There are significant similarities between Shahrazad, wife of King Shahrayar and Kate Middleton, fiancée to Prince William. Middleton and Shahrazad are both educated women. In “The Thousand and One nights” that Shahrazad “knows poetry by heart, had studied historical reports, and was acquainted with the sayings of men and the maxims of sages and kings.” (B, 414). Kate Middleton, is a college graduate. Middleton met Prince William while attending University of St. Andrews, in Scotland. Middleton is vastly different than Prince Williams mother, Queen Diana. Middleton comes from a middle class family, and will become the first Queen with a solid education. “She will be the first queen in British history to have a college degree, or indeed, to have any college education at all.”
The future Queen of England and Shahrazad both put themselves in a precarious situation. For Shahrazad, she wants to marry the king, who is known to have women put to their death the next morning. She wants to marry him “so that I may either succeed in saving the people or perish and die like the rest.” (B, 414). While Middleton marries Prince Harry for love, she too must be weary of her new title. The Princess before her, Princess Diana, was killed. Princess Diana’s death was tragic and unforeseen, however, the saying “history repeats itself” is concerning for the future princess and Shahrazad.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/world/europe/17royal.html?scp=2&sq=diana&st=cse
