As Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding day approaches, the media has speculated about her dress and possible famous guests who will witness the nuptials. Kate endures constant comparisons to Williams beloved late mother Princess Diana, whose popularity still flourishes 13 years after her death. Though William and Kate are the royal couple of the moment, I thought it would be fun to make a list of famous royal couples of all time.
Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales
I remember when Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married on July 29, 1981. My mother woke up early in the morning to see the wedding and the sound of church bells woke me. I remember the long train on her wedding gown. Other than fairy tales, I’d never seen a real-life princess. Though the troubles in their marriage tarnished the fairytale image, I think their pairing remains imbedded in the mind of women my age. I was engaged when Princess Diana died in that tragic car accident on August 31, 1997. I think subconsciously I wanted a long train on my wedding gown because of the childhood image.
Prince Rainier and Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco
By the time Grace Kelly met Prince Rainier III, she was an Academy Award-winning actress in America. She gave up acting at 26 years old, the pinnacle of her career, to become a princess. She met her prince in 1955, while serving as a a delegate at the Cannes Film Festival. Their wedding took place on April 19, 1956, becoming one of the publicized wedding of its time. Like Princess Diana, Princess Grace died in a car accident at 52 on September 13, 1982; her daughter Stephanie was in the car with her. She suffered a stroke while driving. She proved you don’t need royal blood to get a prince.
King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn could be considered the first royal scandal; they were the Brad and Angelina of their time. Anne Boleyn changed British history when King Henry VIII left the Roman Catholic Church and started the Church of England. At the time, the king was married to his first wife, Queen Catherine of Aragon, with Anne serving on the queen’s court. Because the pope would not annul his first marriage, King Henry VIII broke from Rome and took control of the Church.
The King and Anne married in 1533, a marriage that produced Queen Elizabeth I. Henry tired of her within three years, mainly because of her miscarriages and inability to produce a male heir. When Henry began courting Jane Seymour, he accused Anne of treason, adultery and incest, and remanded to the Tower of London. She was beheaded in 1536. Though this coupling took place in the 1500s, it still fascinates filmmakers, historians, writers and the public. The general public does not know the names of the king’s other wives.
Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor
Edward VIII, 42 years old and a bachelor, ascended the British throne on January 20, 1936, after the death of his father, King George V. A month after he became king, Edward proposed to Wallis Simpson. Simpson was an American socialite with two divorces. According to the British constitution, Edward could not rule as king if he married a divorced woman. Edward chose love over duty and married Simpson on December 10, 1936. His brother, George VI (father of Queen Elizabeth II), ascended the throne. Edward and Wallis Simpson because the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan
King Hussein bin Talal, called the father of modern Jordan, married Lisa Halaby, his fourth wife, on June 15, 1978. Halaby was an American of Syrian and Lebanese ancestry. When Lisa married King Hussein, she became Noor Al-Hussein, meaning Light of Hussein, and converted to Islam. Queen Noor proved to be more than just a blonde with a pretty face; she earned a B.A. in Architecture and Urban Planning at Princeton University. As queen, she worked for education and women’s causes around the world. After her husband died in 1999, she continued working in international causes, particularly in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa.
History has produced numerous royal pairings that have stayed in the minds of the public. Some gained notoriety for the uproar they caused their kingdoms, while others gave up their crowns for the sake of personal happiness. The female counterparts of these pairings proved that beauty and strength can go hand in hand, often serving as public servants for the people they rule and the world. As William and Kate walk down the aisle, we can only speculate where they will fall among their crowned companions.
Source:
http://www.williamkate.com/
