Royal Wedding Bells Soon Ring in England, but Are They Ever Heard in Chicago?
Prince William and Kate Middleton are engaged. Photo: Ison/AP, nydailynews.com.
As though we didn't all know there was a secret engagement in London, The Prince of Wales (aka Charles) officially announced the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton early this morning. The pair has been dating (with a few down times) for nearly eight years, having met while in school at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Their courtship has been followed by British tabloids ever since, but the proposal was kept completely private. Prince William apparently popped the question on a safari getaway in Kenya and sought the permission of Kate's father. Ever since, rumors have been swirling about upcoming nuptials: Kate's family was photographed hunting with the Royal Family, Kate and Prince William attending a friend's wedding together whereas they usually would come and go separately, Kate was given an unfortunate nickname from the British tabloids, "Waity Katie" because she was waiting to wed the Prince. Well the waiting is finally over, and the commoner-turned-queen-to-be is said to marry her Prince in the upcoming spring or summer.
I've followed the Royal Family, particularly Prince William for years. What can I say? I'm an American girl about the same age as a real Prince - when you're a 13-year-old girl and this comes to your attention, you tend to take notice. Now, as he's set to marry his long time girlfriend and the country will essentially celebrate with him, I've been thinking about our own U.S. royal weddings - most recently, Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky as well as Jenna Bush and Henry Hager. Politicians' children are probably the closet we have, but we're usually more interested in the love lives of celebrities, because they possess that razzle dazzle we devour.
This sort of got me thinking about Chicago's local power couples.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are engaged and Kate shows off her engagement ring. Photo: AP
Of course there are the obvious socialites and politicians consistently splashed in the society pages of local magazines, but are there any with such wit and brains, power and money, and personality and pizazz that give them a little of that "star" quality? The sort of couples you curiously might read about in a local tabloid? I think so...
Guiliana and Bill clearly top the list without much needed explanation. The E! News host and winner of The Apprentice share their bi-coastal love with viewers on their hit show Guiliana & Bill on the Style Network. Their honesty and candid personalities quickly skyrocketed their show's success and personal likeability from celebrities to personalities, especially in Chicago where right now, they are the royal stars du jour...I once read an article on Kenneth Griffin, the founder, president and CEO of hugely successful the Citadel Investment Group, and his wife, Anne Dias-Griffin, who is also a hedge fund manager and founder of Aaron Global Management. The two were apparently married at Versailles; now that's pretty royal...Billy Dec and Katherine Stephans. You know Billy Dec as the guy behind Rockit Ranch Productions and your favorite Chicago hot spots - Sunda, the Underground, Rockit Bar & Grill. He's (no longer!) one of Chicago's most recognizable party boys in the nightlife scene and she's the absolute stunner who wrangled him in for a 2009 wedding...There are many, many more. Way too many to list. Who would you star-sight?
One thing's for sure, no one can compete with Kate Middleton's newest privilege: Access to the royal jewels Prince William inherited from his mother. And if you remember, she had quite a stunning collection including a 12-carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which is now worn by Kate.
Get all the deets tomorrow night on NBC's Dateline "A Royal Love Story" at 8pm/7c.
No Comments
Leave a Comment?
What your comment will look like:
said: