[prince harry meghan markle official engagement portrait]Alexi Lubomirski via Getty Images * THE NEWS OF MEGHAN MARKLE'S ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN CAPTIVATING THE ENTIRE WORLD. * SHE IS NOT THE FIRST AMERICAN "COMMONER" TO MARRY INTO ROYALTY. * FOR EXAMPLE, GRACE KELLY MARRIED THE PRINCE OF MONACO IN 1956. ------------------------- From Princess Grace to Queen Noor of Jordan, there is a long history of Americans marrying into the royal family of another country. In honor of Meghan Markle's engagement to Prince Harry, here are 14 other Americans who have paved the way to nobility. GRACE KELLY MARRIED THE PRINCE OF MONACO, THUS BECOMING THE PRINCESS OF MONACO. Keystone/Getty Images Grace Kelly is one of the most famous actresses of the 20th century. She met her future husband, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, during a photo shoot. They had three children: Princesses Caroline and Stephanie, and Prince Albert. The two were married from 1956 until Kelly's tragic death in 1982, when she suffered a stroke and crashed her car. Kelly is still part of our cultural zeitgeist. Nicole Kidman portrayed the princess in the biopic "Grace of Monaco" in 2014, and Miranda Kerr's wedding dress in 2017 was inspired by the timeless beauty of Kelly's. MARIE-CHANTAL MILLER BECAME THE CROWN PRINCESS OF GREECE AFTER MARRYING THE CROWN PRINCE OF GREECE, DESPITE GREECE NOT HAVING BEEN A MONARCHY SINCE 1973. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Marie-Chantal Miller, also known as the Crown Princess of Greece, is more than just a princess. She is the founder of her own children's clothing brand, called Marie-Chantal, and a mother of five. In fact, her oldest daughter just celebrated her 21st birthday in July. Marie-Chantal has been married to Pavlov, the Crown Prince of Greece, since 1995 after a six-month engagement. Her dress was a pearl-encrusted custom Valentino that allegedly cost $225,000. WALLIS SIMPSON MARRIED EDWARD VIII — THE KING OF ENGLAND UNTIL HE DECIDED TO ABDICATE THE THRONE FOR LOVE. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Meghan Markle is making news not only for being an American marrying into the royal family, but also for being a divorcée. That said, she's not the first divorced American woman to do so — that distinction goes to Wallis Simpson. Simpson began an affair with the Edward VIII while she was still married to her second husband. When they decided to marry, the Church of England didn't approve, as they wouldn't accept divorcée marriages if the ex-spouse was still alive. Edward VIII, then king, was faced with a choice: the crown or love. He famously chose love and abdicated the throne in December 1936. He was then made Duke of Windsor by his brother and successor, King George VI. SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * 18 famous moms that we love * What every family member of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's will be doing at the royal wedding * The ultimate gift guide for Mother's Day: 25 things under $50 every mom will love
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