Luann de Lesseps Has One Question Regarding Danielle Staub's Fiance's Duke Title (Updated)
The RHONY countess threw some shade at the RHONJ pal amidst a stellar French history lesson.
UPDATE (March 14, 2019, 11:23 a.m.): Luann offered some more insight into Danielle's new life and romance -- and potential role as a duchess -- when she appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen this week. Her take on the engagement? Well, you'll have to press play on the video above to find out.
The original story continues below.
Since news broke that Danielle Staub is engaged to Oliver Maier, Duke of Provence, their romance has been one for the (story)books. It's even included some drama that indicated this fairytale may not make it to the aisle and get the happy ending it deserves. It's been enough of a roller coaster ride that Andy Cohen recently told The Daily Dish: "The Duchess Danielle story is a continuing story, changes every day, and I'm following it closely."
Well, should it all work out, we decided to speak to an expert on these kinds of matters, the one and only Countess Luann de Lesseps. When The Daily Dish spoke to The Real Housewives of New York City cabaret singer, she did have one question about Oliver's family's heritage: "A duchess? I wonder if it's a real title, or did he buy the title?"
As for her own life as a Countess, Luann offered up a pretty in-depth history on the de Lesseps lineage and why she's "once a countess, always a countess" even after her divorce from Count Alexandre de Lesseps in 2009 and subsequent marriage and divorce from Tom D'Agostino in 2017.
"I don't know what people think, but de Lesseps — Count de Lesseps — historically did the Suez Canal, and the Panama Canal, and gave the Statue of Liberty to this country for the French. So the Countess title that I have was not picked out of a Cracker Jack's box," she explained. "You know this is a real title and one that is a courtesy title because obviously French aristocracy doesn't exist anymore. But it's a title of courtesy for all the services rendered to the king and queen at the time. [But people think] that I just play around with this title. I was married for 17 years and that title will always be a part of who I am. That's my history."
Take a trip through the journey that is Countess Luann's life, below.
