It was a sunny day in Monaco Thursday, but the mood was somber as the tiny principality and its ruling family laid to rest the sister of the late Prince Rainier III. Princess Antoinette died last Friday at the age of 90 after many years of ill health.
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At the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate of Monaco, the Grimaldi family – Prince Albert II, his fiancée Charlene Wittstock, Princess Caroline and all four of her children, and Princess Stephanie – gathered for the funeral mass, conducted by Monsignor Bernard Barsi.
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Dressed in black, and the women wearing black lace scarves over their heads, the family sang the hymns, said the prayers and listened to the moving eulogy done by Princess Antoinette’s granddaughter, Melanie de Massy.
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Afterward, the coffin carrying the body of the late Princess was carried out of the Cathedral and placed in the Peace Chapel, where Antoinette was laid to rest.
Prince Albert II looked visibly upset and relied on Charlene for strength. Princess Caroline displayed a look of grief all too familiar to watchers of the Monegasque royal family.
The Prince has declared Monaco in a state of mourning until April 1st.
Saturday evening saw the start of Monaco’s social season with its annual Rose Ball. Its a time where celebrities pay thousands of euros to rub elbows with the principality’s ruling family. However, that family was not present at this year’s Rose Ball due to the passing of Princess Antoinette on Friday.
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Because her death came so close to the Ball, to cancel it would’ve hurt Monaco financially. But there was no way Antoinette’s nephew, Prince Albert II, and his family and fiancée, could show up during an official mourning period in Monaco. So instead, Princess Caroline’s three older children – Andrea, Charlotte and Pierre Casiraghi – represented the princely family.
Arriving at the Ball with somber looks, and dressed in black, the Casiraghis’ looked dignified and were a credit to their mother and the rest of the family.
Andrea Casiraghi, age 26, gave a speech at the start of the Ball.
“We’re very sensitive to the fact that so many of you are here tonight. Our aunt was very fond of this Rose Ball, and it is likely that all of us to be most involved. Your presence is a tribute to her as you come. While mourning her passing, I recall that it remains for us a warm and loving face, like a rich and eventful life in the service of charity. She would not have liked this ball not happen tonight because of [her death]. Thank you all for your generosity. ”
Right after his speech, the three Casiraghis’ left the gala.
This year’s theme for the Rose Ball was Motown, a tribute to the soul music of Motown Records from 1960 – 1970. The decorations were that of Detroit’s abandoned factories, broken windows, walls of brick and metal, all in black and white. Glamorous table decorations were planned in contrast to that.
The Ball Rose is a charity event that benefits the Princess Grace Foundation.
The fiancée of Monaco’s Prince Albert II made her National Day debut this Friday. Although Charlene Wittstock has been present for many of the principality’s major social events over the past years, this was her first time taking part in its most important holiday.
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Wearing a large hat and a beige suit, Charlene looked regal as she attended mass in the morning at Notre Dame Immaculee. She sat with the Monegasque royals – Princess Caroline, Albert and Princess Stephanie – although not next her fiancé. Likely next year she will, when she is officially Princess Charlene.
After the service, the royal family, including Princess Caroline’s four children, gathered in front of the palace for the Award Ceremony for badges of rank and medals for employees.
Afterward, came the balcony scene where everyone waved to the Monegasque citizens as a military parade went by.
Monaco’s National Day celebrations takes place over the course of three days. On Wednesday, Prince Albert and Princess Stephanie did their annual duty of giving presents and food to their country’s senior citizens at the Red Cross Headquarters.
Judging from today’s photos, Charlene seems very much accepted by the House of Grimaldi.
In an interview published by Le Figaro, Prince Albert spoke of his future bride’s plans for humanitarian work.
“Charlene has a very strong personality and I have no doubt of her desire to get involved in things alongside me,” he said.
“She is already committed to humanitarian causes such as the Born Free Foundation, the Special Olympics and the Nelson Mandela Foundation and wants to intensify her involvement in lots of other areas,” he said.
The couple will marry in early July 2011.
Their wedding was billed as the royal event of next year until Prince William and Catherine Middleton announced their plans to marry also in 2011.
To see more pictures of the National Day events, click here.
The American magazine, Vanity Fair, unveiled its Internati0nal Best Dressed List for 2010 Tuesday. Among the fashion conscious people in the world was Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary.
Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Long considered to be a fashion icon in Europe, it appears Australian-born Mary is finally getting recognition.
According to the magazine, the Crown Princess’ favorite labels are Hermès, Prada, Burberry, and Chanel.
She wowed many in the United States with her style when she and husband Crown Prince Frederik visited Washington, DC earlier this year. Even though Mary dealt with a wardrobe malfunction – her shoe fell off while walking through Arlington National Cemetary – she appeared ladylike and regal with her style.
Crown Princess Mary wasn’t the only royal on the list. Pierre Casiraghi, son of Monaco’s Princess Caroline, was named one of the world’s best dressed men. His girlfriend, Beatrice Borromeo, also made the cut.
Another Monegasque girlfriend on the list was Tatiana Santo Domingo, who has been dating Pierre’s older brother, Andrea, for several years now.
Interesting enough, last year when I reported on who should’ve been on Vanity Fair’s 2009 Best Dressed List, Crown Princess Mary was ranked number one by a poll taken by RITN readers.
Click here to see more of the world’s best dressed people.
The tiny principality of Monaco was center stage Sunday as one of the major race car events took place on its winding streets. The Prince of Monaco gladly played host to the 68th Formula 1 Grand Prix while his niece and nephews helped out.
Before the race began, Prince Albert II drove around with Fetish Venturi’s Chairman Gildo Pastor Pallanca in his Venturi. Once he got the ending part, the Prince got out and waited for the cars to come running in.
In the end, Australian Mark Webber of Red Bull won while his teammate Sebastian Vettel of Germany finished second. Renault driver Robert Kubica from Poland came in third place. All three winners received trophies from Albert’s niece and nephews – Andrea, Charlotte and Pierre Casiraghi, who participate each year in the Grand Prix events.
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In the evening, there was a gala dinner in honor of the race. Prince Albert showed up with longtime girlfriend, Charlene Wittstock.
While his brother and sister chose to sit out this function, Pierre Casiraghi arrived with gorgeous girlfriend Beatrice Borromeo, the daughter of an Italian Count.
Monaco’s F1 Grand Prix events is held over the course of four days, from Thursday until Sunday. During those days, there was a charity football event where Pierre and his cousin, Louis Ducruet, son of Princess Stephanie, took part in. They played along side the Grand Prix participant Sebastian Vettel at Monaco’s Stade Louis II. Prince Albert and Stephanie cheered from the sidelines.
On Friday, there was the Amber charity fashion show where Charlene Wittstock turned heads in her little black dress. She arrived with actress Liz Hurley to that show. Even Andrea Casiraghi’s longtime girlfriend, Tatiana Santo Domingo was there.
Unfortunately, the ever stylish Charlotte Casiraghi did not come to the occasion.
Another person who did not come to any of the F1 Grand Prix occasions was Princess Caroline. It is unknown why she did not make any appearances.
November 19th is Monaco’s National Day, and its royals were out in full force to celebrate one of the principality’s biggest events.
Prince Albert II, Princess Stephanie, Princess Caroline and her three eldest children first attended a thanksgiving mass at Notre Dame Cathedral. The Gospel of Luke was read and the Bishop of Monaco discussed what occurred in the country over the past year – such as the economy. The Bishop also praised Prince Albert, Monaco’s sovereign ruler.
Afterwards, it was to the balcony of the Palace. As a military parade marched by, Albert and his sisters waved to the citizens below. Joining them was Princess Caroline’s youngest, Princess Alexandra of Hannover. The 10 year-old was introduced to the crowds on this very balcony a decade earlier, and Monaco watched her grow up. Also on the balcony were the Casiraghi siblings – Andrea, Charlotte and Pierre. Those are Caroline’s children with her late husband, Stefano Casiraghi.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Europe
Noticably absent from this year’s National Day celebrations was Caroline’s current husband, Prince Ernst of Hannover. She and Ernst have not been seen together in public since June. This has sparked rumors that the two are parting ways. Those rumors increased in September when Caroline relocated back to Monaco and enrolled Alexandra in a local school, while Ernst remained at his home outside of Paris.
The royal palace denied that Caroline and Ernst are separating around this time. However, with the Prince not being present for many of Monaco’s most important events, speculations over the state of his marriage to Caroline is only intensify.
To see more pictures of Monaco’s National Day, click here
It’s summertime, and everyone is taking time off from everyday life for time in the sun. Members of the world’s royal families are no exception to that, and this edition of Royal Summer Vacations is about the Princely Family of Monaco – who are enjoying some rest and relaxation in St. Tropez.
First, the youngest son of Princess Caroline, Pierre Casiraghi, and his Italian aristocratic girlfriend, Beatrice Barromeo, took a boat ride in the area. Beatrice brought along her pet dog for the afternoon in the sea.
Back on land, Prince Albert II and his longtime love, Charlene Wittstock, went for a walk on the beaches of the exclusive vacation spot. They had wandered over a nudist beach, probably by accident, but kept to themselves – and their clothes on. The couple eventually made it to a safe area, where the sovereign Prince signed a few autographs. The fans, thankfully, were fully clothed.
Monday saw the Grimaldi clan pile onto Princess Caroline’s yacht, the Pacha III. Pierre and Beatrice were there, as well as Albert and Charlene. It is not known if Caroline’s other two children, Andrea and Charlotte, were onboard, but her youngest child, Princess Alexandra of Hannover was there.
As the paparazzi snapped away, Charlene, a former competitive swimmer, took a few dips in the Mediterranean sea.
As summer roles along, check back for more articles on the royals taking their summer vacations!
The creme de la creme of Monaco came out dressed to the nines for the annual Rose Ball (Bal de la Rose), a charity function which benefits the Princess Grace Foundation. Nearly all the members of Monaco’s princely family turned out for the Ball’s rock ‘n’ roll themed event.
Prince Albert II arrived with his elder sister Princess Caroline of Hanover, and his girlfriend, Charlene Wittstock. Both women had taken the rock ‘n’ roll theme to heart, as Caroline carried a black motorcycle helmet that held flowers. Charlene wore an 80′s style black sleveless dress, and a single fingerless glove on her left hand.
Caroline’s two younger children, Charlotte and Pierre Casiraghi, also turned up. Charlotte was all in black with dangling white earrings. Pierre’s girlfriend, Beatrice Borromeo, also attended, wearing a grayish white gown with a low cut in the front.
Caroline’s husband, Prince Ernst of Hanover was not in attedance, as he is recovering from an injury.
Also not showing up was Caroline’s sister, Princess Stephanie, and her oldest child, Andrea Casiraghi.
The Bal de la Rose marks the start of Monaco’s social season. Many who could afford the $1,500 ticket showed up, including longtime Grimaldi friend, fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.
The Monagesque royal family had a fun time tonight. The ruling prince, Albert, started off the event with a dance with his older sister, Caroline.
The Bal de la Rose has been going on since the late 1950′s, as started by Princess Grace herself. After her death in 1982, Caroline and Albert took over for the event, and have added fun themes to it. Those themes included Africa, Movida and Latin America.
The princely family of Monaco gathered Thursday, November 19th to observe National Day.
Prince Albert II, his sisters Princesses Caroline and Stephanie, Caroline’s husband Prince Ernst of Hanover, and all four of Caroline’s children were present for the day’s events.
Those events included mass of thanksgiving at the tiny principality’s cathedral, appearing on the palace balcony to greet Monaco’s citizens, followed by a night at the opera and fireworks at Monaco’s harbor.
While National Day is a time Monaco’s 30,000 citizens celebrate patriotism and get a chance to view their royal family united, it is also a time for those royals – particularly the females – to get dressed up. Dark colors were the style of the day, with Caroline and Stephanie sporting black and gray coats on the cool November day. Caroline’s fashionable eldest daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, wore black from head to toe. Her outfit included a hairband and a miniskirt.
Even Princess Caroline’s youngest daughter, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, displayed some fashion sense, as she wore a black dress with red stockings.
Monaco’s National Day kicked off a day earlier, when Prince Albert II and Princess Stephanie went to the Red Cross to give out gifts to the principality’s needy senior citizens. Many of the 145 elderly who met the royals were delighted.
“I love them as though they were my children,” said 78 year old Renata, an Italian who has lived in Monaco for 50 years. “They are adorable. With them, it was always satisfactory.”
Noticably absent from National Day was the reigning Prince’s longtime girlfriend, Charlene Wittstock. She had been present during many of Monaco’s high profile events this year. But as this was a day especially for the royal family, it was not needed for Wittstock to participate.
It’s summertime, and everyone is taking time off from everyday life for time in the sun. Members of the world’s royal families are no exception to that, and this edition of Royal Summer Vacations is about the Princely Family of Monaco – who are enjoying some rest and relaxation in St. Tropez.
Monday saw the Grimaldi clan pile onto Princess Caroline’s yacht, the Pacha III. Pierre and Beatrice were there, as well as Albert and Charlene. It is not known if Caroline’s other two children, Andrea and Charlotte, were onboard, but her youngest child, Princess Alexandra of Hannover was there.
with a low cut in the front.
While National Day is a time Monaco’s 30,000 citizens celebrate patriotism and get a chance to view their royal family united, it is also a time for those royals – particularly the females – to get dressed up. Dark colors were the style of the day, with Caroline and Stephanie sporting black and gray coats on the cool November day. Caroline’s fashionable eldest daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, wore black from head to toe. Her outfit included a hairband and a miniskirt.
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