Bright Young Royals (16 page)

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Madrasati
Another of Queen Rania’s initiatives, this charity brings together businesses, non-governmental organizations, and communities to rejuvenate schools in need.
http://www.madrasati.jo/site.html

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The Queen Rania Teacher Academy
Advances education in Jordan and throughout the Middle East by providing teachers with access to training, professional support, and the latest research on educational methods.
http://www.qrta.edu.jo/

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The Children’s Museum of Jordan
A nonprofit organization launched by Queen Rania in 2007 to encourage and nurture lifelong learning in children and their families.
http://www.cmj.jo/hmq_letter

EVER AFTER

“We’ve been brought up in different times.
The world is changing, as everyone knows.
We’ve changed with it.”

—PRINCE HARRY

T
he world’s few remaining royal families are living relics from another age. While it was once widely believed that monarchs were descended from the gods or divinely anointed, in this new millennium, it is clear that our beloved bluebloods are all too mortal.

Young, rich, and beautiful, these youngsters realize that being born into royalty has its perks, but they are also acutely aware that being royal means living life in a fishbowl. While the generation before them struggled to come to terms with their royal position in this modern, media-driven age, it appears that these young royals are effortlessly thriving in the new status quo.

Tragically, iconic royals like Diana, Princess of Wales, and Princess Grace of Monaco are no longer with us. But their lives remain the subject of intense global fascination—and so, too, the lives of their offspring.

The Monegasque children seem to have been born with elegance in their DNA and have put Monaco back on the map as one of Europe’s most glamorous and youthful monarchies. Meanwhile, Prince William and Prince Harry have not only kept their mother’s flame alight, but have captured the adoration of millions. (And with the addition of Catherine Middleton, it’s safe to say that William’s glamour has increased tenfold.) All of the young aristocrats and royals mentioned in this book have a strong sense duty, a unique sense of fun, and a fresh determination to leave their own mark on the monarchy. But will they avoid the mistakes of their parents?

Whatever the future holds, we know that in this ever-changing world, these bright young bluebloods will continue to pique our interest, surprise the media, shock their families, pull our heartstrings, and honor their historical royal heritage—while inspiring everyone to find the human nobility that dwells inside us all.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to my agent, Laura Langlie (for having enough faith in me to send a glass slipper); to my editor, Kate Seaver (for recognizing that she’s not the only one who wants to know where Prince Harry hangs out!); and to Giulia Carnera Secchi (for her fantastic photo editing.) I would also like to thank my wonderful, indulgent husband, who doesn’t seem to mind that I spend most of my time researching eligible princes.

SOURCES

1.
Hello!
magazine, February 22, 2010

2.
Tatler
, September 2005

3.
hellomagazine.com

4. AP, 2003

5.
Tatler
, 2009

6. Translated from Swedish
Elle
, January 2010

7.
Vanity Fair
, June 2009

8.
Vanity Fair
, June 2009

9.
hellomagazine.com

10.
hellomagazine.com

11.
Tatler
, December 2010

12.
http://www.queenrania.jo

13.
http://www.queenrania.jo

PHOTO CREDITS

REX FEATURES:
pages 3, 9, 13, 17, 21, 29, 33, 37, 41, 53, 59, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 97, 106, 109, 113, 117, 121, 145, 153, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 191, 195, 201, 207, 213, 225, 229, 233, 237, 243, 244, 249, 250, 253, 254, 259, 260

EMIRATES AIRWAYS / ICON / REX FEATURES:
page 25

GENT SHKULLAKU / AFP / GETTYIMAGES:
page 45

CAMERA PRESS / MARK STEWART:
page 49

GETTY IMAGES:
pages 93, 101

STIG NIELSEN / DANA PRES PHOTO:
page 129

ANGELI / GOFFPHOTOS.COM:
page 133

PASCAL LE SEGRETAIN / GETTY IMAGES:
page 137

PHOTOSHOP/ANP:
page 141

DOMINIC O’ NEILL
page 149

GAMMA-RAPHOVIA / GETTYIMAGES:
page 157

IFAR-TASS:
page 185

ACTION PRESS / REX FEATURES:
page 219