American Royalty

[SLV]

Originally Posted by Heavs

No Princess Muna is British by birth, born Toni Gardiner.

Queen Noor is American born Lisa Halaby.

Ah, yes. It was Queen Noor, I had in mind.

[JR76]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

Perhaps you could find an indigenous equivalent to "royalty" among the Native American peoples, although I think Native North American civilizations in particular lacked a concept like royalty in the Eurasian sense. Any comments on that matter?

The descendants of the Hawaiian Royal family still claim royal titles and are seen by many indigenous Hawaiians as symbols of the Hawaiian nation and it's heritage.

[princeofitaly]

Also Rita Hayworth was an American Princess. She became princess when she married Prince Aly Khan.

[MaiaMia_53]

Kathleen 'Koo' Stark is an American who is a former girlfriend of Prince Andrew. She most likely would have become his wife, if not for having appeared nude in the independent film, Emily, "directed by Henry Herbert, 17th Earl of Pembroke. Uncertain whether to accept the part, Stark did so on the advice of Graham Greene, with whom she had worked the year before."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koo_Stark

I had not followed the story of Koo Stark and Prince Andrew that closely when it occurred, so I was surprised to learn that Koo (her nickname since childhood) is from a wealthy upper class American family, and that she was well-liked and fully accepted by the British royals, prior to the news of her former acting stint in Emily. Apparently, Koo remained friendly with Andrew over the years. As well, she went on to have a productive and accomplished life, but the shadow of her brush with royalty continues to taint her reputation. I didn't realize until I read more about Koo that she actually was not and has never been a 'porn star.'

[Moonmaiden23]

Exactly true. Ms. Stark's " work" from a distance of 30 years seems quite mild. In fact, the former Sofia Hellqvist ..now Princess Sofia daughter in law of the king of Sweden, has a much racier portfolio by far than Koo Stark.

But Britain is not Sweden. I am not sure Sofia could have married even a minor British Royal.

[MaiaMia_53]

I see from her Wiki bio that Sofia of Sweden posed in bikini underwear and was a former 'glamour model,' in addition to a couple of acting stints, one on a reality tv show. She has also studied accounting, business development and child & youth science, with advocacy on behalf of the rights of children. So she definitely has an interesting background. Sofia is also a licensed yoga instructor, and as we know, she completed nursing training last year to help out at Swedish hospitals dealing with the COVID pandemic.

If that's considered too 'racy' a background for royalty in today's world, oh well stuck-up royals with questionable hidden family backgrounds of their own aren't worth marrying into.

[Moonmaiden23]

You haven't seen what I have. In fact, you have missed quite a lot. I am not going to go off topic. There is an entire thread here dedicated Sofia's colorful past.

You can also try Google but the Swedish Court scrubbed many of her photos and interviews pre Carl Phillip.

Koo was a piker in comparison.

[Heavs]

Originally Posted by MaiaMia_53

I see from her Wiki bio that Sofia of Sweden posed in bikini underwear and was a former 'glamour model,' in addition to a couple of acting stints, one on a reality tv show. She has also studied accounting, business development and child & youth science, with advocacy on behalf of the rights of children. So she definitely has an interesting background. Sofia is also a licensed yoga instructor, and as we know, she completed nursing training last year to help out at Swedish hospitals dealing with the COVID pandemic.

If that's considered too 'racy' a background for royalty in today's world, oh well stuck-up royals with questionable hidden family backgrounds of their own aren't worth marrying into.

CP and Sofia did face a lot of opposition to their relationship and later marriage but it wasn't necessarily all from the Swedish Royal Family, but from the media and public who weren't best pleased to put it mildly with the idea of a Princess who posed naked with a snake wrapped around her. Judgemental? Yes. But they kept on their path and she seems accepted these days. A lot of families all over the world might raise their eyes at the idea of a glamour model girlfriend before they got to know her as a person. It wasn't just a couple of bikini pics either. But they *were* allowed to get married and are currently working members of the SRF who don't cause much controversy and it was her choice to pursue the relationship as well as his.

It should also be noted that "Mary the estate agent" got some stick for "being extremely average" among other things before proving herself as a Crown Princess.

In the UK I was never under the impression that Koo Stark was a porn actress. The papers used to mention her "racy" past and sexy scenes but I had never been under the impression that she did porn per se. But that's the difference between the 80s and today.

I think if you date a royal then your often forever "tainted" by it by the media as it's something they always mention. Ruthie Henshall is a very accomplished actress but some headlines still lead with "Prince Edward's ex Ruthie Henshall" when talking about her. When Sabrina Guinness got married she was dubbed "Prince Charles's ex gets married" even though she's a very accomplished woman and it was 40 years ago.

[Moonmaiden23]

I need to clarify that I have changed my previously low opinion of Sofia. She works hard and hasn't put a foot wrong. She is beautiful and well turned out.

I only brought her up to provide an example of the way times have changed about what is/is not accepted in European Royal families.

[MaiaMia_53]

I think women in general are sexualized, marginalized and then slammed for exerting control over their own sexuality for whatever reason, either to make a living or to engage in pursuits they find fulfilling and enjoyable.

It is a person's overall character, upbringing and behavior that matters, regardless of so-called 'racy' pictures that are out there. Misogyny and misogynoir abound in our culture.

[Osipi]

Originally Posted by MaiaMia_53

I think women in general are sexualized, marginalized and then slammed for exerting control over their own sexuality for whatever reason, either to make a living or to engage in pursuits they find fulfilling and enjoyable.

It is a person's overall character, upbringing and behavior that matters, regardless of so-called 'racy' pictures that are out there. Misogyny and misogynoir abound in our culture.

What isn't widely known is that misogyny has its opposite. Misandry. It's out there and alive and well in all kinds of societies in the 21st century.

[Heavs]

Originally Posted by MaiaMia_53

I think women in general are sexualized, marginalized and then slammed for exerting control over their own sexuality for whatever reason, either to make a living or to engage in pursuits they find fulfilling and enjoyable.

It is a person's overall character, upbringing and behavior that matters, regardless of so-called 'racy' pictures that are out there. Misogyny and misogynoir abound in our culture.

I agree that it is a person's character and behaviour that matters most and that many "unsuitable" royal brides of the last decade have proven themselves hardworking and dedicated in the face of a lot of judgement. Slow and steady wins the race.

However making a lot of fuss over "racy" pictures is hardly the preserve of people marrying in to royal families. There have been plenty of young American actresses and celebrities who've talked about not being able to find work after their naked pictures were leaked or because they said or did something stupid once that followed them around forever.

And since we don't know these people it's often easier to go with first impressions. Even after a long time we can't see their true character we can only judge on their public behaviour over a period of time.

I will point out that this isn't entirely just about women in royal circles either. Prince Daniel got a huge amount of criticism and innuendo for "just being a personal trainer sleeping with the rich girl" and some farm boy. He has also proven himself publicly over 10 years.

Kei Komuro and his family's character has been picked clean by both the IHA, Japanese Government and the media.

To get back on topic American Chris O'Neill married Princess Madeleine and has faced a lot of criticism. It seems that Svensk Damtidning publishes trivial nit picks and attacks on him weekly.

[Qutus123]

Originally Posted by MaiaMia_53

I think women in general are sexualized, marginalized and then slammed for exerting control over their own sexuality for whatever reason, either to make a living or to engage in pursuits they find fulfilling and enjoyable.

It is a person's overall character, upbringing and behavior that matters, regardless of so-called 'racy' pictures that are out there. Misogyny and misogynoir abound in our culture.

Ah yes, being a slag is "empowering" to women.

[Prinsara]

Chris doesn't exactly count as royalty, though, does he? Since he deliberately turned the prince (or even duke) thing down. Americans married to royals are not necessarily royal themselves (see Wallis).

For that matter, there's Jim O'Hare, Princess Delphine of Belgium's partner. Newly royal "wife" and kids, but not him.

Leonore, Nicholas, Adrienne, Josephine and Oscar all are by virtue of having one royal and one American parent, but not their fathers.

[Heavs]

Originally Posted by Prinsara

Chris doesn't exactly count as royalty, though, does he? Since he deliberately turned the prince (or even duke) thing down. Americans married to royals are not necessarily royal themselves (see Wallis).

For that matter, there's Jim O'Hare, Princess Delphine of Belgium's partner. Newly royal "wife" and kids, but not him.

I know Chris is not technically "royal" but I counted him because A) his wife and in laws are all royal and B) his children were HRH until 18 months ago and still hold "Prince/ss" titles. He's part of the Swedish royal family if not the Royal House.

He still gets endlessly criticised even though he made it clear from the outset that he didn't want a title or be involved in royal duties. Despite being a successful, good looking white man.

[Prinsara]

Originally Posted by Prinsara

I am not sure how many other royals talk like Americans.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=RKLXpiDzlzI?

Well, this surely counts. It's amazing, both because Harald also has a very posh British English and because he must have picked this up as a young child in the US during the war. And nobody thought to tell him he sounds like a gangster, see?

[BigLenny]

Princess Ariana Austin (wife of Prince Joel David Makonnen of Ethiopia) and Queen Hope Cooke (wife of King Palden Thondup Namgyal of Sikkim) are also Americans.

[CyrilVladisla]

The American heiress Mary Leiter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e58cCKOgKA

[Biri]

And Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor is American.

[CyrilVladisla]

Princess Rita: The Wedding of Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyhbyDjDhPo