From celebrity to princess
Becoming a celebrity is already a dream come true, but these women went beyond that and managed to fulfill yet another dream that many women also fantasize about—becoming a princess. Check out these famous actresses who married into royalty.
Charlene Wittstock: Life before royalty
Charlene Wittstock was born in Zimbabwe in 1978. She moved to South Africa with her family and excelled in swimming, representing South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She has won many medals and is very active in charity work.
Frankie Fouganthin, CC-BY-SA-3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Charlene Wittstock: How she met her royal man
Charlene Wittstock met Prince Albert II of Monaco at a swimming competition in Monaco in 2000. They met again in 2006, began dating, and made their public debut at the 2006 Winter Olympics. They got engaged in 2010 and married on July 1, 2011.
Charlene Wittstock: Today
Princess Charlene of Monaco continues her active involvement in charitable work, alongside Prince Albert. Despite health concerns and marriage rumors, they remain dedicated to their duties and their twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.
Piotr Drabik, CC-BY-SA-2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jamie Lee Curtis: Life before royalty
Jamie Lee Curtis is the daughter of actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Rising to fame in films like "Halloween," she is also a successful writer, admired widely for her many talents.
Compass International Pictures, Halloween (1978)
Jamie Lee Curtis: How she met her royal man
Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest met in the early 1980s through their work in Hollywood. Their connection grew quickly, leading to their marriage on December 18, 1984. Christopher eventually became the 5th Baron Haden-Guest, making Jamie a baroness.
Jamie Lee Curtis: Today
Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest have been married for nearly 40 years, balancing successful careers in entertainment while raising two adopted children. Jamie's most recent achievement includes winning the Academy Award for Supporting Actress for the movie "Everything, Everywhere, All At Once."
Kendra Spears: Life before royalty
Kendra Spears began her modeling career after winning a competition in 2008. She quickly gained fame by working with top designers and appearing in prestigious magazines like Vogue and Elle, earning a reputation as a top model.
Kendra Spears: How she met her royal man
Kendra Spears and Prince Rahim Aga Khan met through mutual friends in fashion and social circles. After dating for some time, they announced their engagement in April 2013. Kendra then converted to Islam and became Princess Salwa before their wedding in August 2013.
Neilreimu, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kendra Spears: Today
Now known as Princess Salwa Aga Khan, Kendra balances her fashion industry background with royal family duties. She has two sons with Prince Rahim and supports charitable initiatives of the Aga Khan Development Network.
Grace Kelly: Life before royalty
Grace Kelly was raised in a prominent family. She pursued acting and quickly rose to fame in Hollywood in the 1950s, starring in films like "High Noon" and "Rear Window." Known for her beauty and talent, she won an Oscar for "The Country Girl."
Grace Kelly: How she met her royal man
In 1955, Grace Kelly met Prince Rainier III of Monaco at the Cannes Film Festival. Despite their different backgrounds, they developed a deep connection and began a romantic relationship. Prince Rainier proposed in December of that year, and they wed on April 18, 1956. Grace then left her acting career to become Princess of Monaco.
Robert LeRoy Knudsen, Wikimedia Commons
Grace Kelly: Today
Grace Kelly may have become royalty, but she faced many challenges. As Princess of Monaco, she focused on family and charity work. They had three children: Princess Caroline, Prince Albert, and Princess Stéphanie. Grace tragically died in a car crash in 1982. Prince Rainier ruled Monaco until his death in 2005.
Hans Peters, Wikimedia Commons
Lee Radziwill: Life before royalty
Caroline Lee Bouvier, later known as Lee Radziwill, was born on March 3, 1933, in NYC. She was raised in wealth alongside her sister Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Lee pursued acting, interior decorating, and public relations, and she was known for her fashion, style, and elite connections.
Stoughton, Cecil W. Wikimedia Commons
Lee Radziwill: How she met her royal man
Lee Radziwill met Prince Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł in the late 1950s through mutual connections. They married in 1959, making her Princess Lee Radziwill. Their union made headlines around the world.
Cecil Stoughton, Wikimedia Commons
Lee Radziwill: Today
Lee and Prince Stanisław Radziwill divorced in 1974, but Lee retained her title. She pursued her interests in the arts and interior design. She passed away on February 15, 2019, leaving behind a lasting legacy in fashion, culture, and the arts.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Kate Middleton: Life before royalty
While not a true celebrity, Kate Middleton was essentially one. Her name was already well known due to her early associations with Prince William, heir apparent to the British throne. Before Prince William, however, Kate grew up in a middle-class family with parents who owned a successful party supply business. She attended Marlborough College and the University of St Andrews, majoring in art history.
Northern Ireland Office, CC-BY-SA-2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kate Middleton: How she met her royal man
Kate met Prince William at the University of St Andrews, where they became a couple and fell in love. Their bond grew stronger and stronger over the years, especially as they both dealt with the intense scrutiny of the British media.. After almost a decade together, Prince William proposed in 2010 in Kenya. They married in a grand ceremony in 2011.
Minerva97, CC-BY-SA-3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kate Middleton: Today
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, known as Kate Middleton, is a key figure in the British royal family. She and Prince William have three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis. Kate is admired for her grace, charity work, and dedication to her family, as well as her advocacy for various causes. Currently, she is fighting cancer—but recent reports say she is on the road to recovery.
Office of the Governor-General, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mary Donaldson: Life before royalty
Mary Donaldson was raised in a close-knit family with Scottish heritage. She studied commerce and law at the University of Tasmania and pursued a career in advertising and marketing. Mary enjoyed sports like hockey and sailing, and she valued time with loved ones.
VisitCopenhagen, CC-BY-SA-2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mary Donaldson: How she met her royal man
During the time of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Mary met Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark at a pub. They hit it off and three years later, they announced their engagement. They then married in Copenhagen on May 14, 2004, and Mary relocated to Denmark to embrace her new role.
ESO, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mary Donaldson: Today
Mary Donaldson is now known as the Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, and she remains to be a beloved member of the Danish royal family. She and Prince Frederik have four children together: Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine. Their marriage is still going strong today.
Leif Jørgensen, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Masako Owada: Life before royalty
Masaka Owada came from a prestigious family, with her father being a diplomat. She excelled academically, studying economics at Harvard and international relations at Oxford's Balliol College. Masako also worked as a diplomat herself and is fluent in many languages.
Masako Owada: How she met her royal man
In 1986, Masako met Crown Prince Naruhito at a tea party. She initially had reservations about royal life, but Naruhito was impressed by her intelligence and charm and he convinced her to marry him. After years of dating, Masako agreed to marry him in a traditional ceremony on June 9, 1993, becoming Crown Princess of Japan.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Masako Owada: Today
Today, Empress Masako, carries out her royal responsibilities with her husband, Emperor Naruhito, who became the nation's ruler in May 2019. Their marriage has seen many rough patches, mostly because of the intense public attention and Masako's struggle to adjust to royal life.
Yet, even with these challenges, Empress Masako has slowly started to take on additional duties.The pair's only child is Princess Aiko, and they are both respected for their dedication to their responsibilities and to each other.
BPMI Setpres, Wikimedia Commons
Meghan Markle: Life before royalty
Meghan Markle was born on August 4, 1981 in Los Angeles, California. Growing up, she attended private schools and studied theater and international studies at Northwestern University. Known for her role on "Suits," she also engaged in charity work and ran a lifestyle blog.
M Doucette Production, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Meghan Markle: How she met her royal man
In July 2016, Meghan was set up on a blind date with Prince Harry by a mutual friend. They began a relationship and kept it secret for a few months. Though challenging, they managed to make the long distance work with frequent visits and trips. They got engaged in November 2017 and married on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle.
Meghan Markle: Today
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry live in California with their children Archie and Lilibet. They stepped back from their royal roles in 2020 to focus on family and new endeavors, which caused much controversy. The couple founded Archewell and collaborate with media companies on uplifting content.
Mark Jones, CC-BY-SA-2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Olivia Wilde: Life before royalty
Olivia grew up in a family with ties to journalism and the arts, as her parents were successful journalists. She pursued acting, gaining fame in TV shows like "The O.C." and films such as "Tron: Legacy" and "Booksmart." She also excelled in advocacy work, establishing a successful Hollywood career before any royal connections.
Michael Evanet Archives, Flickr
Olivia Wilde: How she met her royal man
Olivia Wilde met Tao Ruspoli, an Italian prince and filmmaker, in 2002 through mutual friends. They had a secret wedding on a Virginia school bus when Olivia was 19, and throughout their union, they preferred to keep their personal lives private.
Olivia Wilde: Today
Olivia Wilde and Tao Ruspoli divorced in 2011 after nearly eight years together. Olivia has since thrived in her career, starring in acclaimed films and remaining a prominent actress and activist. She later split from Jason Sudeikis, with whom she shares two children, but continues to prioritize her career and family.
Daniel Benavides, CC-BY-SA-2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Rita Hayworth: Life before royalty
Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Carmen Cansino on October 17, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York. She started off as a dancer in her father's nightclub, then became a famous Hollywood actress later on. She was known as "The Love Goddess" for her beauty and talent.
Rita Hayworth: How she met her royal man
Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan met at the 1948 Cannes Film Festival. Despite public disapproval, they fell in love and became engaged that year. Their marriage in 1949 brought forth a media frenzy and much public attention.
Rita Hayworth: Today
Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan faced challenges in their marriage and eventually divorced in 1953. Rita remained active in Hollywood, maintaining a successful acting career.
Sofia Hellqvist: Life before royalty
Born in Täby, Sweden on December 6, 1984, Sofia Hellqvist worked as a model and on reality TV before marrying royalty. She gained fame in 2005 on "Paradise Hotel" and taught yoga.
Frankie Fouganthin, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sofia Hellqvist: How she met her royal man
Sofia Hellqvist crossed paths with her royal beau, Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, in 2009 with the help of shared acquaintances. Prince Carl Philip, the sole male offspring of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, was quickly attracted to Sofia's friendly nature and compassionate demeanor. Even with the onslaught of public criticism of Sofia's history, their relationship thrived. Their engagement was made public in 2014, followed by their wedding on June 13, 2015.
FrankieF, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sofia Hellqvist: Today
Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland, is a contributing member of the Swedish royal family. She has three children with Prince Carl Philip and is known for her charity work focusing on children's rights and healthcare. Sofia and Carl Philip have a strong bond and continue to support each other publicly.
Frankie Fouganthin, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Zsa Zsa Gabor: Life before royalty
Zsa Zsa Gabor was a glamorous actress and socialite. Known for her beauty and charm, she starred in movies and TV shows before marrying into royalty. Famous for her wit and luxurious lifestyle, she epitomized Hollywood elegance in the mid-20th century.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Zsa Zsa Gabor: How she met her royal man
Zsa Zsa Gabor married Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt in the 1980s after he bought a royal title from a bankrupt German noble. From then on, she became known as Princess von Anhalt and lived a life of European royalty.
Ron Galella, Ltd, Getty Images
Zsa Zsa Gabor: Today
Zsa Zsa Gabor and Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt faced marriage controversies, with his alleged royal status and her health issues leading to legal disputes. Zsa Zsa passed away in 2016, leaving her inheritance to Frédéric.
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