Ethel Kennedy faced unimaginable heartbreak throughout her life. Among the many tragedies she endured was the sudden loss of two of her sons. Take a closer look at the heartbreaking deaths of David and Michael Kennedy.
Ethel Kennedy, the wife of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was a prominent figure in American history, known for her unwavering commitment to social justice and her strength in the face of family tragedies.
Ethel and Robert F. Kennedy boarding a plane for San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March 1966. | Source: Getty Images
Born into a political dynasty, she married into one of the most iconic American families. She and Robert raised 11 children, navigating both the highs of public service and the lows of personal loss.
Despite her remarkable resilience, Ethel was no stranger to heartache, having tragically lost two of her sons — David and Michael Kennedy — in sudden and devastating circumstances.
Ethel Kennedy at the Restore Ball in New York City on September 28, 1970. | Source: Getty Images
David, the fourth of Ethel’s children, led a life deeply affected by trauma. At just 13 years old, he witnessed the assassination of his father on live television, an event that haunted him for the rest of his life.
Despite his promising beginnings, the emotional toll of his father’s death led David down a path of addiction. On April 25, 1984, he was found dead in his hotel room in Palm Beach, Florida, at 28.
David and Chris Kennedy watching a tennis match with their cousin, Ted Kennedy Jr., on August 25, 1974. | Source: Getty Images
He had struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for many years, and while his cause of death wasn’t immediately clear, investigators eventually ruled out suicide.
There were ”no signs of foul play,” said Sergeant Henry L. Marchman, spokesman for the Police Department of Palm Beach. The results of a preliminary autopsy tonight were being studied, as officials suspected it was an accidental overdose.
David Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention on July 15, 1976, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
David, who resided in Boston, traveled to Palm Beach to visit his grandmother, Rose Kennedy, who was in poor health. His body was discovered by a hotel secretary, Elizabeth Barnett, around 11:30 a.m. after a family member called to check if he had left for his flight.
When there was no response from his room phone, the hotel staff were instructed to investigate, according to hotel spokesman Gerald H. Beebe Jr.
David Kennedy in New York in 1984. | Source: Getty Images
The spokesman noted that hotel staff had seen David the previous Tuesday, describing him as being in good spirits. A desk clerk even recalled him waving as he passed the front desk.
David’s uncle, Senator Edward Kennedy, reflected on his nephew’s troubled life, stating, “We all pray that David has finally found the peace that he did not find in life.” The Kennedy family were no strangers to tragedy and mourned deeply, but the heartbreak did not end there.
Members of the Kennedy family escorted by Ethel Kennedy carrying the casket of David Kennedy from the hearse to the Kennedy House on May 4, 1984. | Source: Getty Images
Thirteen years later, in 1997, another devastating blow struck Ethel when her son Michael died in a skiing accident. Known for his adventurous spirit, Michael was skiing in Aspen, Colorado, when he collided with a tree, resulting in his immediate death at 39.
Michael Kennedy and Vicky Gifford at Attorney Roy Cohn’s birthday party in New York City on February 22, 1981. | Source: Getty Images
Michael had faced controversy in the years leading up to his death due to an alleged affair with the family’s babysitter. The scandal even affected his brother Joseph P. Kennedy II’s political aspirations.
Meghan Markle’s Subtle Tribute to Princess Diana in Colombia Got People Talking
Meghan Markle is paying tribute to Princess Diana in a heartfelt way during her tour of Colombia. Recently, the Duchess of Sussex was seen wearing a pair of butterfly earrings that once belonged to Prince Harry’s late mother. But once the photos went public, everyone stated the same thing.
The meaningful jewelry choice was spotted during a visit to the Colegio La Giralda school in Santa Fe, where Meghan and Harry interacted with young students and toured the school grounds.
The butterfly earrings were a touching nod to Princess Diana, who had a deep connection with children. Before her marriage to King Charles in 1981, Diana worked as a kindergarten teacher in London, a role that reflected her lifelong commitment to nurturing young people. This connection is also immortalized in her statue at Kensington Palace, which shows her surrounded by three children, symbolizing her dedication to helping the youth around the world.
Princess Diana originally wore these butterfly earrings during a royal visit to Canada in May 1986, when Prince Harry was still a baby. Sadly, Diana passed away in 1997 following a tragic car accident in Paris. Although she never met the women who would marry her sons, both Meghan and Kate Middleton have honored Diana’s legacy through their fashion choices, frequently wearing pieces from her jewelry collection.
Meghan has owned the butterfly earrings for several years and has worn them on notable occasions. She first debuted the earrings during her and Harry’s tour of Australia in October 2018, shortly after the announcement of her first pregnancy. The earrings have since become a recurring accessory for Meghan, symbolizing her continued connection to Diana’s memory.
People have expressed admiration for Meghan Markle’s choice to wear Princess Diana’s butterfly earrings, seeing it as a tribute to the late Princess of Wales. Many have praised Meghan for thoughtfully honoring Diana’s legacy, particularly during significant moments like her recent visit to a school in Colombia. “Diana would love Meghan, caring for his son and standing with him,” said one Facebook user, while another added, “She is actually the perfect shadow of Princess Diana.”
During their tour in Colombia, Meghan Markle’s choice to wear these earrings once again highlights her ongoing effort to keep Princess Diana’s memory alive, especially through meaningful fashion statements that resonate with the public.
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