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Pinterest Aga Khan III
(© Imago images / Photo12)

Aga Khan III

Aly Khan's father, grew increasingly concerned and advised his son to end the affair. To his surprise, Hayworth was already carrying Aly Khan's child, a fact that added an unexpected twist to their complicated situation.

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Pinterest Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan
(© IMAGO)

Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan

The Aga Khan met with his son and Hayworth and finally gave consent for them to be married.

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Pinterest Rita Hayworth
(© Imago images/Ronald Grant)

Rita Hayworth

With their wedding date set for May 29, 1949, tension started to consume Rita Hayworth. Aware of Aly Khan's notorious playboy reputation and her own perceived lack of acceptance within his family, she began to feel a sense of panic and uncertainty about their future together.

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Pinterest Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles
(© Imago images/Ronald Grant)

Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles

In a dramatic turn of events, Rita Hayworth sent an urgent message to Orson Welles before her wedding. Welles arrived at her hotel to find a romantic scene with candles and champagne. In a surprising twist, Hayworth asked him to marry her.

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Pinterest Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan
(© IMAGO)

Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan

He turned her down gently, and she was left with only one option. She went ahead with the wedding to the Prince Aly Khan.

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Pinterest Rita Hayworth
(© Imago)

Rita Hayworth

Their wedding was an opulent and extravagant affair, with over 500 guests in attendance.The grand celebration saw a remarkable consumption of 600 bottles of champagne and a lavish feast featuring 50 lbs (23 kg) of caviar

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Pinterest Rita Hayworth
(© IMAGO/Heritage Images)

Rita Hayworth

In December that year, Hayworth gave birth to their daughter, Yasmin.

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Pinterest Rita Hayworth, Prince Aly Khan and Aga Khan III
(© IMAGO)

Rita Hayworth, Prince Aly Khan and Aga Khan III

Very quickly, the Prince carried on with his usual lifestyle as if he was not married. The Aga Khan was concerned about his son's behavior and sent the couple on a three-month tour of Ismaili Muslim communities in Africa.

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Pinterest Rita Hayworth and her two children
(© imago/United Archives International)

Rita Hayworth and her two children

After months of traveling with the Prince while he carried on affairs, Hayworth left. She returned to France, collected her two daughters, and went back to the US to file for divorce.

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Pinterest Rita Hayworth
(© Imago/United Archives International)

Rita Hayworth

Amidst fears of potential kidnapping threats towards her daughter Yasmin, the divorce between Rita Hayworth and Aly Khan unfolded in a messy and tumultuous manner.Finally, in 1953, after four years of ups and downs, their marriage officially came to an end.

The highly publicized Hollywood-royal romance of the decade ultimately didn't stand the test of time. Rita Hayworth moved on to two more marriages, while the Prince, despite his playboy reputation, never remarried. Sadly, his life was cut short in a car accident at the age of 60, leaving behind a legacy of his charismatic and indulgent lifestyle.