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Prince Aly Khan -

The young Prince Aly Khan was obsessed with speed and excitement. He would engage in recklessly fast horse rides, participate in the Monaco Grand Prix, and partake in hunting lions and tigers. He enthusiastically referred to these activities as "fabulously fun."

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Prince Aly Khan -

Similar to his father, he was attracted to tall, elegant, fair ladies. Allegedly, he roamed around the French Riviera, seeking a carefree existence and the company of women. Whispers of his impressive sexual abilities and countless romantic liaisons circulated widely within European society.

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'Gilda' -

Besides his passion for sports, fast cars, and women, he had a strong fervor for cinema. A prominent film from the 1940s, 'Gilda' featuring Rita Hayworth, gained her the moniker 'The Love Goddess.'

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Conspiring to meet Rita Hayworth -

According to reports, he heard that she was visiting the French Riviera, a place where he often stayed, and was determined to meet her. He approached a well-known socialite friend who was famous for hosting fun gatherings and made sure to secure a seat next to Hayworth at her upcoming event.

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Hayworth and Welles -

Hayworth was in a crumbling marriage to director Orson Welles and became enchanted by the Prince at the event, while he also fell deeply in love with her.

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The Prince leaves France -

After the party, they spent the following day together until the Prince had to depart for Ireland to support his racehorse. Hayworth agreed to remain in France until his business was concluded.

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He leaves an impression -

During his absence, he regularly sent her rose bouquets. At Hayworth's hotel, an elderly fortune-teller appeared one day insisting on having a conversation with her.

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Fortune teller -

Hayworth agreed to meet with the woman who informed her about an upcoming significant love affair. Although it appears that Aly had planned it, the woman's persuasion convinced Hayworth.

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Romantic week ahead -

When he came back, they spent a week together and the Prince couldn't help but show off his new lady. He arranged gatherings at his chateau and invited all his influential friends.

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Disaster -

Hayworth felt crushed and unaccepted by the Prince's friends. They deliberately spoke in French to exclude her and were inclined to dismiss her.

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The trip to Spain -

Realizing his mistake, the Prince took her on a vacation to Spain. They went to her family's hometown, Madrid, where he was amazed to see her gracefully dancing flamenco alongside her grandfather.

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Spanish culture -

She was said to possess the grace of an authentic Spaniard! Raised in modest conditions in New York, she had a father who made a living as a professional Spanish dancer and a mother who worked as a showgirl.

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Early life -

At 12 years old, her father withdrew her from school and enlisted her as a dance partner. He disguised her to appear older and brought her to Tijuana for performances.

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Early days -

From her early days, she learned the art of dancing like a Spaniard. However, she also learned that men would hold power over her.

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The proposal remains -

The Prince made a quick marriage proposal, but he was surprised when she turned it down and went back to her daughter in Hollywood. 

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Prince Aly follows her -

He pursued her and leased a house directly across from her home for the convenience of their affair.

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Media frenzy -

Their relationship garnered much attention from the global press. At the time, conservative voices criticized it, calling it "an insult to all decent women" and labeling Aly Khan as the "colored prince."

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Aga Khan III -

The Aga Khan, his father, expressed concern about the publicity and urged his son to terminate the relationship. Unbeknownst to him, Hayworth was already expecting their child.

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Marriage permission granted -

The Aga Khan granted his permission for his son and Hayworth to marry after meeting with them.

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How did Rita feel? -

It is uncertain whether Hayworth would have gone ahead with the wedding if she wasn't expecting a baby. During that time, having a child outside of marriage would have had severe consequences for her reputation.

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The wedding approaches -

Their wedding date was scheduled for May 29, 1949. As the day drew near, Hayworth started to feel anxious. She was aware of the Prince's reputation as a playboy and knew that she wasn't fully accepted by his family.

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Urgency -

According to reports, before her wedding, she supposedly sent a pressing message to Orson Welles, requesting him to meet her. Welles arrived at her hotel to discover a scene set with candles and champagne. Hayworth proposed to him.

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Wedding -

After being gently rejected, she had no choice but to proceed with her wedding to Prince Aly Khan as her only option.

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Wedding -

Their wedding was a splendid event with over 500 attendees who enjoyed 600 bottles of champagne and consumed 50 lbs (23 kg) of caviar.

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Wedding -

Hayworth and Aly used a glass sword they bought from a Paris antique store to cut their cake.

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Yasmin's arrival -

Their daughter, Yasmin, was born in December of that year.

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Disappointment -

The Prince promptly resumed his customary lifestyle as if he were unmarried. He frequently left Hayworth alone for extended periods to indulge in his personal pursuits, which often involved other women.

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Family responsibilities -

The Aga Khan decided to address his worries regarding his son's conduct, and thus arranged for the couple to embark on a three-month journey across Ismaili Muslim communities in Africa. Despite enduring the Prince's unfaithfulness throughout their travels, Hayworth eventually separated from him.

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Rebecca and Yasmin -

Returning to France, she gathered her two daughters before returning to the US to initiate divorce proceedings.

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Divorce -

The divorce was tumultuous, with concerns that either the Prince or the Aga Khan might attempt to abduct her daughter Yasmin. They finalized their divorce in 1953, after four distressing years of being together.

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The end -

The much-talked-about Hollywood-royal love story of the decade wasn't meant to be. Hayworth got married two more times after their divorce, while the Prince chose to remain unmarried. He continued with his carefree lifestyle until he tragically passed away in a car accident at the age of 60.

See also: Iconic and inspirational wedding dresses throughout history

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