The Grimaldis of Monaco gathered in the principality on Saturday to celebrate National Day, and there were some rather elegant and interesting jewels on display for this year’s festivities.
National Day, which is also called the Sovereign Prince’s Day (La Fête du Prince) in Monaco, has been held annually on November 19 for decades. The entire Grimaldi family traditionally participates in various celebrations throughout the day, many of which are located at the Palais Princier.
On Saturday, the celebrations began with the traditional mass at the Cathédrale de Monaco. This year’s service was attended by Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, Princess Caroline, and Princess Stephanie.
After the mass, the family returned to the palace for a military salute and parade in the famous courtyard.
An enormous contingent of family members were present at the palace this year, including the children of Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie with their spouses and children. Also in attendance were members of the de Massy family (descendants of the late Princess Antoinette) and the Wittstock family (relatives of Princess Charlene).
A traditional balcony appearance at the palace is also a regular feature of the National Day festivities.
For the daytime segments of this year’s celebrations, Princess Charlene wore a striking ensemble from the Swiss fashion house of Akris.
She accessorized with diamond and pearl drop earrings, the miniature ribbon of the Order of Saint-Charles, and a lovely brooch with a ribbon design.
The diamond knot brooch is a new piece from Van Cleef & Arpels. The Royal Couturier identifies the jewel as the firm’s Snowflake Nœud Clip. The clip brooch is made of platinum and rhodium-plated white gold and set with 16.63 carats of diamonds.
Little Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella joined their parents for the celebrations at the palace. Jacques was dapper in a miniature uniform, and Gabriella was adorable in a red coat with black accessories, including a little black hat. Both of the children wore the insignia of the Order of Grimaldi, a decoration they received on the day of their baptism.
Princess Caroline wore pink tweed from Chanel for the morning celebrations. Along with the small ribbons of the Order of Saint-Charles and the Order of Cultural Merit, she wore earrings with pink gemstone drops and a gorgeous diamond and black pearl brooch with a plume design.
Caroline has been wearing the brooch for decades. Here, she wears the jewel in October 2002 for the Princess Grace Awards in New York.
She also wore the brooch in November 2005, when her brother, Prince Albert, presented her with the Order of Cultural Merit during his investiture ceremonies.
Caroline’s daughter-in-law, Tatiana Casiraghi, wore a black tweed suit with pearls. Her floating pearl necklace comes from Carolina Santo Domingo, one of her cousins. (Thanks to UFO No More for the jewelry ID!)
Charlotte Casiraghi Rassam, Princess Caroline’s elder daughter, also wore Chanel tweed. Her only major piece of jewelry was a gold ring with a green stone.
Beatrice Borromeo Casiraghi, wife of Pierre Casiraghi, was ultra-elegant as usual in bright red with a burgundy hat. As you might expect, her gold jewels were from Buccellati. (She’s the face of the Italian jewelry firm.)
Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Princess Caroline’s younger daughter, didn’t wear any major jewelry with her black coat and red handbag.
Princess Stephanie wore red, one of Monaco’s national colors, for the daytime events on Saturday. She accessorized with small diamond studs.
Her elder daughter, Pauline Ducruet, wore a pair of avant-garde mismatched earrings, part of her signature design aesthetic. One of the earrings featured evil eye charms.
Marie Chevallier Ducruet, Princess Stephanie’s daughter-in-law, chose a pair of lovely pearl necklaces for the occasion.
And Camille Gottlieb, Stephanie’s younger daughter, also opted for a tweed suit. She accessorized with black and white earrings and a stack of gold Cartier Love Bracelets.
On Saturday evening, members of the family arrived at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte-Carlo for the annual National Day gala.
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene were joined by Princess Caroline, Andrea and Tatiana Casiraghi, Charlotte Casiraghi and Dimitri Rassam, Beatrice Borromeo Casiraghi, and Gareth Wittstock.
Princess Charlene was incredibly chic in a navy blue gown by Terrence Bray, one of her favorite recent designers. She carried a gold clutch bag and wore the sash and star of the Order of Saint-Charles.
She kept the gold and blue theme going with her earrings, wearing a pair of modern gold earrings set with diamonds and sapphires.
Princess Caroline wore a flowing navy blue gown (Chanel, naturally) with the insignia of the Order of Saint-Charles and fabulous jewels from her collection.
She wore a demi-parure of jewelry featuring carved blue gemstones (aquamarines, I believe) set with diamonds, gold, and black accents (enamel, surely?). The set includes earrings, a necklace, and a ring. She also used an enormous aquamarine brooch to secure her order sash.
The carved gem suite has been in Caroline’s collection for almost 40 years. Here, she wears it for the Red Cross Gala in 1975.
She’s worn the pieces numerous times since. Here, she wears them at the Rose Ball in 2005.
The aquamarine and diamond brooch has been in her collection for years, too. Here, she wears the fabulous piece pinned to the neckline of her gown at the Red Cross Gala in 2006. She’s also wearing a second huge aquamarine as a pendant on a necklace, because, well, why not?
For Saturday’s gala, Tatiana Casiraghi wore a black velvet gown that came with its own embellishments in the form of a sequin sun, moon, and star.
Charlotte Casiraghi chose a plaid tweed gown from Chanel for the gala.
She wore a pair of statement earrings with the dress that coordinate almost perfectly with the colors and embellishments of the gown—perhaps they were made to go along with it?
And finally, Beatrice Borromeo Casiraghi was a golden goddess in Dior. She wore a pair of gold and baroque pearl earrings with her ensemble—more Buccellati?
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