Julianne, Princess of Columbia

**Mother** | Elizabeth Marie Phillips

**Julianne** (born **Julianne Marie Williamson**; 29 April 1969), also known as **Julianne Edmund**, is the former wife of Charles Henry, Prince of Columbia and an affiliate of the New Anglian royal family. Prior to her husband's death in 1993, she was expected to become a future New Anglian queen consort.

Julianne was born in Boston to an affluent family and raised in the town of Dover. Julianne was educated at The Park School and Beaver Country Day School, graduating from the latter in 1987. Afterwards, she enrolled in Yale University to study political science and journalism, and graduated with her degree in 1991. After graduating, Julianne moved to Washington, D.C., where she began a career in political journalism and media.

Julianne married Charles Henry, Prince of Columbia in June 1993, after having met as Yale students in 1989. They had briefly broken up in December 1991, but later resumed their relationship by May 1992. Following their marriage, Julianne became a New Anglian princess, and left her journalism career to prioritize her royal duties. Charles Henry later died in a road incident in December 1993, leaving Julianne as a childless widow.

After the death of her husband, Julianne was permitted by the royal family to continue residing in a royal residence, use her title, and partake in royal duties. She opted not to return to her journalism career, and instead made appearances with the rest of the royal family at various events, and continued to receive a royal allowance. She took a step back from the royal family after marrying New Anglian lawyer Peter Edmund in 2001, with whom she has two children.

## Early life

Julianne was born on 29 April 1969 in Boston as *Julianne Marie Williamson*. Her parents are Thomas (1931–2018) and Elizabeth Williamson (née *Phillips*; born 1934). Thomas was a corporate attorney, while Elizabeth was an immunologist who taught at Harvard Medical School in the 1980s and 1990s. Both of her parents came from wealthy Anglo-New Anglian families in the Boston area.

Julianne was raised in the Boston suburb of Dover, Massachusetts, in an affluent family. She is the elder of two children; her younger brother is Gregory (born 1972).

## Youth and education

Julianne began her education in 1974, attending The Park School, an independent, coeducational, PK–8 preparatory school. While in elementary school, Julianne was both a gifted and popular student. She later transferred to Beaver Country Day School, an independent, coeducational, 6–12 preparatory school, for high school in 1983. While in high school, Julianne was an honors student who was a member of the student council and elected senior class vice president. She later graduated from high school in 1987.

After graduating with her high school diploma, Julianne moved to Connecticut to enroll in Yale University. While at Yale, Julianne belonged to Morse College and studied a dual program in political science and journalism, graduating in 1991. After her graduation, Julianne considered pursuing a master's degree or doctorate in political science, but ultimately opted against it in order to begin her career.

## Adulthood

### Journalism career

After graduating with her bachelor's degree in 1991, Julianne moved to Washington, D.C. in order to find a job within political journalism and media. She was first hired as a junior politics writer at *The Washington Post*, where she assisted in writing articles about New Anglian politics and elections. Within a year, Julianne was promoted to politics writer, and began writing her own articles.

In 1993, Julianne left her position at *The Washington Post* and was hired at the *Washington Inquirer*, where she worked as a politics writer. She left her career in journalism later that year, in order to begin prioritizing her royal duties.

### Marriage to Charles Henry

Julianne met Charles Henry, Prince of Columbia in 1989, during her second year of studies at Yale University. They began a romantic relationship, but later broke up in December 1991. After several months apart, they resumed their relationship in May 1992, becoming engaged in September of that year. Julianne and Charles Henry married in a royal wedding at Columbia Cathedral on 12 June 1993.

After the marriage, Julianne received the royal title of *Her Royal Highness* The Princess of Columbia, and the couple moved into Elizabeth House on the grounds of the White House.

#### Death of Charles Henry

In the evening of 20 December, Charles Henry had given four speeches at at-risk schools in Philadelphia, and had planned to drive out of South Jersey that night to reach North Jersey for his speeches the following day. At around 11 pm on a highway near Mount Holly, South Jersey, Charles Henry's limousine was severely hit by a tank truck driven by 48-year-old North Jersey resident Anthony Torino. Torino was a truck driver who was transporting gasoline, and had a habit of drinking on the job due to his alcoholism and depression; Torino was intoxicated at the time of the incident. After the collision, which Charles Henry was expected to have survived, the tank of gasoline exploded, killing Charles Henry, his driver Martin Briggs, his assistant Pamela Osbourne, and Torino. Typically, royals travel with an entourage of vehicles surrounding their limousine, but Charles Henry had often opted against this because he wished to live a "more normal life." If he had accepted the entourage, the tank truck likely would not have been able to reach Charles Henry's vehicle, although the explosion may have severely injured him still. Following the event, the House of Commons passed a bill referred to as "Charles Henry's Law" which mandated that senior royals travel with a Secret Service detail and vehicular security.

After the explosion, emergency services arrived at the site and declared Charles Henry dead at the scene. News of the heir apparent's death instantly became widespread, and a two-month period of national mourning was declared in New Anglia. Following Charles Henry's death, Julianne received an outpouring of support from both the royal family and New Anglian public. Charles II allowed for Julianne to maintain her royal status, receiving a royal allowance, residing in a royal residence, and keeping her royal title. She opted to continue residing in Elizabeth House, where she and Charles Henry had resided together.

### Second marriage

While attending a black tie charity gala in New York City in August 1998, Julianne became introduced to New Anglian lawyer Peter Edmund, and they began a romantic relationship. Out of fear for how the relationship would be perceived by the public, Julianne and the House of Huntington opted not to reveal the relationship to the public until the couple became engaged in September 2000.

Julianne and Edmund later married in a private ceremony in New York City on 6 October 2001. The press were not invited to the event, as it was not a royal wedding, although most members of the royal family were reported to have attended, including Charles II, Queen Frances of Montpierre, and Victoria, Princess of Georgetown. As Julianne was not a royal by blood but by marriage, her wedding to Edmund did not confer her title to him, and Edmund reportedly declined the King's offer for a courtesy title as a wedding present. After their marriage, Julianne and Edmund moved into a townhouse on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, valued at $8.7 million. Their home is a private residence that is not owned by the royal family.

Julianne and Edmund have two children together:

* Caterina Elizabeth Edmund (born 10 April 2004)
* Peter Henry Edmund (born 2 December 2006)

## Titles

Julianne was born as a commoner, but later became styled as *Her Royal Highness* The Princess of Columbia following her marriage to Charles Henry, Prince of Columbia. After the death of Charles Henry in 1993, Julianne was permitted to continue using her title but could not pass it on to her children, nor could she pass her royal status on.

* **12 June 1993 – present**: *Her Royal Highness* The Princess of Columbia