20 Americans Who Married Into Royalty Before Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle found worldwide mega-fame when she married into the British royal family. But she certainly wasn’t the first American to be charmed by a prince. Plenty of her fellow countrymen and women got there first — and you may even recognize some of their names!
20. Grace Kelly
The inimitable Grace Kelly was already one of Hitchcock’s most famous blondes when she was introduced to Prince Rainier III of Monaco. None other than Olivia de Havilland got the pair talking, as her editor husband thought that putting the celebrated beauty and the handsome royal together would be a great scoop for his magazine.
Tragic end
More than an article came out of that meeting, of course! Mere months after their first encounter, Grace and the prince were married in a much-publicized two-day event. Then Grace waved goodbye to Hollywood to become a full-time royal and mom to children Caroline, Albert, and Stéphanie. But, sadly, her incredible life was cut all too short. In 1982 the movie star-turned-princess tragically passed.
19. Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was already married — and to Orson Welles, no less — when she fell into the arms of Prince Aly Khan. He was the son of the Aga Khan, a spiritual leader considered royalty in Islam. And while the press at the time was damning of the couple’s affair, that didn’t stop them from tying the knot in May 1949.
Wedding excess
That wedding was insanely over the top. Diamonds were exchanged, more than 600 bottles of champagne were served... And good luck if you wanted to swim, as the pool at the wedding venue had been topped up with cologne. But the actual marriage itself wasn’t to last. In 1951 Rita filed divorce papers, and the pair were still fighting things out in court when Aly died in 1960.
