It is well known that celebrities’ personal lives are tabloid gold. We see them regularly engaged in scandalous behavior which ends up on social media platforms for all to see. However, there is another side to celebrity that people may not be as familiar with. Sometimes, celebrity comes in the form of a romantic relationship between two wonderful people who just happen to be famous. These celebrity couples are some of the most recognizable faces in the world and possess an aura of mystery and intrigue surrounding them.
While there is certainly no denying that celebrities are famous for being famous, their private lives often offer a window into the wonderful world of celebrity. That is what makes these individuals so fascinating; the fact that we may never know exactly what is going on behind closed doors makes them even more intriguing.
The Legendary Elizabeth Taylor and William Morris
One of the most famous celebrity couples is undoubtedly Elizabeth Taylor and William Morris. The couple first met at a party in New York in 1939 and were instantly attracted to one another. Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s daughter, Sherry, wanted to throw a big party in honor of her upcoming 16th birthday and decided to extend the invite list to include her famous parents. Needless to say, the party was a huge success, and Elizabeth and William started dating soon after.
During World War II, Elizabeth fell in love with William and moved to Europe with him in search of a quiet life. The couple were married in 1945 at the Chapel Royal in Windsor Castle and had three children together: Elizabeth II, Tiffany, and Christopher. They remained together until William’s death in 1980. Sadly, Elizabeth Taylor passed away in February 2007 at the age of 79. She was an American icon and the matriarch of an extraordinary dynasty.
The Duchess of Windsor and Prince Albert
Another famous royal couple that began their romance in secret was The Duchess of Windsor and Prince Albert. The Duchess was the youngest daughter of King George VI and was still a Princess when World War II broke out. As a result, the duchess had to leave her home in London and move to Windsor Castle, where her father became King George VI upon the death of his father, George V, in January 1936. The Duchess met Prince Albert at a garden party in London during the war and the two married in 1946. They had two children: Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Prince Andrew (later Duke of York).
The Prince Andrew mentioned above became the Queen’s second husband in 1946. It was an unhappy union and the couple were eventually divorced in 1960. A year later, Andrew married Princess Margaret, another daughter of George VI. Andrew and Elizabeth had four children together: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and twins Princess Margaret and Prince Andrew, Jr. (later Duke of Edinburgh). Their first daughter, Princess Elizabeth, is now Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen has been on the throne since her mother, Elizabeth, became Queen when Andrew’s first wife, Princess Margaret, died of cancer in 2002. Queen Elizabeth is now 93 years old and the world’s most famous grandma. She is still very much in charge and, according to some, the longest-reigning female monarch in history.
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were arguably the most famous celebrity couple of the 1960s. The famous actress met Burton, the English actor, in 1960 and were an item for several months before marrying in October that year. The wedding was attended by close to 10,000 guests, many of whom had paid thousands of pounds to be there. The couple had one daughter, Kate (born in 1964), who is now a bestselling author and the editor of British Vogue. She was previously married to film producer Michael Jackson and is now separated from her husband. She has not remarried.
The union between Richard and Elizabeth was extremely successful, with the actress becoming one of the most famous women in the world. She held numerous world records for longevity, dying in May 1998 at the age of 73. She is regarded as one of the greatest actresses of all time.
Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy
One of the most romantic and glamorous pairings in cinema history was Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy. The legendary actress met Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, during the filming of the 1957 film, The Prince and the Showgirl. The two were instantly attracted to one another and reportedly became lovers while filming. The following year, they were married in a lavish ceremony that was attended by more than 20,000 guests. Unfortunately, the couple’s relationship was plagued by conflicts which nearly ended in divorce.
The marriage between Monroe and Kennedy was undoubtedly one of the most prominent celebrity weddings of all time. It was a tumultuous relationship marked by on-set drama, infidelity, and an eventual estrangement between the former allies. Monroe filed for divorce in March 1960, citing ‘extreme cruelty’ on the president’s part. It was one of the most expensive divorces in history up to that point and was heavily publicized. The actress and her new husband, Joe DiMaggio, had previously been married to one another from 1939 to 1945. It is estimated that the wedding cost close to $2 million.
Audrey Hepburn and Frank Sinatra
Audrey Hepburn and Frank Sinatra were an Item before Marriage. However, the actress’ relationship with the legendary Italian-American singer nearly ended in divorce. The two had been previously engaged in secret for two years before finally tying the knot in April 1954. The actress gave birth to a daughter, Sean, in 1957. Their union was not a conventional one and was, by all accounts, an unhappy one. It was also marked by estrangement between the pair. Hepburn and Sinatra divorced in 1966 and the singer went on to marry Diane Keaton in 1969. Today, the pair remain close and affectionate friends.
Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles
While we have focused on celebrity couples thus far, it should be noted that many of these individuals were part of famous royal families. In fact, we could include the foursome above (the Duchess of Windsor, Prince Albert; Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton; and Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy) in the same category since they were all from famous royal families. However, we need to look no further than the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, to understand the true significance of these foursome’s relationships. The Princess of Wales and Prince Charles were wed in a lavish ceremony in 1982 which was attended by more than 500 guests. Diana went on to become one of the world’s most famous and influential women. Sadly, the princess died in a car crash on Sunday, August 31, 1997, at the age of 36. Her sons, William and Harry, were with her in the vehicle at the time and were also severely injured. William is now Queen William III and, for some odd reason, continues to live in his mother’s former home, Kensington Palace.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono
While we have focused on the rich and famous, it should be noted that many of the individuals we have mentioned so far had a phenomenal impact on society and changed the face of journalism as we know it. One of the most influential and celebrated musicians of our time was none other than John Lennon. It was the Beatles’ manager, Neil Aspinall, who introduced Lennon and Ono during a radio interview in January 1968, where the former Beatle discussed the couple’s plans to wed. Lennon famously remarked: “We’re going to get married. Who the hell is going to oppose us?” The pair wed on March 14, 1970, in Gibraltar. In keeping with his pacifist views, Lennon opted for a wedding ceremony that was completely devoid of fanfare.
The peace and love icon’s musical legacy is unquestionable. He wrote some of the most iconic songs of all time and influenced music fans and performers for years to come. In 2020, Lennon was honored with a Google Doodle on his 92nd birthday and remains one of the most celebrated and beloved figures of the 20th century.