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Date: 16 April, 1950

Seretse Khama, rightful heir to the Ngwato chieftaincy in Bechuanaland (Botswana), was re-united with his British wife, married in September 1948, in England. Seretse's Uncle Tshekedi ordered him to come home so that he could rebuke him for his marriage to a White woman. He wanted Seretse to get a divorce, but Seretse managed to win the people's favour while he was in Bechuanaland. He was recognised as Kgosi, and Ruth as his wife. South Africa was not prepared to accept this in an area that was so strategically placed between them and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and bargained with Britain not to allow Seretse's chieftaincy. Consequently, he was exiled to England in 1951. Five years later a new Commonwealth minister decided to distance Britain from South Africa's racist policies, and Seretse and Ruth were allowed back into Bechuanaland, but only as common citizens.

Source:

http://africanhistory.about.com/library/thisweek/bl-tw4-2.htm