On Friday, the Grimaldis gathered in Monaco for the principality’s annual National Day celebrations, and we were treated to some lovely jewels during both the daytime and evening events.
The day’s program, as usual, began with a mass of thanksgiving at Monaco’s cathedral.
Prince Albert II of Monaco attended with his sisters, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie. Several other members of the Grimaldi family were in attendance, plus representatives from the extended de Massy and Wittstock families.
After the mass ended, the family returned to the Palais Princier to continue the celebrations in the courtyard. Albert, Caroline, and Stephanie were joined by Albert’s children, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. Little Jacques, who will one day be Monaco’s sovereign prince, wore a miniature version of his father’s military uniform.
The rest of the Grimaldi family was out in force as well. All four of Princess Caroline’s children were there with their families: Andrea and Tatiana Casiraghi with Sacha, India, and Maximilian, Charlotte Casiraghi Rassam with Raphael (and, later, little Balthazar inside the palace), Pierre and Beatrice Casiraghi with Stefano and Francesco, and Princess Alexandra of Hanover. Princess Stephanie’s family was also present: Louis and Marie Ducruet, Pauline Ducruet, and Camilla Gottlieb. Princess Charlene’s brothers and sister-in-law were also among the crowd, as were Jean-Léonard Taubert-Natta de Massy and Mélanie-Antoinette Costello de Massy, the children of the late Elizabeth-Ann de Massy.
The three siblings waved from the balcony of the Palais Princier, and Princess Stephanie offered her brother a kiss on the cheek as they watched the celebrations below.
Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques also made an appearance on the balcony. The twins held hand-made signs for their mother, Princess Charlene, reading “We miss you Mommy” and “We love you Mommy.” Princess Charlene has returned to Europe, but she is continuing her physical and emotional convalescence at a clinic outside the principality. The palace released a statement asking for privacy earlier this week, and Prince Albert gave an interview to clarify the situation to People ahead of the National Day festivities.
The ladies of the Grimaldi family wore understated jewels for both the daytime and evening events on Friday. The always-elegant Princess Caroline wore a pair of diamond earrings with black pearl drops. (These are very similar to the diamond and emerald earrings worn by another royal, Princess Sofia of Sweden.) She also wore a lovely little pearl and diamond brooch pinned just above her miniature orders, the Order of Saint-Charles and the Order of Cultural Merit.
Princess Stephanie kept her jewelry restricted to earrings, wearing multiple sparkling studs in each ear. She also wore the miniature version of her Monegasque order, the Order of Grimaldi.
Tatiana Santo Domingo Casiraghi also wore multiple earrings, including several small studs and a pair of hoops.
Beatrice Borromeo Casiraghi was uber-chic in a ’50s inspired outfit, including a picture hat. Her black earrings appear to be studded with small gems.
Charlotte Casiraghi Rassam glittered in a gold quilted outfit with gold bracelets and a major pair of statement earrings. Perhaps too major: she’s only wearing them in this photo from the day, taken on her way to the cathedral for mass. Later, she’s earring-less. They’re big earrings, so perhaps comfort was an issue, or perhaps they were tough to wear with her mask? I believe Charlotte’s entire outfit is Chanel, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the earrings are, too.
Princess Alexandra of Hanover, pictured here with little Francesco Casiraghi, wore a pair of delicate hoop earrings with starburst details, as well as stacked beaded bracelets on her right wrist.
The only visible jewelry on Marie Chevallier Ducruet was her engagement ring.
Her sister-in-law, Pauline Ducruet, wore a gold chain necklace, as well as gold hoop earrings. A gold earring with a green pendant was placed in her second piercing on her left ear. As a sidenote, I believe both Pauline and Princess Stephanie are wearing pieces from Pauline’s clothing line, Alter Designs.
Princess Stephanie’s younger daughter, Camilla Gottlieb, wore two rings on her right hand for the celebrations.
On Friday evening, members of the family arrived at the Grimaldi Forum for a gala in the Salle des Princes.
Prince Albert was accompanied by Princess Caroline, Charlotte Casiraghi Rassam, and Andrea and Tatiana Casiraghi for the evening, as well as Princess Charlene’s brother, Gareth Wittstock.
Princess Caroline wore an heirloom suite of Monegasque princely jewels for the gala. These are the diamonds and sapphires that belonged to her grandmother, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois. In April 1956, Princess Charlotte wore the sapphire and diamond necklace for the wedding of her son, Prince Rainier, and Grace Kelly.
Princess Caroline also wore her diamond and sapphire tennis bracelets (which we also discussed in a recent Sparkling Spotlight article) and a gorgeous sapphire toi et moi ring.
Charlotte Casiraghi (who is named for the original owner of those sapphires) went without earrings for the gala, wearing just the rings on her left hand.
Tatiana Casiraghi upped the sparkling ante a bit more with her earrings. She also wore an interesting necklace featuring various different kinds of beads and pendants.
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