Yesterday was one of the most glamorous days of the year in Monaco—the principality’s National Day, which is celebrated with lots of pomp and circumstance, and even some gala jewels. We’ve got a look today at some of the glittering pieces we saw the Monegasque princesses wear for this year’s festivities.
The National Day festivities in Monaco really began on Monday, when a special ceremony was held to recognize new members of the Order of Cultural Merit. The ceremony, held in the Blue Salon at the Prince’s Palace, honored several new members of the order, but one in particular was special to the Grimaldi family: Charlotte Casiraghi, the elder daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco. Charlotte was made a knight (or chevalier) of the order in recognition of her work as President of the Philosophical Meetings of Monaco. The organization, founded in 2015, is focused, per the Palais Princier, on “the organization of conferences, debates, seminars, and literary awards aimed at celebrating and promoting philosophical thinking.”
To celebrate Charlotte’s new accolade, more members of the family were also present at the palace. Along with Princess Caroline and Prince Albert, Charlotte was joined by her siblings, Andrea Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi, and Princess Alexandra of Hanover, and her sisters-in-law, Tatiana Casiraghi and Beatrice Casiraghi.
For her daughter’s big moment, Princess Caroline wore golden jewelry with her olive green and navy dress, while Charlotte wore a favorite necklace with a heart-shaped diamond pendant with her tweed Chanel skirt suit.
On Tuesday, the celebrations continued with the traditional National Day mass at the Cathedral of Monaco. Numerous members of the extended Grimaldi family were on hand, including Caroline and Stephanie’s children and several descendants of the late Princess Antoinette.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene led the princely family party as they arrived for the mass. They were seated in the cathedral with Albert’s sisters, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie.
Across from them were Caroline’s four children, Alexandra, Charlotte, Andrea, and Pierre, and Andrea’s wife, Tatiana, as well as Stephanie’s children, Pauline, Camille, and Louis.
Seated together in the front row of the congregation were members of the family of Prince Rainier’s sister, Princess Antoinette. From left to right here are Antoinette’s son, Christian Louis de Massy, with his sons, Antoine and Brice, and his daughter, Leticia; Mélanie-Antoinette Costello de Massy, daughter of Antoinette’s elder daughter, the late Elizabeth-Ann de Massy; and Sebastian Knecht de Massy, son of Antoinette’s younger daughter, the late Christine Alix de Massy, with his wife, Donatella.
After mass had ended, the family returned to the nearby Palais Princier for the start of the annual National Day military ceremony. Prince Albert reviewed troops from the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince during the ceremony in the palace courtyard.
Both Prince Albert and Hereditary Prince Jacques were dressed in the uniform of the Carabiniers for the ceremony. Princess Charlene, Princess Gabriella, Princess Caroline, and Princess Stephanie also stood by during the military review.
On a nearby platform, more members of the family watched the courtyard ceremony. Princess Caroline’s children were joined by her grandchildren for the review, while Princess Stephanie’s granddaughter stayed back inside with her mother, Marie Ducruet, who is expecting her second baby. Also present were Princess Charlene’s brother, Gareth, and his daughters. Members of the de Massy family stood in the second row.
After the military review in the courtyard, the Grimaldis headed inside the palace. Outside in the Place du Palais, members of the public gathered to view more military pageantry, including musical performances by the orchestra and choir of the Carabiniers. Soon, the princely family appeared in the windows above the palace entrance to watch the festivities below, too.
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene waved to the crowds with Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella as the choir sang and orchestra played below.
The children of the Grimaldi family usually nab the best places along the balconies. Here, Princess Caroline is pictured with Pierre and Beatrice Casiraghi, as well as five of her grandchildren, Stefano Casiraghi, Balthazar Rassam, Francesco Casiraghi, India Casiraghi, and Maximilian Casiraghi.
A few jewelry and sartorial details before we move on to the evening events of the day. Princess Charlene wore a trouser suit from Louis Vuitton with a coordinating fascinator. The color of the ensemble is lilac, per the designer.
No doubt about her jewels, though: diamonds, and big ones. Charlene sparkled in a major pair of diamond earrings, and other photographs also show that she wore her large Repossi diamond engagement ring on her left hand.
The large diamonds in Charlene’s earrings are ringed with even more diamonds, forming a cluster setting. They’re the same earrings she wore in Paris this summer for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I would not be surprised if the earrings also come from Louis Vuitton.
Little Princess Gabriella was elegant in a Dior coat, per The Royal Couturier. She wore a petite pair of earrings that feature gold star studs and tiny pearl drops, as well as the miniature ribbon and badge of the Order of Grimaldi.
Princess Caroline wore a gold necklace set with colorful gemstones and a pair of coordinating flower earrings, plus the miniature ribbons of the Order of Saint-Charles and the Order of Cultural Merit. This photograph, taken during the balcony appearance, shows that she also wore rings on both hands. I’m particularly intrigued by the big pink gemstone set in the ring on her left hand.
Princess Stephanie wore a chic navy and black ensemble for National Day, accessorized with a pair of earrings featuring dark centers ringed with gold and diamonds. Onyx? Enamel? Another dark gem? Stephanie also wore the miniature ribbon of the Order of Grimaldi pinned to her jacket.
On Tuesday evening, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene arrived for the National Day gala at Grimaldi Forum, a particularly glamorous white-tie event. They were joined this year by Princess Caroline, Andrea and Tatiana Casiraghi, Beatrice Casiraghi, and Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Ben-Sylvester Strautmann.
Charlene was elegant in a navy gown with a dramatic sleeve detail for the gala. The red and white sash of the Order of Saint-Charles provided some colorful contrast.
She accessorized with an intriguing pair of diamond floral clip earrings.
There were some gorgeous gowns and jewels on the rest of the Grimaldis in attendance, too. Princess Caroline wore a shimmering blue sequin evening gown with diamonds and sapphires, including the necklace that she has worn on one occasion as a tiara. Tatiana wore diamonds and emeralds with her green velvet gown, while Princess Alexandra wore a festive purple strapless dress with diamonds, and Beatrice added interest to her elegant black gown with a sparkling fringe necklace.
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