The Grimaldi dynasty is one of the most troubled royal households in Europe—with a blemished reputation fostered by marital woes and adversity. Some may say the lives of Caroline, Albert and Stéphanie have been eclipsed by the tragic death of their mother, Hitchcock favorite Grace Kelly, who is credited for bringing the tiny tax haven on the Mediterranean coast worldwide attention. And for the first time since the dark days after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the tumultuous tabloid fodder surrounding the finances of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, it seems that the curses surrounding royal families can, in fact, be lifted—proven by the significant improvements experienced by the British monarchy in recent years. The time is now for a crusade in Monaco—brought to us by the Casiraghis.
In 1983, three years after Caroline’s marriage to Philipe Junot ended, she walked the down aisle with Stefano Casiraghi, an Italian heir, socialite and businessman. The couple had three children: Andrea in 1984, Charlotte in 1986 and Pierre in 1987. On October 3, 1990, Caroline’s husband was killed in a speedboat racing accident. Caroline fled to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in France, where she and her children were kept out of the media spotlight until rumors surfaced about her relationship with Prince Ernst August of Hanover (a direct descendant of King George III). The rumors were put to rest—at least temporarily—when the Prince and Princess wed in 1999.
The family is notorious for keeping mum and avoiding interviews with the press and until recently, Caroline was successful at shielding her children from the gossip pages. As of late, headlines seem focused on the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Pippa Middleton’s fashion fancies and the rowdy party lifestyle of Prince Harry. But now, all eyes are on Princess Caroline’s three, stunningly gorgeous and shockingly private children—and with good reason.
Not to say the Casiraghi clan hasn’t been on our radar, but only lately have they been the center of attention. Since their coming of age, they have quickly made up for lost time. They were first introduced at the annual Bal de la Rose, created by Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace and has become the second most famous gala in Monaco (after the Red Cross Ball). Later in 2007, pictures surfaced of them at Valentino’s Haute Couture Fashion Show and his 45th Anniversary Gala Ball with the likes of Alejandro Santo Domingo, Eugenie Niarchos and Anna Wintour’s daughter Bee Shaffer. Though they have not yet received official royal titles, their very lineage—and subsequent bewitching genes—makes them hard-pressed to escape the limelight as staples on the international scene and faces of the modern monarchy.
However, despite their tabloid-tainted family, the three, for the most part, have kept themselves out of a scandalous spotlight. Unlike their uncle Prince Albert, who kept stateside during his studies at Amherst College in Massachusetts and later popped up in the Manhattan and Hamptons social scene, Andrea and Pierre have yet to be known for their bachelorhood or their wild ways with women.
