M
arrying into a world-
famous family can be a
steep learning curve, as
the Duchess of Sussex,
Meghan Markle, is dis-
covering. The constant scrutiny is
relentless. It’s no surprise to learn that
the Duchess is an ardent fan of a wom-
an who walked a similarly difficult path
two decades ago when she married into
the Kennedy family – America’s most
famous dynasty and its closest thing to
royalty – and who was regularly likened
to the late Princess Diana.
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was 30
when she married John F. Kennedy Jr.,
the adored son of assassinated Presi-
dent John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline
Kennedy Onassis, in 1996. Their rela-
tionship was the stuff of fairytales: he
was America’s most eligible bachelor,its “first son”, and she a beautiful,
unknown, impeccably styled fashion
PR executive who had seen off stiff
competition – he’d previously dated
Sarah Jessica Parker, Daryl Hannah
and Madonna – to steal his heart.
Tragically, however, there was no
happily ever after for the golden couple.
Nearly three years into their marriage,
they were killed in a plane crash with
Bessette-Kennedy’s sister, Lauren,
devastating Americans and triggering
an outpouring of grief across the globe.
Now, with the 20th anniversary of
their deaths, Bessette-Kennedy has
re-entered the public consciousness as
an enduring style icon. Her ’90s
uniform of neutral colours and crisp
silhouettes inspired a number of
spring/summer 2019 collections,
including Burberry, Chanel andShe was a Calvin
Klein executive
who married JFK
Jr., America’s
favourite first
son. Twenty years
after their tragic
deaths in a plane
crash, she remains
an enigmatic
fashion icon.
By Michelle Davies
Carolyn
BESSETTE-KENNEDY
LIFE STORIES