Another Casiraghi Wedding

I was waiting for the Palace to release some official photos of the event but, as that has yet to happen, better to mention it now before it gets any later. Last Saturday, July 25, Pierre Casiraghi and long-time girlfriend Beatrice Borromeo were married in a small, private, civil ceremony in the Salon des Glaces at the Princely Palace in Monaco. Only about 70 close friends and family attended the ceremony though there were about 500 guests at the reception following in the palace gardens and later at the evening festivities at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo. Beatrice and Pierre have been together for the last seven years, she is from a very old and well-connected Italian family and Pierre, as we all know, is the second son of Princess Caroline and the late Stefano Casiraghi, nephew of Prince Albert II and grandson of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. The two met in Milan and are expected to have a more lavish event for the religious ceremony later in Italy on the bride's ancestral estate. We wish them all the best in their married life.

Pierre & Beatrice over the years:

Casiraghis in the News

The little Principality of Monaco made a number of headlines last week when New York businessman Adam Hock sailed into the Port of Hercules on the yacht of a billionaire Canadian friend of his, all set to attend the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix in late May as well as the celebrity birthday bash of Naomi Campbell at the Billionaire Club in Monte Carlo. However, the night after his arrival, the captain of the yacht informed him that he was ordered out of the country by Prince Albert II himself. Why? It probably has something to do with the fact that Hock assaulted princely nephew Pierre Casiraghi in New York in 2012, sending him to the hospital. Hock’s friends tried to intercede for him but the Sovereign Prince would have none of it, Hock had to go and was threatened with immediate arrest if he set foot in Monaco again. His lawyer complained of course but, thankfully, it did the sucker-punching rat no good as the Prince still has final say on what goes on in Monaco and he can expel anyone from the country as he pleases. In this case, well deserved I would say. In Paris last week, niece and new mom Charlotte Casiraghi fell from her horse in a jumping competition, still managing to look glamorous doing it (not many can pull that off). Save perhaps for a bruised bottom, no harm was done and Charlotte later appeared at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday.

New "Green" Jet for Monaco

They do not call them the "jet set" because they take the train everywhere. Yesterday, HSH the Sovereign Prince, HSH Princess Charlene and HRH Princess and son Pierre Casiraghi were at the airport in neighboring Nice, France for a ribbon-cutting of the Prince's new private jet, complete with a spiffy Grimaldi coat-of-arms on the side. The new Princely private jet is valued at about 50 million euros, a Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X and will be used for state trips by the Princely Family (think of it as a much more modest version of President Obama's Air Force One). It can fly 11,000 km without stopping for gas and, because Prince Albert II is an environmentalist who means it (and doesn't just pay lip-service to 'cash in' on the cause like some people) he has started a special humanitarian fund to off-set the carbon footprint of his new jet. So, everyone wins, everyone is happy. It will be housed in a special shelter at the Nice Airport by means of a special contract with Monaco since, unfortunately, the Principality is not large enough to have an airfield.

Pierre's Legal Counter-Punch

Life has been going on for Pierre Casiraghi since all the trouble in New York. He attended the Cannes film festival, had a nice vacation with family and his lovely Beatrice on the Pacha III, took in some athletics competitions with his uncle Albert and recently was part of the 'Classic Sailing Week' in Cadiz, Spain. However, while Hock (the guy who smashed his face) has pled "not guilty" and goes ahead for trial, it was recently made known that Pierre is suing the owner of the place where it all happened, the Double Seven club in the now elite old Meat Packing District of the Big Apple. Jeffrey Jah, owner of the club, is being sued for negligence for serving alcohol to the visably intoxicated Adam Hock before he attacked Pierre and his friends. As usual, Hock's lawyers say it was he who was attacked by Pierre and his friends but, also as usual, that sounds a little odd considering Hock left in a police car and Pierre left in an ambulance. Hock hardly seems like the injured party here and, although the lawsuite has raised a few eyebrows, bar owners are not supposed to serve alcohol to people who are already drunk and many have been held accountable in civil court cases in the United States for doing so, particularly if the drunk person went on to commit a more serious crime like injuring someone in a drunk driving accident or, let's say, getting in a drunken brawl with someone half their size and nearly breaking their jaw. Just for an example. Still, I can see where this might be a little controversial. Should it have stayed only with the case of New York against Hock or is Pierre justified in this new civil case? Can he expect justice or should he have just left it alone? Either way, it will be for the court to decide.

Casiraghi Craziness

The media has been having a great deal of fun at the expense of at least two of the members of the Casiraghi trio. The stories about Charlotte have, at least, been rather more kind. French celebrity experts have been saying recently that the Casiraghi cutie has been trying to distance herself somewhat from her role as the "face" of the Gucci brand. Whether this is true or not (or how one could even tell) I don't know but that's the story. The reason for this, reportedly, is that Charlotte does not wish to be seen as a model or rather as the stereotypical sort of model. In other words, she's more than just another pretty face; which of course is absolutely true. She is an extremely intelligent, educated and cosmopolitan young lady. However, I would be a little bit skeptical about this (just a little bit) because it seems to play on a rather tired stereotype of the supermodel (and if Charlotte is to be considered a model, she would most definitely be "super") which, as we all know, is that they are all beauty and no brains. I'm certainly no expert on the fashion or modeling world but I am familiar with a few supermodels and they very intelligent and accomplished women, business savy, multilingual and involved in a number of commendable social causes. What is even harder for me to believe is the alleged reason for Charlotte taking the job with Gucci in the first place; that it was basically a quick and easy way to make some major cash. I certainly know, as the reports state, that equestrian competitions are a very expensive hobby. However, it is hard for me to imagine someone with the finances of a Casiraghi doing something they would rather not do just because they need the money. A Casiraghi "needing" money for anything strikes me as a bit far-fetched, but, of course, I could be wrong. These are hard times for alot of people.

More annoying though was a recent and very hostile story in the New York Post about Pierre Casiraghi and his ongoing legal fight with Adam Hock. According to the NYP the prosecutor involved was given a report from the Monegasque doctors who treated Pierre after he left the Big Apple saying that his facial injury required him to be placed on disability for a month. And, of course, the usual "poor little rich boy" juvenile jokes and insults quickly followed. Hock's lawyers have, of course, been 'front and center' for the media from the start of this whole affair and they have been quick to lampoon the report and claim that there is a dispute between the American and European doctors. According to the NYP article the New York doctors who treated Pierre at the hospital where he was taken immediately after the brawl said he suffered only a "superficial laceration" to his face whereas Pierre has said there was a "fracture" involved. What the Hock spin-meisters have not explained is why Pierre was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance in the first place if all he had was basically a scratch (which would also tend to make Hock look not-so-tough considering what he himself said he did in the fight). They also continue to claim that Pierre and his wealthy cohorts have a history of bad behavior at nightclubs around the world which, I will say again, if proven will greatly surprise me since I am inclined to believe we would have heard about it before now. But, I was tired of this story about the day after it happened and will just be glad when it's all over.

Pierre "Slugger" Casiraghi Awaiting Legal Showdown

Here's the story from New York Daily News:

A defense lawyer promised a legal battle royale Thursday over the bar brawl that left Grace Kelly’s princely grandson with a broken jaw.

Defendant Adam Hock forcefully rejected a plea deal in the Feb. 12 fight at the Double Seven nightclub, with attorney Joseph Tacopina insisting his client was the real victim in the fisticuffs.

“There will be no plea in this case, so they can save their offer,” Tacopina declared. “He was struck by one of the alleged victims.”

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Clerkin had just proposed an agreement where Hock, 45, would receive probation and a 12-week anger management course for a guilty plea to assault.

But Tacopina charged that Monaco’s Prince Pierre Casiraghi and his three pals were “habitual bar brawlers” with a history of fights in Paris and Belize.

Hock, the only one arrested after the punches flew in the Meatpacking District, claimed the fight started when he stepped up to protect a bevy of fashion models from the prince’s unwanted attentions.

The brawl escalated when Hock was smashed in the shoulder with a $500 bottle of vodka — an injury that Tacopina claims will require surgery.

“It’s really a ridiculous case,” said Tacopina, whose client is due back in court on May 27.

Casiraghi and his pals are “very well-known individuals who seems to be in bars and bar fights all the time,” Tacopina said derisively. “One of them claims to be half-a-prince.”

Tacopina insisted three witnesses would back up Hock’s version of the brawl. Hock is the former owner of the now-defunct Hawaiian Tropic Zone.

Oh cry me a river Hocky puck! There's a fight in a bar, one guy leaves in an ambulance with his face smashed in, the other leaves in a police car and you want us to believe that the one in the ambulance was the real villain? Give me a break! I would have advised you to take the plea deal and consider yourself lucky. Each side will have witnesses, probably each saying something different, each saying the other started it so that probably won't amount to much. What will be crucial is that one guy walked away with a slight injury that may require attention at some point and the other guy was carried away by paramedics with a broken jaw. Doesn't look good for you Hocky puck! I'm also not impressed by this effort to sway public opinion by slandering Pierre in the press. Pierre, you will not, hasn't said a word about what happened but Hocky puck and his legal lizards are putting it out that Pierre is part of some sort of jet-set, barroom version of fight club. Give me a break! Pierre Casiraghi is under almost constant scrutiny and the paparazi, certainly in France and Italy, are not known for ignoring celebrities getting into fights. If Pierre were getting into bar fights constantly, all over the world, I'm pretty darn sure we would have heard about it before now. At least one of them. Sometime. Somewhere. Have you? I havn't, and I keep pretty close tabs on our Monegasque friends. Besides which, when it comes time to go to court, anything that happened in Paris or Milan or British Honduras is not going to matter. All that is going to matter is who did what to whom and the evidence is pretty clear that Pierre got the worst of it. It hardly seems that ol' Hocky puck was the injured party.

Watch Out Slugger!

We all remember the days when Pierre Casiraghi was (and I really hope I'm not offending anyone by saying this) viewed as the cute little geek of the Casiraghi clan? With his slight frame and adorable little glasses he seemed the opposite of his older brother Andrea, long-time heartthrob for teenage girls who from day one looked like some kid from the JC Penny catalogue. But then our little Pierre grew up. Puberty happened (as it tends to) and Pierre got ripped, lost his glasses and soon it was he who had all the girls swooning. Well, recently we've been reminded yet again of how times have changed as Pierre seems to have taken a page from the playbook of his (nominal) step-father and been involved in a public brawl. I don't mean to make light of this at all, he is all right but was roughed up badly enough to be rushed to the hospital to have some facial wounds taken care of.

Evidently it all went down at the Double Seven nightclub in Manhattan where Pierre had some sort of confrontation with former nightclub owner Adam Hock. Who knows what it was about but words were exchanged, harsher words were exchanged and then someone took a poke at someone else and the 'almost royal' rumble was on. Pierre is alright but, as stated, had to be taken to the hospital to get patched up (I hope he gave as good as he got, surely he did some hand-to-hand combat training in the French army) and hopefully he will emerge from this unfortunate incident a little wiser with some (hopefully not permanent) scars to impress the girls with.

Happy (Belated) Birthday Pierre

Yesterday, Pierre Casiraghi celebrated his 24th birthday. Mad for Monaco hopes Pierre had a happy one and looks forward to many, many more.

Happy Birthday Pierre!

Today Pierre Rainier Stefano Casiraghi celebrates his 23rd birthday. Pierre is currently third in line for the Monegasque throne. He resides mostly in Italy and is the majority share-holder of the construction company founded by his late father in Monaco in 1984. Beatrice Borromeo is still is 'main squeeze'. Mad for Monaco wishes Pierre a very happy birthday!

Football and Fashion in Monaco

(l to r) Marco Simone, Pierre Casiraghi (son of Princess Caroline), Daniel Ducruet (son of Princess Stephanie) and HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco pose with their trophy after a football match organized against the drivers of today's Forumla One drivers. The match was held at the Prince Louis II Stadium and benefited AMADE (World Association of Children's Friends) which is based in Monaco and under the patronage of Princess Caroline to help unfortunate children around the world.

Charlene Wittstock, longtime girlfriend of Prince Albert II, and British actress Elizabeth Hurley pose on their way to attend a charity fashion show in Monaco ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix which is being held in the Principality today.

Pierre Casiraghi

Pierre Rainier Stefano Casiraghi is the youngest child of Hereditary Princess Caroline of Monaco and her late husband Stefano Casiraghi. As things stand now he is the third in the line of succession to the throne of Monaco behind his mother and his older brother Andrea. He was born on September 5, 1987 at the Princess Grace Hospital in Monte Carlo, Monaco. He was named after his great-grandfather (Prince Pierre), his grandfather (Prince Rainier) and his father Stefano Casiraghi. His godparents were his uncle Prince Albert II and his aunt Laura Casiraghi. He is currently at university in Italy where he is studying economics, presumably to take over the family business of his late father which is currently managed by his uncle Marco Casiraghi. In 2008 he went through basic training with the French army. He speaks French, Italian and English fluently as well as a little German and enjoys playing the saxophone. Although sometimes overshadowed by his older brother Pierre has certainly attracted his own fair share of media attention, most of which revolves around his wealthy lifestyle and succession of stylish socialite girlfriends. Evidently it is news to some people that rich families live well. One of his more recent and popular girlfriends has been the Italian aristocrat Beatrice Borromeo. On the whole he has shown the ability to accomplish his goals and to enjoy life as it comes that epitomizes the Princely Family of Monaco.

Pierre Casiraghi Photo Controversy

Last time it was Andrea, this time it is his younger brother Pierre who has been photographed in the nude. It was on a family outing aboard the Pacha III on Tuesday with mother Princess Caroline and girlfriend Beatrice Borromeo when Pierre had just finished a scuba dive and was changing out of his gear that some long-distance scum of the earth snapped some photos that caught a glimpse of it all. There has been talk of some legal action but no official word as of yet. Princess Caroline has gone to court over prior photographic invasions of privacy and won and personally I would be in favor of the same this time. Frankly, I hope they sue these human trash for every dime they have. This would be an outrageous violation of privacy for anyone and the fact that Pierre is third in line for the Monegasque throne should play no part in the discussion. After all, despite what many mistakenly say (and print) Pierre is not a prince of Monaco, he has no titles and no official position with the principality. He is, legally, a private citizen, was on a private excursion and of course had not consented to being photographed and had no idea he was being photographed. There are times when attention should be expected and when "celebrities", royal or otherwise should no better than to let it all hang out, but this was certainly not one of those times and completely beyond the pale as far as I'm concerned. This disgusting behavior has got to stop.