By Rachel Quigley
Published: | Updated:
Not content to be grandmother and head of the political dynasty, Ethel Kennedy has decided to play cupid too.
After photographs of her grandson Conor kissing and canoodling with singer Taylor Swift emerged yesterday, it has been revealed it was Ethel who played matchmaker by inviting the singer to the compound in Hyannisport.
The 83-year-old is said to be a huge fan of Taylor Swift and the pair became friends after the country singer revealed in an interview with the New Yorker last year that she was obsessed with the Kennedy family and liked to watch documentaries about them.
Happy families: Taylor Swift, wraps her arm around new beau Conor Kennedy as they talk to grandmother Ethel, who is said to have played matchmaker to the pair
New couple: Conor, 18, and Taylor, 22, could not keep their hands off each other at the weekend when they were spotted taking romantic strolls together and meeting friends for pizza
Fan: Ethel Skakel Kennedy, center, subject of the documentary film Ethel poses with her daughter Rory, the director of the film, and singer Taylor Swift at the premiere in January
'I’m just so obsessed with the whole history of JFK and RFK,' she told the magazine, adding that she had completed a 900-page book called The Kennedy Women.
The New York Post reported that Ethel invited Swift to celebrate July 4 with the family and introduced her to her grandson. The pair were then said to have become infatuated with each other almost instantly.
A source told the paper that RFK's widow has been a fan of Swifts for more than a year and was fascinated with both her musical talents and humanitarian work.
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Conor Kennedy, who at 18 is four years Taylor's junior, is believed to be smitten with the star already and has been calling her his girlfriend, despite the fact they have only been dating for two weeks.
A source said: 'I was a little surprised. It’s been two weeks and he’s in love. He thinks of her as his girlfriend — not just friends or dating. He calls her his girlfriend.'
But judging by the pictures that emerged from last weekend in Hyannisport, the 22-year-old seems to be fitting in perfectly with the rest of the clan.
Fun times: The pair were spotted bouncing on a trampoline before enjoying a romantic stroll
Love at sea: Swift spoke of her fascination with the Kennedys in an interview in Vogue magazine in February, in which she also declared she would never keep her love life under wraps
Getting to know you: Taylor and Patrick attended a house party before slipping out the backdoor to join friends at a local pizzeria
She was spotted kissing, holding hands and getting extremely 'touchy-feely' with her new beau and strolling around the Massachusetts town holding hands with Conor.
The pair were also spotted eating pizza with the kids and talking to Ethel.
The Post reported that Swift was face-painting some of the children yesterday afternoon and later she and Conor were reading books together on Ethel's lawn.
The Kennedy dynasty have been embroiled in one scandal after another since their Camelot days.
Since the suicide of RFK Jr's wife Mary in May, things seem to have gone from bad to worse.
Last month Kerry Kennedy was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and told a poice officer at the scene she had taken Ambien.
Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of JFK, is said to be battling to save her legendary family from being torn apart by the in-fighting, tragedy, legal scandals and bitter divorce.
She recently allegedly said the dynasty is at its 'lowest point ever'.
And as the war over Mary Kenendy rages on, since Conor Kennedy turned 18, it is likely he will be named as administrator of his mother's estate.
He was seen leaving court in White Plains yesterday and the judge is expected to find no reason as to why the estate should not be signed over to him.
Ethel is hoping that Taylor Swift's image as a wholesome country singer will help improve the family's repuation.
A source said: 'They think it’s great. Anything positive associated with an all-American girl like Taylor Swift can’t do any harm.'
Fitting in: This is not the first time Taylor has appeared with the Kennedy clan at Hyannisport as she was spotted partying with the family for July 4 celebrations
Touchy feely: The couple can't seem to be able to keep their hands off each other as they mix with the Kennedy family last weekend at Hyannisport
Conor Kennedy enters the Westchester County Courthouse in White Plains, New York, left, for a hearing on becoming administrator of the estate of his mother Mary Kennedy, who committed suicide in May
Swift, whose fourth studio album is due out in October, again spoke of her fascination with the Kennedys in an interview in Vogue magazine in February, in which she also declared she would never keep her love life under wraps.
Earlier this month, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights said it will honor Swift at a gala in December with its Ripple of Hope Award in recognition of what it called her 'commitment to social change'.
It was revealed last week that Swift’s Merrill Lynch financial adviser father Scott and homemaker mother Andrea - who were married for almost 25 years - have split up.
Rumored romance: Patrick Schwarzenegger, left, and Taylor Swift share a chuckle as they enjoy July 4th celebrations at the Kennedy Family home in Hyannisport
