Finding Prince Charming and living in a giant castle is a childhood fantasy for many. But for one girl from Guangdong, China, finding that happily ever after wasn’t just a fairy tale.
Li Ran, married to Prince Charles Joseph de Ligne-la Tremoille of Belgium, is said to be the first Chinese person to gain a European royal title. While Li comes from a modest, working-class family, Prince Charles, a visual artist, hails from the House of Ligne, which is among the oldest Belgian noble families. The two married in 2010 at the 12th-century Antoing Castle in Wallonia, Belgium.
Though Li has held the title of Princess Ran for over a decade, she recently made headlines across China when she visited a school in her home of Wuhua, Meizhou county earlier this month, sharing her story and words of encouragement with students. During her tour, the princess also met her former teachers and planted trees with local workers.
Here’s what you need to know about Princess Ran.
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Princess Ran is a pianist and polyglot
When she was young, Li was interested in the arts and learned to play the piano. She excelled at school and was accepted to the Beijing Language and Culture University, where she studied economics. Fluent in Mandarin, English and French, she went on to pursue a master of business administration at the Sorbonne University in Paris.
She has a great sense of style
After graduating, she interned at Givenchy and later worked as a consultant for international fashion houses including Balenciaga, Fendi and Dior.
Her background in fashion undoubtedly helped cultivate her effortless chic aesthetic. During her visit to her hometown, Li toured schools and spent time with children wearing a sleek white shirt and wide-legged jeans.
Photos taken by her husband Prince Charles reveal that the princess favours simple, classic silhouettes, like a flowing cream-coloured dress with sheer long sleeves and a polo neck. She prefers to wear her long black hair down naturally to pair with her Parisian-inspired style.
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How she met – and married – Prince Charles of Belgium
She met Prince Charles while working as a saleswoman at a luxury fashion house. The two began to talk about art and Prince Charles, a designer at the time, was captivated by Li’s knowledge and grace. Soon after getting married, the two welcomed their first child in 2012.
According to Li’s LinkedIn, she currently works as a consultant for a perfume house, while Prince Charles’s website reveals he’s transitioned from design to visual arts.
A princess, but not royalty
Despite her title, Li Ran is, in fact, not royalty. The House of Ligne predates the founding of Belgium and came to prominence in the 11th century. The family did not receive its title until the 16th century when Lamoral I was made a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire by Emperor Rudolf II, and became the first Prince of Ligne. In 1923, the Belgium Crown officially acknowledged the Highness style for the family.
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