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Social media is going crazy over a modern day fairy tale; a Washington art curator fell in love with an Ethiopian Prince and got married in a lavish ceremony.
Ariana Austin, now 33, was partying with a friend at Pearl Nightclub in 2005 when she was approached by Joel Makkonen.
Makonnen told The New York Times, “I said: ‘You guys look like an ad for Bombay Sapphire.’ Not even 5 minutes later, I said: ‘You’re going to be my girlfriend.’”
Ariana Austin decided to give Makonnen a chance, and only learned of his royal heritage after they began dating seriously.
Prince Joel is the great-grandson of Ethiopia’s last emperor, Haile Selassie I. Through him, the royal family trace their lineage back to King Soloman and The Queen of Sheba.
The lavish ceremony, described by the couple as when “Old World aristocracy met New World charm,” was held on 9, September 2017 at the Debre Genet Medhane Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and was officiated by 13 priests and clergymen.
