The whole world was against this love

• The whole world was against this love

The story of love and marriage, the first president of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama, and Englishwoman Ruth Williams sparked unprecedented political and diplomatic unrest in 1948. Seretse Khama, who came from the kind of Bamangwato leaders and educated in South Africa and the UK, met his future wife in England while studying.

Marriage couples in love confronted everything - family Seretse and Ruth and the UK Government, as at that time, Botswana was a British protectorate in South Africa. Seretse was forced to leave his wife and go home or to give up the land of his tribe. However, detractors failed to separate the lovers. Moreover, the couple returned to their homeland Seretse, where he became the first president of Botswana, has made his country's independence from Britain, turning into one of the most rapidly developing countries in the continent, and Ruth went into Botswana history as one of the most influential and politically active first ladies .

Their story had an exceptional response in the society, and about the famous couple wrote novels and even filmed the movie "United Kingdom" Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo starring.

The couple met in 1947 at a dance the London Missionary Society, where Ruth brought her sister Muriel. Seretse approached the sisters and invited to dance with Ruth. And began their romance.

Roman inflamed very quickly. But neither Seretse nor Ruth did not get support from their families due to the upcoming wedding. Uncle Seretse was categorically opposed, as the heir had to complete their education, to return home and marry a woman whom he will choose the family. And Ruth's father once said that the daughter can not marry a dark-skinned.

But young people do not even know that they have to withstand the onslaught not only relatives, but also the governments of Great Britain and South Africa. In South Africa, it is about to be installed was apartheid, and the United Kingdom did not want to complicate relations with the country. South Africa has made clear the UK that if their territory is entered into a marriage between a white woman and an African, it would mean a constitutional crisis. In the photo: a couple in London in 1949.

The priest, who was to marry young, have hinted that a wedding should not take place. Then Seretse and Ruth were married in secret and went to Africa. But even there, their problems did not end there. Seretse uncle, who, apparently, he wanted to take the throne, was furious and did all the elders of the tribe refused to recognize Ruth queen and the marriage itself is valid. After a while Seretse was invited to London, and it turned out to be a trap. There he was forced to give up already by then pregnant wife and their rights as the future head of the tribe. Having been refused, government officials have said that he will be banished from their native land. Eventually Seretse renounced the throne, returned to Africa after the first democratic elections was elected the first president of the country, which later became Botswana. In the photo: the president and the first lady of Botswana with Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne at a dinner at Buckingham Palace.

In Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams had four children - a daughter and three sons. The eldest son Ian Khama is president of Botswana from 2008.

British politician Aneurin Bevan and the president and first lady of Botswana in the House of Lords. Photo: rexfeatures.com

The President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari, British Prime Minister David Cameron and President of Botswana Ian Khama, son of Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams. Photo: rexfeatures.com