Royal weddings are often the stuff of fairytales, so it seems fitting that a curse would somehow be involved. A real-life curse may be true for one Royal family. According to legend, The Grimaldi Royal Family of Monaco is cursed and will never have a true happily-ever-after.
How the curse came to be is a bit of a mystery. One report of a 13th-century legend tells the tale of a Flemish woman who was raped by Prince Rainier I. In retaliation, she cursed the House, saying that “never will a Grimaldi find true happiness in marriage”.
Another tale says that a witch being burnt at the stake said those immortal words preventing a true happily-ever-after.
Over the course of the family’s 700-year-long rule, they have experienced much heartbreak and tragedy. Here are just a few of the ways the family has been unlucky in love:
Grace Kelly’s death
The Grimaldi family rose to international fame in 1952 when Prince Rainier III married Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly. However, their marriage was not the stuff of fairytales. Kelly reportedly struggled with the intense demand and expectation that comes with being a royal.
In 1982, the superstar actress tragically died in a car accident at the age of 52. She had reportedly suffered a stroke while driving with her daughter Stephanie. Dr. Jean Chatelain, chief surgeon at the hospital where she was treated, says she might have survived had she been at home and not in the car.
Princess Caroline
Grace Kelly and Prince Renier’s eldest daughter Caroline had a short-lived marriage to French banker Philippe Junot, and also lost her second husband, Stefano Casiraghi, in a tragic accident. Casiraghi, a professional speedboat racer, died in a powerboat crash off the coast of Monaco in 1990 while he was competing in his last race before retiring from the sport. Only weeks earlier, the racer had survived an incident in which his boat exploded.
Her third marriage to Prince Ernst August V of Hanover has had its ups and downs. The Prince is said to have a terrible temper and has faced assault charges in the past. The couple are now estranged.
Princess Stephanie
Grace Kelly’s other daughter, Princess Stephanie was long considered the wild child of the family and brought even more scandal when she married her bodyguard, Daniel Ducruet after having children with him. The relationship ended when his affair with Miss Topless Belgium went public. She was also briefly married to a Portuguese acrobat 10 years her junior.
Prince Albert
Grace Kelly’s son Prince Albert II and wife Charlene Wittstock have also reportedly been unlucky in love. The Prince fathered two illegitimate children, one with a flight attendant from Togo and another with a US estate agent before he married South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock. Reports that he fathered a third love child while he was in a relationship with Wittstock were highly publicised in the lead up to their 2011 wedding.
Whether it’s the result of a curse or sheer bad luck, one thing is for sure. The House of Grimaldi has been anything but lucky in love.
Feature image: Pinterest
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A little bit of sparkle never hurt anyone. Glamorous brides who aren’t afraid of a little over-the-top design will love a sparkly wedding gown that shines like the star they are.
Sparkly wedding dresses are perfect for winter weddings or glamorous themes. Go opulent with intricate beading, sequins or rhinestones to elevate your look. Depending on the detailing, these shiny additions can give a vintage effect or go full-on modern day princess.
If you love a bit of glitz and glam, try out one of these gowns.
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Feature image: Pexels
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Iconic musician Rod Stewart and English model, photographer and TV personality Penny Lancaster have reached a new milestone. The couple recently celebrated their 13-year wedding anniversary, and they seem happier than ever.
Despite lockdown, the pair still honoured their special day. Lancaster shared an image to Instagram, revealing that the pair went to Hyde Park in London and had a take-out lunch to celebrate.
“Celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary with a trip into London for a take out in Hyde park, cheers everyone ? good health!” she captioned the image.
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Stewart also took to Instagram to express his love for his long-time partner.
“Cheers to my beautiful wife, 13-in-a-row #weddinganniversary,” he wrote.
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The couple began dating in 1999 and married in 2007. Stewart explains that Lancaster changed him for the better and helped him realise the importance of a long-lasting, healthy marriage.
Stewart still seems to be head-over-heels for his wife. Earlier this year, he told The Mirror that, “They have not invented the words for how I feel about her. She is everything”.
They have two children together: 12-year-old Alastair Wallace Stewart and 9-year-old Aiden Patrick Stewart.
Feature image: Instagram / Penny Lancaster
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Western wedding ceremonies come with a number of traditions, from the presence of a ring bearer to the garter toss and even saving the top tier of the wedding cake for a year later. Similarly, different cultures across the world have their own interesting wedding traditions.
Being aware of different cultures and their traditions helps us be more accepting of others and saves you from the embarrassment of attending a wedding of a different culture and having no clue what’s going on!
To help you enlighten yourself, here are a few traditions and customs of Chinese weddings:
Collecting the Bride
Prior to the wedding, the groom decorates the car and collects his bride in a lively procession. As the groom begins his journey to the bride, firecrackers are set off, and drums and gongs are banged. A young child often leads the procession, along with the groom. This symbolises future children for the couple.
The procession walks with lanterns and banners and musical instruments are payed too.
Wedding Dress
It is tradition for a Chinese Bride to wear a red dress, known as a ‘qipao’, and to hide her face with a red veil. Red is a symbol of happiness, good luck, and a prosperous future.
Many brides today have both a white bridal gown and a red wedding dress.
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The banquet
The banquet is a lavish affair. At the beginning of the dinner, the bride commonly changes into her traditional wedding dress. In the past, both sets of parents throw separate feasts however these days the feasts are commonly combined. The feast comes with about six courses each. The bride and groom both change clothing between the 3rd and 6th courses.
At the banquet, guests sign their names in a book or on a scroll when they present their gifts.
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Arriving home
Once again, firecrackers are set off as the newly married couple arrives at their new home. A red mat is laid out so that the bride’s feet do not touch the floor as she makes her way into the house.
Chinese Tea Ceremony
The couple’s families are formally introduced during the Tea Ceremony, at which they commonly drink Tsao Chün, a Chinese Tea. After everyone’s cups are empty, the couple is given a red envelope which is considered to be lucky and is filled with money and at times jewellery too.
Tea is served by the newlyweds, as this ceremony takes place either immediately after the wedding or the next day.
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Image: Instagram /oliviabuckleyinternational