It was on this day in 1846 that HSH Prince Charles III of Monaco married the aristocratic Belgian lady Antoinette de Merode-Westerloo. The marriage was a complete success, securing the future of the Grimaldi dynasty (by the birth of the future Prince Albert I), the couple became quite popular at the court of Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie of France and the dowry Princess Antoinette brought with her proved quite helpful in establishing the original Monte Carlo Casino which finally solved the money-woes of Monaco. Together they provided a new, fresh face of stability and progress for the principality. The Grimaldis may be known for their romantic misadventures but there were plenty of successful marriages in the family's history and that of Charles and Antoinette was certainly one of them. They were faithful to each other, appreciative of each other and a very caring couple. When the health of Charles III began to fail Princess Antoinette was extremely attentive and she sacrificed her own health to some extent to care for her husband to the very last.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Today in Grimaldi History
It was on this day in 1846 that HSH Prince Charles III of Monaco married the aristocratic Belgian lady Antoinette de Merode-Westerloo. The marriage was a complete success, securing the future of the Grimaldi dynasty (by the birth of the future Prince Albert I), the couple became quite popular at the court of Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie of France and the dowry Princess Antoinette brought with her proved quite helpful in establishing the original Monte Carlo Casino which finally solved the money-woes of Monaco. Together they provided a new, fresh face of stability and progress for the principality. The Grimaldis may be known for their romantic misadventures but there were plenty of successful marriages in the family's history and that of Charles and Antoinette was certainly one of them. They were faithful to each other, appreciative of each other and a very caring couple. When the health of Charles III began to fail Princess Antoinette was extremely attentive and she sacrificed her own health to some extent to care for her husband to the very last.
And yet, it is the scandalous stories people prefer.
ReplyDeleteSadly true, and in recent years the press has become willing to invent such scandals even when the do not occur. Rainier III had to deal with alot of that. Few also seem to realize how much real human suffering goes along with those scandals they find so 'thrilling' to read about.
ReplyDeleteYes, I find it quite cruel, this delight many seem to take in true or false tales of marriages and families falling apart. Do people forget that these are fellow human beings, not characters in a soap opera? And sometimes, there seems to be almost an envious, spiteful interest in dragging royals etc. through the mud.
ReplyDeleteI missed this when first posted. Up Princess Antoinette! Belgians favorite Monegasque!
ReplyDelete