —if ho went forth to win over his Royal relatives. There is at the Greek Court one pc: - son who can help the lovers. This s Princess Nicholas, born a Russian Grand Duchess and married to King Constantine's second brother But there will be few other sympathisers ii. tho Royal circle, and of this Prince ChristoDnorus is painful l 'y aware. With courage stimulated by hope he decided to tackle one of the hardest problems first, and journeyed to London to .see Queen Mary. He met with little encouragement however. If Prince Christophoros decided to marry lefthandedly, all well and good, but ho was given to undestand that England's Royal Family would' never accept the bride on etjunl terms. WILL THE MARRIAGE COME 01-E? Mrs. Leeds's position in England Is <1 curious one. As an American widow with an immense fortune, and having a good social position in New York, she is much sought after. She was invited t > Sandringham during King Edward reign, and has entertained the present monarch. But what a difference there would be in her position if she became tho morganatic wife of the Greek Prince! Royal doors would l>e closed to her and many a titled dame would be forbidden by society's law to put her name on their visiting-lists. To-day, the millionaire widow of America's tinpiate king, she has the fashionable world at her feet. She is surrounded by insistent suitors, who arc at the same time men of high social standing in their respective countries. Is it any wonder that sh.? wants absolute official sanction and a promise that she will be accepted, not only in Greece, but i i England, as "one of tho family"? What will the near future see done by the Royalties interested? There is little likelihood that the German Crown Princess will approve of her mother's efforts to bring American blood into Europe's bluest veins. Th" Kaiser will certainly not feel cousinly towards tho American bride. The Grand Duchess is already in his bad l«)oks because' whe nwar broke out she returned to the Emperor a Royal Order he had bestowed on her, saying: " I can't help having a German son-in-iaw, but I don't have to wear a German decoration."

Heavily handicapped, indeed, is Mrs. Leeds's romance. We wonder how It will end.

Paris with this lady and to her homo in Warwickshire.