Coming Soon from Shana Galen
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American Royalty — 5
Americans Who’ve Married Up
~ first in a
four-part America’s Princess series
by Sonja Rouillard, author of the Romance Readers Guide to Historic London
However, Meghan isn’t the first American to marry up. By my unofficial count there have been at least 35. But while all of the women were commoners—as in not of royal blood—most were not your average Joe…sephine, either.
Take socialite Betsy of Baltimore, who married Napoleon Bonaparte’s youngest brother in 1803. Sadly, her love match did not end well and she never become Queen of Westphalia (Google it). Or philanthropist Mary, who became the Countess von Waldersee in 1874. Born with the proverbial silver spoon, these and others like them were never really one of us, having started out life already in possession of the glass slipper.
I. Lesser-known is gold-digging Peggy, Duchesse de Nemours and Duchesse de Vendome et d’Alencon. Born in 1899, she actually had some noble ancestry but no wealth, her family even rumored to have run a boarding house for a while. In her twenties, she lived in the fringes of New York society, attempting to hook a wealthy husband, including a Vanderbilt. The press dubbed her “Golden Peggy.” Eventually, she scored, big-time: Prince Charles Philippe d’Orleans (for fans of the fabulous Versailles on the tele, yes, he is a descendant of that Philippe). However, the French royal family did not approve, giving them a small allowance and forbidding her the titles; she prevailed in a court battle. With love but not wealth, it’s reported they had to resort to sheep farming in Morocco at one point. Peggy must have loved him dearly, for she stayed with Philippe throughout her sometimes-difficult life. But it was only after her death in 1993 that was she was accepted by the in-laws, being interred next to him in the Royal Chapel of Dreux in the Loir Valley where the duchess rests alongside many of the august relations who had snubbed her in life.
III. Then there’s the rise of Viscountess Astor, who started life as Nancy Langhorne in a modest home in Danville, Virginia. Divorced after a bad marriage, she moved to England
at age 26. In a time when many Americans were snagging nobles, she was
supposedly asked, “Have you come to get our husbands?” She was known for charm and
wit, and responded, “If you knew the trouble I had getting rid of mine...” She
did “get” an Englishman—however, one born in the U.S before his dad, William
Waldorf Astor, one of the wealthiest men in the world, moved the family to Britain.
Dad’s extraordinary generosity to English charities earned him baron and viscount
titles, which passed to his son in 1919, making Nancy a viscountess. What
appeals to me about Nancy is her indomitable American spirit, if not always her
politics. She broke an English glass ceiling, becoming the first woman to win
and take a seat as a Member of Parliament.Lord and Lady Astor lived an aristocratic life. You can play Lady of the Manor too by staying in Cliveden House (for a hefty fee)—their palatial estate is now a hotel. While you take tea, envision Queen Victoria joining you as she was fond of the place. Later, one of England’s biggest sex/spy scandals got its start there, the Profumo Affair, but that’s another story.
IV. A recent royaling-up is Her Royal Highness Princess Sarah Zeid, formerly Sarah Butler of Texas. While not poor, neither was she uber-rich as are most of the living American princesses. She is, however, a highly-educated, career woman, which makes her choice of Middle Eastern noble unusual. But said royal is not your average stand-behind-me and wear-a-hijab kind of guy. All accounts indicate it was a love match when, in 2000, she married Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, member of the Jordanian House of Hashemite and Crown Prince of Iraq. They live in New York with their three children, and what’s wonderful about this couple is that the focus of their lives is doing good for people worldwide. Princess Sarah works as an advocate for women’s rights and maternal/newborn healthcare, and he serves as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
V. Which leads nicely into the fairytale romance of Harry
and the soon to be HRH Princess Henry of
Wales for they are also a couple who have pledged their lives to doing good.
Meghan’s unique among the marrying-up Americans because she’s bi-racial (African-American
mom, whose ancestors were slaves in Georgia, and Caucasian dad). And, she’s a divorcee.
Famously, in 1937, King Edward VIII married a divorcee too, the
humble-roots, twice-divorced Wallace Simpson, but he had to abdicate the throne
in order to marry the American. It had even caused an uproar when he brought her
to the palace to meet mum (the queen), because divorcees weren’t allowed at
court. So, while she might have been the first to catch a British HRH, the only
family jewels she got to handle weren’t of the crystal kind.
So, Meghan should thank her lucky diamonds (the ones in her
wedding tiara) that times have changed, because apparently the House of Windsor
is welcoming her with open arms. I like to think it’s due, in part, to the
changes in Harry since he started dating Meghan. Was it just a few years ago
that the wild child was caught on camera naked, playing strip billiards in Las
Vegas? Not anymore. Now he’s polished and polite, sporting tailored suits and
looking happy. And something tells me that the newly mature prince wouldn’t
have settled for anything less than his family’s full acceptance of his bride. Harry’s
doing his duty now in every way and he’s chosen the helpmate he wants at his
side.
What I really like about their story is that Meghan appears
to deserve her fairytale. She worked hard in college at Northwestern, becoming
the first in her family to earn a degree. Then went on to pursue an acting career,
eventually landing a lead role in the successful tv show Suits (a favorite of mine; start with the pilot—it’s one of the
best episodes).
But here’s the good-karma, deserving part: Once she hit
stardom, Meghan used her newfound power for good, working as global ambassador
for major children and youth charities and as an advocate to the United Nations
Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Had she instead gone for
the Hollywood lifestyle of fancy cars and endless parties, she might never have
met Harry, and it seems like their shared interest in African charity work
helped them bond. Their third date even consisted of a five-day camping trip in
Africa, described by Harry as the two of them in a tent in “the middle of
nowhere.” Going forward, Meghan plans to work supporting Harry in his charity efforts.
The big day is May 19th and millions will be
tuned in for the making of Princess Meghan
when she weds her prince in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. And, yes, I
know she won’t be styled like that, but did you know that Princess Diana couldn’t
officially be called that either. The honorific was added by the people. So,
this people—me—is adding it to Meghan and calling her Our American Princess.
And, heck, she gets to wear the royal jewels! What more does
one need?
But one thing I’m very hopeful of, and fairly confident
about too, is that Meghan will represent American womanhood with brilliant grace,
poise, and style, making us all proud to call her one of ours.
Next up in my
America’s Princess series is “Take a Walk in Meghan’s Footsteps” and later,
how commoners—like you and me—can party along with the happy couple.
Sonja Rouillard
Author, Romance
Readers Guide to Historic London
Resources:
St. Joseph’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, their current abode at
Kensington Palace, Cliveden House, the Astors, and more, are described in Romance Readers Guide to Historic London.
Photos of Grace Kelly, Lady Astor, Royal Wedding Hop, and
tiara in the public domain.
If you love stories about royals you won't want to miss
A Royal Christmas!
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Waiting for a Duke Like You
There's no such thing as the perfect hero ...Nathan Cauley, Duke of Wyndover, is so handsome ladies swoon—but Nathan doesn't want a fawning miss for his duchess. Then he stumbles upon a filthy young woman sleeping under a bridge, and his protective instincts are raised. When he recognizes her as the woman he loved years before, he's determined to win back her heart.
Or is there?
Princess Vivienne is the last of the royal family of Glynaven. Vivienne is all alone and on the run when the Duke of Wyndover comes to her rescue. Vivienne barely remembers meeting him years before, and wonders if he is any more than a pretty face. But when the assassins return, Nathan might just prove to be the man Vivienne's been waiting for.
A Prince in Her Stocking
When it's cold outside ...Prince Lucien of Glynaven spends the cold winter days in a small bookshop, searching for a book that's the key to saving his life. When Lady Cassandra Ashbrooke comes in to shop, her lovely face is almost enough to make him give up his search. But when assassins track him, he must end the budding romance and abandon his last chance at ever reclaiming his identity.
A prince is just the man to make Christmas a little more cozy.
When the widowed Lady Cassandra catches a glimpse of an attractive man in her favorite bookshop, she decides to meet him, hoping to add a small spark of excitement into her dull life. Soon the prince's kisses are more passionate than Cass can imagine. But with danger closing in on all sides, is it too late for a holiday miracle?
These novellas were previously published in the anthologies Dancing in the Duke's Arms and Christmas in Duke Street.
