Bright Young Royals, page 1
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
YOUNG, HOT, & ROYAL
MOST ELIGIBLE
MORE TITLED TALENT
CINDERELLA STORIES
RECENT ROYAL BRIDES
POWER COUPLES
THE BRIGHTEST, YOUNGEST QUEEN
EVER AFTER
Acknowledgements
SOURCES
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BRIGHT YOUNG ROYALS
Copyright © 2011 by Jerramy Fine Photo credits are listed on page 266 Book design by Tiffany Estreicher
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PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley trade paperback edition / October 2011
ISBN : 978-1-101-55848-5
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For everyone who believes in the magic of royal kingdoms
and the promise of happily ever after
YOUNG, HOT, & ROYAL
On the dawn of a new millennium, many see monarchies as archaic institutions—as out-of-date and dreary as the castles they inhabit. Some sovereigns, like Queen Elizabeth II, are deeply respected. But many of the older royals, who once upon a time appeared so glamorous, have begun to seem conventional and dull—and thoroughly at odds with the fast, glittering pace of modern life.
Enter the next generation of royal blood! Not only do they glow with the beauty of youth and privilege, but they are stylish, sophisticated, worldly-wise and media-savvy. Most important, almost all are using their royal heritage for something infinitely nobler. Their academic achievements and altruistic track records demonstrate that these princes and princesses possess the character and strength to fulfill their royal duties in ways that have yet to be seen.
Prince William and his glamorous new wife, Catherine Middleton, are the sparkling poster children for this new regal generation. They’re good-looking, educated twentysomethings, and for all the media fanfare surrounding their fairy-tale romance, they remain extremely down-to-earth. Unlike so many of the royal couples before them, their nuptials weren’t prearranged by the royal establishment. Instead, Will and Kate met in college (like normal people!), and although they hail from vastly different backgrounds, they share the same values and dedication to the greater good. In fact, before meeting at St. Andrews University, they missed bumping into each other by mere months when they both volunteered for the same charity in South America!
When the couple gave their first television interview following the news of their engagement, the relaxed, playful love between them was there for all to see. Many thought Kate would be nervous, but she was charming, gracious, and as ever, stunningly beautiful. Every little girl dreams of meeting Prince Charming; it’s heart-warming to watch a girl like Kate actually living the fairy tale.
Like so many of these bright young bluebloods, Kate and William demonstrate fantastic style, a tireless commitment to a gamut of charity causes, and a fierce loyalty to each other, their families, and their country. The following pages contain the hippest, best-looking crowd Europe’s monarchies have ever produced. Read on to discover who’s who of the young and titled—and see for yourself why these bluebloods are so red hot!
HRH PRINCE WILLIAM, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE
BORN: June 21, 1982
ROYAL HERITAGE: Second in line to the British throne, his parents are HRH Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. His grandmother is HM Queen Elizabeth II.
EDUCATION: Eton College; University of St. Andrews (where he studied art history and then geography); Sandhurst Military Academy.
MILITARY SERVICE : Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry; also training to be a search-and-rescue pilot with the Royal Air Force.
WHAT MAKES HIM HOT: A blond, blue-eyed future king with his father’s sense of duty and his mother’s sense of compassion. What’s not to love?
Those close to William say he is genuine, accessible, levelheaded, and a deep thinker—all good qualities for a modern monarch-to-be. Like Diana, William has a strong philanthropic drive and an easy, unpretentious manner—he is very much the “People’s Prince.”
LOVE LIFE: After years of speculation, royal watchers around the world rejoiced when Prince William’s engagement to the glamorously demure Kate Middleton was finally announced on November 16, 2010. William had been dating Kate (his former college flatmate) since 2003, and proposed to her during their recent vacation in Kenya. In an extremely moving gesture, William gave his future bride Princess Diana’s sapphire engagement ring to honor his late mother’s memory. The glowing young couple married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, in what all have hailed as the regal event of the century.
ACTIVITIES: Polo, rugby, water polo, tennis, swimming, hockey, claypigeon shooting, photography. He is also president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) as well as president of the Royal Marsden Hospital, a position previously held by his mother.
MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND: At his father’s home in Gloucestershire; at Clarence House in London; relaxing on the island of Mustique; skiing in Klosters or Courchevel; enjoying a simple pizza with his wife at his new marital home in North Wales.
QUOTE: “All of us, whatever path our lives have taken, are ultimately neighbors and share a common bond.”1
PRINCE WILLIAM’S CHARITIES: ◆ Centrepoint Provides emergency accommodation, support, information, and training for homeless young people in London. Prince William is a patron. (His mother was also a patron at the time of her death.) William is heavily involved in the charity and recently spent a night sleeping on the streets of London to help raise awareness. http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/
◆ Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund Aims to lift Ugandan children out of poverty through education. Princes William and Harry are joint patrons. http://www.henryvanstraubenzeemf.org.uk/
◆ The Child Bereavement Charity Provides specialized support, information, and training to all those affected when a child or parent dies. Prince William, who knows all too well what it’s like to lose a mother, is a patron and often holds private meetings with bereaved families and children supported by the charity. http://www.childbereavement.org.uk
◆ Tusk Trust Funds environmental conservation across Africa, combining the interests of people and wildlife alike. Prince William is a patron. http://www.tusk.org/
◆ The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund Established in September 1997 to continue the princess’s humanitarian work throughout the world. http://www.theworkcontinues.org/
◆ The Prince’s Rainforests Project Founded by his father, The Prince of Wales, to discourage deforestation rates and show the vital link between rain forests and climate change. Princes William and Harry appeared alongside their father and an animated frog in a recent public awareness film. http://www.rainforestsos.org
◆ Raleigh International A UK-based educational development charity that aims to help people of all backgrounds and nationalities to discover their full potential. Both Prince William and Kate Middleton are Raleigh alumni—Prince William went to Chile with Raleigh International in 2000 and Kate did the same in 2001. http://www.raleighinternational.org/
◆ The American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry Supports the UK Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry and other charities that support at-risk youth, environmental conservation and injured armed forces. In July 2011, during his North American tour, Prince William played in his first ever American polo match at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club to raise funds for this charity. http://www.foundationpolochallenge.com/foundation.html
HRH PRINCESS BEATRICE OF YORK
BORN: August 8, 1988
ROYAL HERITAGE: Fifth in line to the British throne, her parents are Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and Sarah, the Duchess of York (aka Fergie). Her grandmother is HM Queen Elizabeth II. Her first cousins are the Princes William and Harry.
WHAT MAKES HER HOT: Fi
QUOTE: “I have been given circumstances that anyone would wish for and I do believe that I must do something good with it.”2
EDUCATION: Studying history at Goldsmith’s University, London.
SUMMER INTERNSHIP: Public relations department of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
LOVE LIFE: Since 2007, Beatrice has been stepping out with the handsome David Clark, a wealthy young American (and pal of Prince William’s) who works for Virgin’s space tourism project.
ACTIVITIES: Polo, riding, skiing, Rollerblading, golf, singing (she was in the school choir), music (especially James Blunt), old films (like High Society), watching TV (Desperate Housewives and The OC are her favorites).
MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND: In London’s elite nightspots (i.e. Public, Mahiki, Boujis, Chinawhite, the Groucho Club), dining at Nobu or Cipriani; the front row of London Fashion Week; in her own apartment at St. James’s Palace.
WHEN YOU MEET HER OUT ON THE TOWN: Don’t curtsey; don’t call her HRH. “I don’t want any of that,” she told Hello! magazine, “I’m just Beatrice.”
BEATRICE’S CHARITIES: ◆ Springboard for Children Provides a literacy lifeline for children with learning difficulties in inner city primary schools. (Beatrice recently went public with her dyslexia, so this charity is especially close to her heart.) http://www.springboard.org.uk/
◆ Children in Crisis Founded by her mother, the Duchess of York, it aims to improve the lives of children around the world affected by conflict, deprivation, and poverty. Beatrice was their first ever junior ambassador and in helping to raise funds, she became the first ever royal to run a marathon. She recently auctioned her infamous beige hat (worn to Will and Kate’s wedding) and donated one hundred percent of the proceeds, earning over $132,000 for the charity. http://www.childrenincrisis.org/
◆ The Woodland Trust The UK’s leading woodland conservation charity—Beatrice was recently spotted planting trees on their behalf. http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/
◆ The Teenage Cancer Trust Devoted to improving the lives of teenagers and young adults with cancer. www.teenagecancertrust.org/
◆ Elephant Family Works to save the Asian elephant from extinction and abuse. http://www.elephantfamily.org/
◆ SOS Children’s Villages The world’s largest orphan charity operating in 123 countries. www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/
ANDREA CASIRAGHI OF MONACO
BORN: June 8, 1984
ROYAL HERITAGE: Second in line to the Monegasque throne after his mother, HRH Caroline, Princess of Hanover and Hereditary Princess of Monaco. His maternal grandmother is Hollywood icon Grace Kelly. Andrea was six years old when his father, Stefano Casiraghi, died in a speedboat accident. His stepfather is HRH Prince Ernst August of Hanover.
WHAT MAKES HIM HOT: Chiseled cheekbones, sun-kissed surfer looks, and Hollywood lineage
EDUCATION: McGill University in Canada and the American University in Paris
LANGUAGES: French, Italian, English, German
MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND: Clubbing in Manhattan or Ibiza, skiing in Austria at St. Moritz or Zurs, sunning in Tuscany, enjoying the Monaco Grand Prix
ACTIVITIES: Politics, art, the environment, long-distance running, riding, skiing, guitar, sailing
LOVE LIFE: Has been dating elegant Colombian socialite and airline heiress Tatiana Santo Domingo since 2005.
ANDREA’S CHARITIES: ◆ AMADE Founded in 1963 by his grandmother HSH Princess Grace of Monaco, the charity seeks to promote and protect children’s rights on an international level. http://www.amade-mondiale.org/en
◆ The Motrice Foundation Supports research and innovation in the field of cerebral palsy. Andrea is an ambassador for this foundation, which was started by the father of a classmate with cerebral palsy. http://eng.lafondationmotrice.org/
HRH CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA OF SWEDEN
BORN: July 14, 1977
ROYAL HERITAGE: She is the eldest of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia’s three children.
WHAT MAKES HER HOT: Her engaging smile, casual ponytail, relaxed disposition, and the small fact that she is the only female heir-apparent in the world. (Her younger brother, Carl Philip, who traditionally was bound for the throne under rules of primogeniture, lost out when Sweden became the first monarchy to allow the eldest child—male or female—to inherit.)
QUOTE: “I don’t stop focusing on the job with which I’ve been entrusted.”3
EDUCATION: Political science and history at Yale University; conflict resolution at Uppsala University, the Swedish National Defence College, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ Diplomat Program.
INTERNSHIPS: United Nations in New York, Swedish Embassy in Washington, DC
LANGUAGES: English, French, German, Swedish
ACTIVITIES: Dogs, horses, walking, painting, gardening, beekeeping, skiing
ROYAL FRIENDS: Fellow heir-apparents, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway
LOVE LIFE: Victoria recently married her commoner boyfriend of eight years, Swedish gym owner Daniel Westling. Tears of joy were shed by the couple during a very regal ceremony at Stockholm Cathedral on June 19,2010—her parents’thirty-fourth wedding anniversary. At the sumptuous reception attended by royals from throughout Europe, Victoria and Daniel danced an adorable wedding waltz—which is now a popular YouTube video. Known for his down-to-earth demeanor and Clark Kent looks, Daniel used to work as Victoria’s personal trainer. Since the wedding, he has received the titles of “Prince Daniel” and “Duke of Västergötland.”
MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND: Walking her beloved Labrador Jambo; attending the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs currently headed by her father, King Carl of Sweden (she steps in as a temporary regent when needed); skiing at her chalet in Storlien; gardening at Solliden Palace, her family’s island retreat off the southern coast of Sweden.
VICTORIA’S CHARITIES:◆ The Crown Princess Victoria Fund Provides leisure and recreational activities for children with funtional disabilities or chronic illnesses. Every year, Victoria visits several of the fund’s projects. http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=94472
◆ Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) Organizes the bulk of Sweden’s aid to developing countries. In 2005 Victoria studied Swedish aid initiatives on location in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. http://www.sida.se/English/
◆ Victoria and Daniel have also set up their own wedding foundation, which will combat youth alienation and promote good health. They ask that anyone wishing to give them a wedding gift donate money to their charity instead.
