Modern-day princesses with a common touch

Women with a "common touch" who married into royalty   Despite the horrors in the Middle East and the ongoing disaster faced by Japan's citizens, for one day at least, the world's headlines will resound a joyful note as they  describe in minutiae, the  British Royal wedding. Tomorrow, Prince  William will finally marry his university sweetheart Kate Middleton, the commoner and soon-to-be Princess Katherine,  who has waited patiently in the wings for the biggest day of her life. Celebrities, and royalty from all over the world will attend the long-awaited  nuptuals. The glamour of the occasion will surely match anything which Hollywood could offer as we watch the fairytale unfold in front of our eyes. What woman amongst us  has not dreamt of being swept  off her feet by a Prince Charming? I know for a fact that I have and still do.

In recent times, real-life princesses have been created, not  born.  Denmark and Spain  both have new-era princesses.  Prince Frederick of Denmark married commoner  Mary Donaldson of Tasmania followed by Letizia Ortiz who  married Prince Felipe of Spain.  Mary, now  Crown Princess of Denmark was working as a business consultant for Microsoft the year she met Frederick at the Slip Inn in Sydney. Their official engagement in 2003 and marriage the following year,  were the subject of extensive attention from Australia and European news media which portrayed the marriage as a fairytale romance between a prince and a commoner.  Letizia, Princess of the Spanish principality  Asturias,  was working as a journalist and married to a school teacher. In November 2003  to the surprise of many, the Royal household announced  Letizia's engagement to the Prince of Asturias.

The world's media awaits  the British  celebration with great anticipation, from journalists and  news reporters to  editors and even political analysts --  on the starting blocks to get their scoop on such an historical day. .But is their too much expectation?   Can Kate and the other princesses use their newly-appointed positions for the benefit of the people they grew up with?  Diana's marriage to Prince Charles was one of the most-watched modern fairytale weddings the world had ever seen.  How have our present-day fairies used their wands  in the last two decades when society has become more desperate and needy by the minute?

 While Diana had a royal lineage, other  queens and princesses of today do not.   Queen Rania of Jordan, Letizia, Mary,  and Charlene Wittstock, the Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe and future bride of Prince Albert of Monaco,  have one thing in common -- none has Royal blood.  

What Diana achieved that no monarch had done before her was that she remained true to herself and down-to-earth throughout her short life. . With her charitable work and empathetic nature she captured the hearts of  people around the globe, demonstrating  that there is more to being a monarch than a title. A most poignant phrase the world remembers was that used at Diana's funeral by Prime Minister Tony Blair who referred to her as "the people's princess".  Rania, Letizia, Mary  and Kate are the  new generation of  people's princesses to blaze the trail for reform and inject new life into old customs.

This is what it's all about as we learned in childhood through  tales about Snow White and Cinderella. These are the ladies who give hope  and bring  a little bit of magic to the stark reality of our planet. They are our Goodwill ambassadors  who live in palaces.   Their words and actions could impact most governments. May Kate carry on the torch held  by  Diana and keep the candle of hope alive. The world would then only rejoice with the latest down-to-earth princess and welcome her with open arms.