Grimaldi Glitter for a Gala in Monaco (and a Tiara Surprise!)

Prince Albert II of Monaco headed up the princely family contingent at the 5th annual Monte-Carlo Gala For Planetary Health. He was accompanied by his sister, Princess Caroline, and American actress Sharon Stone. The event, held at the Palais Princier, also marked the the 15th anniversary of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The charity event supported “the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s actions in favour of Planetary health and the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s work for the well-being and development of children.”

Princess Charlene was unable to attend, as she’s still in South Africa. She’s had some major health issues this year, stemming from a surgery in Monaco in May, which included a sinus lift and bone graft in preparation for dental implants. She traveled to South Africa shortly after the surgery for a week-long visit linked to a wildlife conservation foundation, and she began experiencing complications after her arrival there. She’s since undergone several more corrective procedures, and she has remained in South Africa on the advice of her doctors, who have asked her not to fly because of pressure issues with her ears. Earlier this month, just before another scheduled procedure, Charlene collapsed and had to be hospitalized. She is currently stable, but according to Albert, she’s tired of being far from her family. “She’s ready to come home,” he told People earlier this month, adding, “She’s jokingly said that she’s ready to stowaway on a ship to come back to Europe.”

More on Charlene in a moment, but first: the Grimaldi jewels we saw at the event this year. Princess Caroline glittered in an ensemble with a subtle colorful theme.

Caroline accessorized with a colorful bracelet on her left wrist, a gold necklace (with, I believe, a cross design), and a pair of colorful gem-set earrings. The earrings, which are set with a variety of semi-precious gemstones, have been in Caroline’s jewelry box for more than two decades. (She wore them for the 50th annual Rose Ball back in 1998.)

Here’s the complete family line-up for the event. From left to right, we’ve got: Roisin Wittstock (Princess Charlene’s sister-in-law), Andrea Casiraghi, Princess Caroline, Prince Albert II, Pauline Ducruet (daughter of Princess Stephanie) with her boyfriend, businessman Maxime Giaccardi, and Gareth Wittstock (Princess Charlene’s brother).

Pauline wore a red ensemble from her fashion line, Alter. She accessorized with a pair of diamond hoop earrings. She’s also wearing another geometric diamond piece (either a brooch or a pendant) at her neckline.

Since Princess Charlene couldn’t join the family at the gala, she sent along her best wishes from South Africa. On her Instagram account, she posted this message: “Wishing the Prince Albert II of Monaco foundation and Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, for this evening’s fundraiser A successful and magical moment. With all our gratitude, HSH Princess Charlene de Monaco.”

And then, she shared a tiara surprise! She posted this portrait with the caption, “As I was born of the Ocean so the Ocean was born of me. I present to you a piece of both.” In the image, which shows her head just above the water’s surface, she wears the Ocean Tiara. The diamond and pearl tiara, made by Van Cleef & Arpels, was one of her wedding gifts in 2011. She has not worn the tiara in this form for a public engagement—she has worn it as a necklace on one occasion—but has posed for other portraits in the piece. This photograph of the princess was taken by European photographer Vanessa von Zitzewitz, who also shared a higher-res copy of the image on her own Instagram account.

Beyond the princely jewels and the tribute-from-afar tiara, there were also some lovely additional jewels on display at the gala. Sharon stone wore a regal purple ballgown with diamond accessories.

She wore a classic pair of diamond drop earrings…

…and a gobsmacker of a gem-set cocktail ring!

American actress Jessica Michel wore major diamonds for the gala.

Modern diamond earrings (and feathers!) accompanied Norwegian model Frida Aasen to the event.

Caroline Sheufele, the German artistic director and co-president of Chopard, also wore some impressive diamonds. (I bet we can guess where she got them!)

Dutch model Cindy Kimberly went for classic diamond drop earrings. (And more feathers! A trend?)

Love this ruby and diamond suite worn by Tatiana Korsakova (a former model and wife of Russian banking billionaire Andrey Borodin).

Model Dite Anata wore a stunning bib necklace and coordinating emerald earrings. She posed for pictures at the gala with Fawaz Gruosi, the founder of De Grisogono (which filed for bankruptcy in 2020). The full photo caption from Getty Images helpfully identifies the necklace as one of Gruosi’s own pieces, made as part of his new high jewelry venture.

French actress Pom Klementieff wore a stunning necklace of trailing ivy leaves set with emeralds. (It reminds me a bit of the ivy leaf tiara once worn by Queen Rania of Jordan.)

And finally, I’ll leave you with the rather astonishing diamond pendant worn by Tina Green, the British businesswoman who owns a retail empire (and is also the wife of retail magnate Sir Philip Green). Lady Green is the treasurer of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.