Princess Grace, Hometown Girl

HSH Princess Grace of Monaco became a famous and beloved figure all around the world first as a movie star and later as the princess consort of one of the oldest monarchies on earth. However, in her own hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania she is still known as the local girl who made it big. A reminder of that, and how Princess Grace never lost her connection with her native city, will be coming to Philadelphia. On Thursday at the Hotel Monaco in the 'City of Brotherly Love' officials announced an upcoming exhibit dedicated to Princess Grace called "Grace Kelly: Beyond the Icon" which will focus on her childhood, early film career and finally her rise to the world of royalty.

Christopher Le Vine, a nephew of Princess Grace, spoke at the event about how his beloved aunt never lost touch with her roots, her family and friends. He also spoke of her love for scrapple, a local Philly dish that is, let us say, a rather acquired taste. It consists of a loaf of pork scraps and cornmeal -hardly the sort of thing one would expect a Princess of Monaco or even a Hollywood movie star to be fond of. Yet, Princess Grace took a sample back to the principality with her so that the chefs at the Princely Palace could recreate the dish in her new home (though one has to wonder what highly skilled masters of French cuisine must have thought of such a thing).

The exhibit will open on October 28 at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doyelstown, a suburb not far from the Bucks County Playhouse where Princess Grace made her stage debut in 1949. Items that will be on display for the exhibit include clothes, clips of home movies, the Oscar the Princess won for her role in "The Country Girl" as well as love letters from HSH Prince Rainier III. HSH Sovereign Prince Albert II also recorded a special message for the crowd in Philadelphia that was played at the announcement, paying tribute to his late mother and noting how beloved she was by the Monegasque and how much her legacy lives on in Monaco today. She will never be forgotten.

Charlotte Causing a Stir, Andrea Setting a Date

Not a few people (including yours truly) were less than thrilled when Charlotte Casiraghi started getting serious with the Jewish-Moroccan-French actor/comedian Gad Elmaleh, 15 years older than her and already the father of a 12-year old son, but it seems things have only gone further and recently Charlotte has been causing the rumor-mill to go into overdrive. Recent photos of Charlotte have shown what many see as the beginnings of a 'baby bump' and (as seen above) Princess Caroline's youngest was recently spotted shopping for baby clothes. Are they for big brother Andrea's offspring -or one of her own? Charlotte recently celebrated her 27th birthday and has been keeping company with Gad for about eighteen months now. Rumors are thick that the two are already engaged but, if so, there has been no official announcement of it as yet. Still, many are running with the story that Charlotte is expecting a baby and that the two will be married before the year is out. Time will tell if these people are correct.

Meanwhile, August 31 has been named as the date for the wedding of Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo. According to the Princely Palace it will be a small, private ceremony. Not long ago the couple welcomed their first child, a boy, to the world; Sacha, Princess Caroline's first grandchild. Will another be far behind?

Red Cross Ball

 Last Friday (yes, I'm behind a little) was the annual Red Cross ball in the Principality of Monaco, one of the major charitable events of the year hosted by the Princely Family. This year the entertainment was provided by Eros Ramazzotti and, as usual, the Princely couple cut a fine figure on the dance floor.

HSH Princess Charlene was looking good in blue, a good color for a swimmer

HSH Princess Charlene, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover, the three biggest names on the scene without question

Love Ball

 Recently there was a special celebration called the "Love Ball" at the Opera of Monte Carlo, appropriately attended by TSH Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. Ms. Natalia Vodianova (of the Naked Heart foundation) organized the event and HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover also attended as part of the proceeds from the evening will go to benefit her charity AMADE.

Princess Charlene Reflects on the Wedding

In a recent interview with the Times HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco talked about married life and even addressed the unpleasantness caused by the slanderous gossip rags on the day of her wedding to the Sovereign Prince. She made clear that all the rumors were "categorical lies" which anyone with half a brain should have known from the start, however, the media being as it is, the Princess had to comment on it. Still, she says her wedding was the best three days of her life and seems rather like a dream when looked back on. She said she still sometimes marvels that the Eagles played at her wedding, one of many indications of how far she has come from the simple, girl-next-door in South Africa where she grew up. However, she admitted that the rumors made things difficult and put extra strain on what was already an immense undertaking -as any royal wedding is bound to be. It must have been extremely difficult for her and the Princess related how, at the end of the ceremony, all the worry, all the joy and all the mixed emotions finally came out and tears started to run down her face, which she immediately realized would be seen by everyone and possibly taken the wrong way. Bless her.

The newest Princess of Monaco also talked about how royal life has been treating her since the big day. She talked about her Princess Charlene Foundation, part of which is devoted to teaching Monegasque and French children how to swim, combining her lifelong passion for swimming with her love of children. It really is a perfect fit and she also talked about the fashion show she organized and her goal of bringing the children of all classes together in various ways such as a recent project to have the youngsters design their own school uniforms. In the world of royalty, the Princess of Monaco related that she is very fond of the new Queen Maxima of The Netherlands. Also coming from outside of Europe and marrying into an old royal house, the two have some things in common and Princess Charlene said that the Dutch Queen has been "unbelievably supportive if I need anything". When asked, the Princess also had nothing but kind words for the Duchess of Cambridge and praise for how well she has handled herself since becoming part of the British Royal Family. Since the Duchess is due to give birth shortly this, of course, prompted a question about future children for the Prince and Princess of Monaco. She said that because the two travel so much it is something that will take time, that she is not putting any pressure on herself (good to hear) but that "it will happen". We will be waiting eagerly.

Bastille Day

It is that time of the year again. The time when French republicans celebrate their bloody revolution that brought down the Kingdom of France and which saw the invasion and occupation of the Principality of Monaco. Having nothing new to say on this sad subject, I will merely point readers to some past posts on...

The Facts About Bastille Day

Bastille Day

HSH Prince Honore III

Princess Francoise-Therese

HSH Prince Honore IV

Prince Joseph of Monaco

Posts on the French Revolution

Happy Birthday America

 Although I have a character that would have put me among the Tories in 1776 colonial America, I am sure the half-American Princely Family would join in wishing a happy Independence Day to the United States. If the timing had been a little different, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that a Grimaldi might have fought for the cause. Many princes of Monaco did serve in the royal French army and France sent troops to aid the American Patriots so...

Jumping Competition in Monaco

Last week TSH Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene visited the grounds of the 18th International Jumping Competition in Monte Carlo; a sport very popular with the Grimaldi family and one Casiraghi lady in particular.

Last Saturday evening the Sovereign Prince and Princess consort arrived to watch the jumping competition.

Sad Egyptian Anniversary

It was on this day in 1953 that the Egyptian monarchy was abolished and a republic declared, deposing HM King Fuad II of Egypt and Sudan, the last reigning monarch of the Muhammad Ali dynasty which had ruled Egypt since 1805. The Egyptian Royal Family was good friends to the House of Grimaldi and King Fuad II (who was only an infant at the time he lost his throne) spent much of his time in exile in the Principality of Monaco. His father, King Farouk, had been a good friend of HSH Prince Rainier III and when his Egyptian citizenship was revoked in 1959 the Prince of Monaco extended him Monegasque citizenship and they always had a warm welcome in the Principality. As seen in the photo above, when King Fuad II was all grown up and decided to get married, to Dominique-France Loeb-Picard (a well-educated French woman who converted from Judaism to Islam to marry the King) the ceremony was held in Monaco with TSH Prince Rainier and Princess Grace looking on. Unfortunately, the marriage did not endure but the two royal families have always remained close. Princess Ferial of Egypt accompanied her father King Farouk to the wedding in Monaco of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace and, many years later, the same Egyptian princess returned to Monaco to say farewell to Prince Rainier at his funeral. Particularly today, in light of the trauma of the "Arab Spring" and the continued unrest under the government which replaced the Mubarak dictatorship, it is more obvious than ever than the loss of the Egyptian monarchy was a terrible mistake.

Swedish Royal Wedding

HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco represented the Principality and the House of Grimaldi at the wedding last Saturday of HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden and New York banker Chris O'Neill. Here the Princess arrives alongside TRH the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Princess Charlene chats with TRH Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. They do have an odd "almost" connection. Both princesses are from former parts of the British Empire and married into European royalty and both met their husbands through the Olympic games (though in very different ways).  

Happy Birthday Andrea!

 It was on this day in 1984 that Andrea Albert Pierre Casiraghi was born to Stefano Casiraghi and HSH Princess Caroline of Monaco. Doesn't seem that long ago does it? Yesterday's bundle of joy is today's proud papa. How time flies...

Princess Charlene on the Cover of Vogue Japan