Thursday, February 7, 2013

Princess Margaret cancels trip to Paris

February 7, 1963

Princess Margaret's trip to Paris in March has been "canceled on the advice" of Prime Minister Harald McMillan's government, reports the New York Times.

Buckingham Palace tonight released an announcement that Princess Margaret's "presence in Britain was necessary" was because she is serving as a Counsellor of State for Queen Elizabeth II, who is on an official tour of New Zealand and Australia.

But there is no "serious effort," according to "qualified sources" that the real reason for the cancellation of the Princess' visit is due to the "unpleasant state of relations between France and Britain."

President Charles de Gaulle recently vetoed Britain's membership in the Common Market.

Princess Margaret and her husband, Lord Snowdon, were to visit Paris on March 9 and 10 to attend the French premiere of the movie, Lawrence of Arabia.

The premiere is a benefit performance for the Hertford British Hospital in Paris.

The Princess's visit was not to be official, but she and her husband were to have lunch with the French President.   The cancellation of this visit the British government's anger over France's "recent attitude toward Britain."

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