ROYAL LOVE

10 regal romances

GRACE KELLY AND PRINCE RAINIER III

Like a sweeping Hollywood love story, the romance between Monaco’s Prince Rainier III and movie star Grace Kelly was both beautiful and heartbreaking. She was the impossibly glamorous leading lady from hit films High Society and Rear Window, and he ruled over the tiny European principality, famous for its casinos.

They first met at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955 when she was invited to do a photo shoot with him. Kelly was 26 and already an Oscar winner. She told friends she found him “charming”. A few months later, he proposed with a diamond and ruby ring, which he later upgraded to a Hollywoodworthy 10.47 carat Cartier sparkler. Before they could proceed with their nuptials, Kelly had to take a fertility test and her family was asked to pay a $US2 million dowry to the Monaco royal family.

At their globally televised wedding in 1956, which was watched by 30 million people, Kelly wore a lace wedding dress that took 30 seamstresses six weeks to complete and is said to have inspired Kate Middleton’s wedding gown. The couple had three children in their 26 years together before Kelly tragically died after a car crash in 1982.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND PRINCE PHILIP

When the future Queen fell in love with a dashing Greek naval officer, one thing stood in the way of true love – her father, King George VI. The monarch had serious reservations about Philip as he came from a broken home and had very little money. For weeks it looked like the besotted couple, who were exchanging a series of romantic love letters, might be forced apart.

They had first met at a wedding when Elizabeth was just 8 and Philip 13. Five years later, she was visiting his naval base with her parents and handsome Philip just happened to be their tour guide. That was the moment they fell in love. Finally, when she turned 20, she knew he was the one, but had to persuade her dad so she invited Philip to Windsor Castle in 1943 for Christmas, and he worked his charm on the King, who agreed he could propose to the princess.

The pair tied the knot on November 20, 1947, and after the wedding breakfast, Elizabeth’s father made a toast to their love, saying: “Our daughter is marrying the man she loves.”

They share one of the longest marriages in royal history.

KING EDWARD VIII AND WALLIS SIMPSON

King Edward VIII reigned for just 326 days before abdicating the throne in 1936 so he could marry the love of his life, American socialite Wallis Simpson.

As she was a divorcee, he could not have married her and remained a monarch.

In a radio announcement that stunned the nation, Edward said: “You must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.”

After tying the knot at Château de Candé in France’s Loire Valley, he was forced into exile, but for the 35 years of marriage before his death, he never regretted his decision.

PRINCE FREDERIK AND PRINCESS MARY

A chance meeting at Sydney’s Slip Inn pub during the 2000 Olympics led to a fairytale romance between a European prince and a commoner from Tasmania. When they got chatting, Mary had no idea that the man she knew only as ‘Fred’ was of royal blood. “The first time we met, we shook hands,” Mary previously told WHO. “I didn’t know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later, someone came up to me and said, ‘Do you know who those people are?’” The two were inseparable all night and soon began a secret, long-distance relationship. The following year, Mary Donaldson, as she was then, packed up, left her hometown, and her life changed forever. Their fairytale wedding took place in Copenhagen Cathedral on May 14, 2004. During the reception dinner, an emotional Frederik expressed his love to his beautiful bride. “The joy and the strength you give me is like the sun in the daytime which, with its radiance, melts all doubts and darkness on earth,” he gushed. “And like the moon at night, you shine with a watchful and delicate beam of gentleness.”

They are now doting parents to Christian, 14, Isabella, 12, and 9-yearold twins Vincent and Josephine.

KING ABDULLAH II AND QUEEN RANIA

Jordan’s reigning couple have been married since 1993, six years before Abdullah ascended to the throne. Rania was a middle-class girl from Palestine and had met her future husband at a dinner party hosted by his sister.

“The minute Rania walked in, I knew it right there and then,” Abdullah told WHO in 2005. “It was love at first sight.”

Now proud parents to daughters Salma and Iman, and sons Hussein and Hashem, the affectionate royals work closely together to improve human rights in the region.

KING GEORGE VI AND ELIZABETH BOWES-LYON

The future king was drawn to 19-year-old Elizabeth the moment he set eyes on her at a dinner party in 1920. He then arranged to attend events where he might bump into her. He proposed twice over the next few years, but she refused, worried about how she’d cope with royal life. Finally, she knew their love was too strong and she agreed. He described the romance as “a wonderful happening in my life ... my dream has at last been realised”. Their lives changed abruptly when his elder brother abdicated the throne in 1936, making him a reluctant king, but Elizabeth, who would become known as the Queen Mother after her husband’s death, was there to support him.

QUEEN VICTORIA AND ALBERT

No bride was ever happier than the 19th-century monarch after her wedding in 1840, just six months after she had proposed to her German cousin. That night she wrote in her diary: “I NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening!!! MY DEAREST DEAREST DEAR Albert ... his excessive love and affection gave me feelings of heavenly love and happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, and we kissed each other again and again! His beauty, his sweetness and gentleness – really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband!”

They had nine children before Albert died suddenly of typhoid in 1961. Victoria never got over his death and wore black for the rest of her life.

PRINCE EDWARD AND SOPHIE RHYS-JONES

The youngest son of the Queen, and the only one of her four children not to get a divorce, married the former public relations executive 20 years ago in an intimate, unusually informal ceremony at Windsor Castle. Royal insiders say they are the happiest and most loving of all the royal couples, and have largely been left alone by the media to get on with their many royal duties. They are parents to Louise, 16, and 12-year-old James, and carry out many engagements together, often holding hands and showing their obvious affection for each other.

PRINCESS AYAKO AND KEI MORIYA

It’s Japanese Imperial House Law that any female member of the royal family must give up their title and royal fortune if they choose to marry a commoner. Which is exactly what happened in 2018 when Ayako decided to follow her heart and marry shipping company employee Kei Moriya.

On her wedding day, the bride, now known as Mrs Moriya, couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. “I am filled with happiness,” she said. The couple welcomed a baby son in 2019.

KING FELIPE AND QUEEN LETIZIA

The King of Spain and his wife Letizia were another unlikely match, but their instant connection was undeniable. Letizia was a TV journalist when they met at a dinner party. A video of the evening shows sparks flying as the pair shake hands and lock eyes. After dating in secret, their engagement was announced in 2003 and they married the following year.

They have two daughters – Leonor, 14, and Sofía, 12.

In 2014, Felipe became king upon his father’s abdication.