Ruth’s first encounter with Seretse resulted from her sister Muriel’s involvement in the Congregational Church, which brought her into contact with African students through mission society connections. In June 1947 Muriel invited Ruth to join her for a hospitality evening at Nutford House, the church affiliated London hostel where Seretse was then lodging.??According his then closest friend in London, Charles Njonjo, for Seretse it was love at first sight. Speaking many years later the Kenyan recalled his surprise when Seretse later that same evening excitedly told him – “I have met a girl and I think you should meet her! Somebody I should like to be my wife.” ??Ruth’s recollection was more reticent: “I saw a tall, well built, smiling African with wonderful teeth, broad shoulders, and perfect manners. I must confess that at this first meeting he seemed alike to me as a half a dozen other African students my sister introduced me to that night.”??Besides good manners the couple shared a taste for jazz (throughout her life Ruth was a particular fan of the legendary Louis ‘Satchmo’ Armstrong.) Still many weeks passed before they went on their first date to see a concert by the ‘Inkspots’, a jazz quartet. ??Like most couples of their generation Ruth and Seretse were somewhat reserved about their relationship. But, clearly angered by some of what was then being published in the press, Seretse opened up in a 1951 article he wrote entitled “Why I gave up my throne”, which was originally published in Ebony Magazine. The following is an extended extract:??”Perhaps the most humiliating of my experiences has been the attempt to cheapen my romance with Ruth, to prejudice the public against us by making it seem like a shocking scandal. Ours was no dance-hall ‘pick-up’ meeting as some people have claimed. But rather we met at a student social gathering at the London Missionary Society’s Hostel.
It was a pleasant June night back in 1947, as I recall, and when I saw Ruth with her striking reddish-blond hair and blue eyes I was immediately attracted to her. Her sister, Muriel, led the discussion groups at the hostel and before the evening was over she had introduced us.??”It was not a case of love at first sight. We enjoyed being together, of course, but our relations, though friendly enough, were quite platonic, cantering only around our mutual interest in recreation at the hostel. As the months wore on, Ruth continued coming there with her sister and gradually we began to know each other better. We talked often but always we were in a group or in the company of her sister, Murial. I learned that she was the daughter of a London salesman and that she worked as a typist at the famous insurance firm of Lloyd’s in London.??”It must have been three months after that first June night meeting before I dared ask Ruth for a date, but even then I did not know how she would react to my suggestion. I had two tickets for the London theatre where the ‘Inkspots’ were appearing, but when I decided to phone Ruth and ask her to go with me, I still was not sure whether she would say yes or no. I kept my fingers crossed hopefully all the while I was phoning her for the date. Sure enough, she did say yes.”??Ruth’s account: “Seretse phoned me in my office.
‘Would you do me a great honour tonight?’ he asked. ‘Certainly if I can,’ I replied gaily – by this time I had really got to like him – ‘and what is this honour, sir?’ Seretse answered quickly – ‘I have two tickets for the Inkspots…I’ll…I’ll get three if you’d like your sister to come along with us.’ ‘I’d love to come – without my sister,’ I said.”??Seretse continues:??”Of course neither of us considered ourselves in love at the time. We were like any other young couple out on a date. We knew that we enjoyed being in each other’s company, and that there would probably be other times when we would go out again, but where love was concerned we simply did not talk about it. But now that I think back on it, we both must have had subconscious fears of what the future held for us if we allowed ourselves to become serious. There was a feeling in my land – strong feelings about what was white and black – and I suppose both of us wondered secretly what future could there be for us – an African prince and a white English secretary.??”But in matters of love the heart is seldom ruled by skin colouring. I realized that I couldn’t fight against my true feelings any longer, and it was on a day soon after that we first revealed our true feelings to each other. I asked her if she loved me.??”I held my breath waiting for an answer, but she didn’t say a word. She did not have to.
The light in her sky-blue eyes and the smile on her face told me what I wanted to know. She did love me, and I knew that this was the woman I wanted for my wife – the woman I wanted to be my helpmate in bringing guidance and knowledge to my people in Bechuanaland.”
