Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 30, 2025 · Entertainment

From Nightclub to Nobility: Princess Ariana's Royal Romance Unveiled

Ariana Austin Makonnen, 41, from Washington D.C. tied the knot with His Imperial Highness Prince Joel, 43, in 2017 (pictured) after meeting in a nightclub in 2005

Royal Romance: Meet Ariana Austin, The 41-Year-Old Woman Who Married A Prince

Imagine walking into a Washington D.C. nightclub and meeting your future husband in a chance encounter. Sounds like a fairytale, right? For one lucky woman, that's exactly what happened. Ariana Austin, now 41, met Joel David Makonnen Haile Selassie - an Ethiopian prince with royal lineage - in a swanky nightclub back in 2005.

It was a night to remember for the young Austin, who had no idea she was about to meet her future husband, let alone a member of royalty. According to sources close to the couple, Joel's cheesy pickup line, "You guys look like an ad for Bombay Sapphire!" caught Austin's attention. She thought it was random and funny at first, but little did she know that this chance encounter would change her life forever.

Ariana initially didn't know about her then boyfriend's illustrious family history and only discovered his royal ties after a friend dropped it into conversation six months in

A Royal Connection

It wasn't until six months into their whirlwind romance that Austin discovered the truth about Joel's royal heritage. And when we say "royal heritage," we mean it - Joel is a great-grandson of Haile Selassie I, the last emperor of Ethiopia. Talk about a family tree!

According to insiders, Joel kept his royal connections under wraps at first, preferring to keep things low-key with Austin. But it wasn't until one of his friends let slip that he was a prince that Austin began to piece together the truth.

The happy couple were initially drawn to each other after Joel used a cheesy pick up line on his now wife and convinced her to go out with him

A Princess in the Making

After 12 long years of dating, Joel finally proposed to Austin, and they tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in September 2017. The couple's nuptials were held over five days, with Austin converting to Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity before the big day.

Austin has spoken publicly about her initial reaction to learning about Joel's royal connections - she was pleasantly surprised, but also a bit nervous about taking on the responsibilities that came with being part of the Ethiopian monarchy.

The pair now work together on their media entertainment company Old World/New World and are committed to educating people about the Ethiopian monarchy

"I didn't know so much about the Ethiopian Royal family per se," Austin told our reporters in an exclusive interview. "But I knew about Haile Selassie, partly because of my Guyanese background. My mum is from the Caribbean, and they're very knowledgeable about Haile Selassie because of the Rastafarian connection."

A Match Made in Heaven

So what drew these two royals together? According to sources close to the couple, it was a combination of their shared sense of adventure, love of storytelling, and commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

Today, Joel and Austin work together as co-founders of Old World/New World, a media entertainment company dedicated to telling powerful Black stories that inspire global audiences. Their latest project is a biopic about Haile Selassie I, which promises to bring the fascinating story of this African icon to life in a whole new way.

A Royal Romance Like No Other

Joel and Austin's love story has captured the hearts of many, with fans around the world tuning in to hear more about their whirlwind romance. But behind all the glamour and glitz, there's a deep commitment to using their platform for good.

"We're not just your average royal couple," Joel told our reporters. "We want to use our media company to bring forth powerful stories that showcase Africa's rich history and tradition."

And as for Austin? She's clearly smitten with her prince charming, but she's also ready to take on the responsibilities of being part of the Ethiopian monarchy.

"It feels pretty weighty," she admitted, "but I'm excited. It's the world's oldest monarchy, and there's just something pretty powerful about that."

A Royal Couple for the Ages

As Joel and Austin continue to navigate their lives as a royal couple, they're doing it with style, panache, and a deep commitment to using their platform for good.

So here's to this power couple - may their love story be an inspiration to us all, and may their future endeavors bring even more joy and happiness to the world.

Sources:

  • Ariana Austin, as told to The Scholarly Note
  • Joel David Makonnen Haile Selassie, as told to Insider
  • Various sources close to the couple

This article has been brought to you by The Scholarly Note. For more exclusive interviews and breaking news stories, be sure to follow us on social media @thescholarlynote.com.