From King Henry VIII to Queen Elizabeth II: Royal Marriage, Divorce and The Church of England
Having dinner with Prince Margaret Rose's first love, RAF Group Captain Peter Townsend
With the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death on September 8, 2022, I could not help but recall, even now, an unexpected, captivating evening in the spring of 1972. This completely delightful evening, to which I refer, would have never taken place, had the Queen not exercised the exceptional power she possessed, as the Church of England’s supreme governor.
In what was an unprecedented venture, at the time, in order to ensure messaging mutuality, excitement and a clear understanding about how “The Godfather” was marketed in the United States, I organized a European Marketing Tour in April of 1972.
As Paramount Pictures worldwide head of marketing I felt it was absolutely vital to educate, stimulate and inspire both the sales and marketing executives in all the international territories to mirror the advertising, publicity and promotion campaign that launched “The Godfather’s” milestone, record-breaking theatrical box office success in the United States and Canada.
I visited London, Paris, Frankfort, Madrid and Rome and was accompanied by Fred Sill, Cinema International Corporation’ s Publicity Manager and Tour Director. (CIC was formed by Paramount and Universal Pictures to distribute the two companies films outside the United States) on this journey.
Fred, who sadly passed away in 2019, was a wonderfully kind, buoyant, courteous person who knew all the principal European sales and marketing people intimately.
He was fluent in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese and was keenly aware of the political relationships, characteristics and oddities of each territorial headquarters.
While we were in Paris for meetings, Fred quietly asked me one afternoon if I knew who Peter Townsend was. I said, “Yes, of course I do, if you mean the Battle of Britain’s, RAF Captain Peter Townsend.”
“Well”, he offered,” I am having dinner with and him and his wife, Marie-Luce tomorrow evening at the Pavillon Ledoyen, I thought you might care to join us.”
“Would I! Absolutely,” I remember bubbling with expectancy because I was keenly aware that Flight Lieutenant Peter Townsend was a highly decorated Royal Air Force Squadron leader in the Battle of Britain, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and the Distinguished Service Order(DSO). The citations for his bravery, leadership and skill in air combat praise his heroism, determination and selflessness. He commanded a Spitfire unit. Squadron Leader Townsend was wounded, crash landed and shot down over a dozen Nazi aircraft.
I was always an avid student of history, world, ancient and modern. Even as a 7-year-old I was aware that the United States, along with its allies, was engaged in a death dealing global war. Family members served in the U.S. Army, The Army Air Corps(USAAF), U.S. Navy and U.S. Coastguard and saw bloody combat action in both Theatres.
In 1944, Group Captain, Peter Wooldridge Townsend, was appointed equerry to and Keeper of the Swords for His Majesty King George VI. He had been the future sovereign’s flying instructor in the 1930’s.
He was appointed Master of the Royal Household in 1950 and comptroller to The Queen Mother in 1952 . While in this position he had a serious romance with Princess Margaret Rose of York, Queen Elizbeth’s younger sister who he had met while in service to her father. She was 22 and he was 38 and they were very much in love.
The dashing war hero divorced his wife of 11 years in 1952 in hopes of marrying Princess Margaret.
If you are among the millions of devoted viewers of Netflix’s award-winning series, “The Crown” you know that in the religious and social atmosphere of the time, divorced people could not remarry in the Church of England, if their former spouse was still living.
In addition to intense societal pressure, Margaret’s sister, Queen Elizabeth II was the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Church of England emphatically said no. The British Cabinet agreed and Prime Minister Winston Churchill hated the very idea. The Government and the Queen asked Princess Margaret to wait 2 years before marrying and Churchill helped design a diplomatic assignment that sent Townsend to a post in Brussels.
While serving in Belgium Peter Townsend met and married a beautiful young woman, Marie-Luce Jamagne.
Fred and I arrived at the Champs Elysees Pavillon Ledoyen restaurant in the Tuilerie Gardens at 8:00 pm. A gastronomic destination since 1792, I was, to say the least, more than fittingly impressed. Peter Townsend and his wife were already seated at a lovely table near a large window looking out to the twinkling lights in the precisely manicured boxwood shrubs of this famous Paris green space.
With apologies to the actor Ben Miles, who portrays him so wonderfully in “The Crown” (2016), meeting the real hero of The Battle of Britain and the Luftwaffe night bombings in 1941, was utterly thrilling.
He was extraordinarily handsome, ultra courteous, gracious, witty and quietly retiring and modest. Marie -Luce was a gentle, feminine mellow beauty who adored her husband. She bore a striking resemblance to Princess Margaret.
He talked very little about his RAF career and expressed polite interest in my position at Paramount and the reason I was in Paris. He expressed keen interest in seeing . “The Godfather”. He smiled and laughed often and honestly.
It was the first and only occasion that I ate sea urchin. I remember liking the taste, sweet and salty.
On the way back to Hotel George V, where I was staying, I could not help but think of Peter Townsend’s gallant military service and record compared to my three years ( 1961_63) as Detachment Commander of the U. S. Army’s 4th Field Hospital and I felt totally lacking and inadequate.
I was truly honored to have been in Peter Townsend’s thoughtful and generous company. A complete gentleman. An authentic war hero.
I am indebted to the late Fred Sill and his wide variety of engaging personal friends for this distinctive and intimate evening with famed WWII RAF flying ace, courtier and celebrated historical figure, Group Captain Peter Townsend.
While watching King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s coronation today, June 6, 2023, I couldn’t help thinking that it would have never taken place in the 1950’s for Charles, Prince of Wales would not have been allowed to marry Camilla Parker Bowles, since her first husband, Major Andrew Parker Bowles was and is still living. Surely the Church of England would have said, NO.
The Church of England did not change its stance one iota from the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547) until 2002 except for special circumstances like the 1996 divorce between Prince Charles and Princess Diana. As the Supreme Governor of the C of E, Queen Elizabeth II ordered the divorce. Sometimes one wonders is it “Good To Be King, or Queen?”
Fabulous piece! I felt like I was sitting with you in Paris, you are a MASTER STORYTELLER!