When Celine Dion introduced to the world that her supervisor René Angélil had proposed to her in 1993, the pair had already been secretly engaged for shut to 2 years; that announcement was additionally the primary time the worldwide famous person revealed that she and Angélil had been collectively. There have been causes for the couple’s resolution to maintain their romance non-public, together with their 26 12 months age distinction and longstanding skilled relationship. In line with Dion, nonetheless, sharing the information was each horrifying and liberating. “I used to be afraid of what individuals would assume,” Dion advised Folks in 1994. “While you’re in love, you wish to scream it to the world.”
Really, Angélil had proposed to Dion in 1991—and he did so with an enormous asscher-cut diamond, which clocked in at over 4 carats. The “Energy of Love” singer confirmed off the ring (“I’m very proud,” she stated) and shared the small print of her then-fiancé’s proposal, which unfolded on her birthday after she returned residence from a physician’s appointment in New York Metropolis, on Leno in 1994. “He’s selecting me up on the airport and I stated I’ve to cease speaking as a result of I’ve to relaxation my voice. He says, ‘Simply give me quarter-hour as a result of I wish to provide you with a present and I wish to have your impression of the reward,” she advised host Jay Leno. “And I stated, okay, I’ll wait.” After they arrived at their resort, Dion observed that he was nervous—and that he was very centered on the atmosphere and lighting of the room (he opened and closed the curtains a couple of instances as he tried to set the proper temper).
When he lastly settled, he tried to get a couple of phrases out, which is when he started to cry. “He takes out a field from his pocket and he’s holding the field in his palms—and I nonetheless don’t know what’s occurring and he’s crying like a child,” stated Dion. “He stated, ‘I’ve by no means executed one thing like this earlier than, it’s my first time, and I like you a lot.’ And I stated, ‘René cease crying, simply give me the field!’” Hilariously, Angélil acquired sidetracked when he opened the field; the lights within the room went off, room service got here in, and apparently it took Dion half-hour to truly see the ring—which she was instantly ecstatic about. The singer advised Leto on the conclusion of her story that she and Angélil had hoped to be married by November of that 12 months.
That want nearly got here to move; the pair finally tied the knot on December 17, 1994, in an opulent, televised ceremony at Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal (all of us bear in mind Dion’s Swarovski crystal headpiece!). The pair remained fortunately married for 22 years (throughout which they welcome three sons) up till Angélil’s loss of life in 2016, following a most cancers battle. Dion opened up concerning the impression of his loss a 12 months later, whereas talking on the 2017 Grammy Awards: “There’s days once I really feel that it’s been three years, and there’s days that I really feel it’s not occurring,” she stated of her grief. “He’s at all times with me.”
As for what she did along with her engagement ring from Angélil within the wake of his loss of life? Even if she adored her diamond, Dion hardly ever wore it through the pair’s marriage; after their nuptials, she switched to a diamond-studded gold band (and often wore different spectacular rings), and saved the particular piece tucked away. Dion has by no means publicly shared what she did with the asscher-cut stone, although it’s greater than seemingly that it stays in her possession—particularly for the reason that singer has at all times rejected the thought of one other relationship and famous that she would “grieve [Angélil’s loss] the remainder of my life,” she stated throughout an interview with The Solar, per Folks. “I miss him quite a bit.”
Although it’s attainable that Dion may even wish to maintain onto this memento of Angélil for the rest of her life, she may move it right down to considered one of her sons sometime. Ought to René-Charles, who’s 23, and twins Nelson or Eddy, who’re 14, resolve to tie the knot sooner or later, they might very properly pop the query with the heirloom their father gave to their mom in 1991.
