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News24
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Royal devotion – Princess Charlene and Prince Albert are more united than ever
It's the highlight of the Monaco social calendar, a soirée that oozes glitz and glamour while raking in cash for worthy causes. A seat at a table at Le Gala de la Croix Rouge – or the Red Cross Gala, if you don't speak French as the principality's Benoni-raised princess has learnt to do – will set you back €1,400 (about R29,400). But people do cough up – and this year there was something extra special for the guests to get excited about. Prince Albert II, the leader of the tiny enclave on the shores of the Mediterranean, was marking the 20th anniversary of his reign – and who better to honour him than his wife. READ MORE | SEE | Monaco royals celebrate 20th anniversary of Prince Albert's reign Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene, who was once looked down upon for not speaking French and struggled to be accepted by notoriously snobbish Monégasques, took to the stage to deliver a moving speech in the local lingo to the black-tie-and-ballgown crowd. 'Today marks exactly the 20th anniversary of your accession,' she told her husband, who was seated among 800 guests in the famed Monte-Carlo's Salle des Étoiles ballroom on 12 July. 'Twenty years ago, you took the reins of the principality, and since that day, you have guided Monaco with wisdom, courage and determination. Your wish for unity and serenity for Monaco has been your guideline.' Charlene (47) then added her own personal touch for her 67-year-old husband. 'Albert, you know I am always by your side, along with the Monégasques. We are standing with you with all our hearts to protect Monaco and its future under your leadership.' We love you, we support you and we thank you for being there for all of us Princess Charlene The former South African Olympic swimmer lived up to her style-queen credentials in an ethereal light-blue silk gown by Elie Saab paired with a dazzling diamond necklace. It was an outfit befitting the prestigious event, which has a history stretching back 70 years. From 1949 to 1958, Albert's father, Prince Rainier III, chaired the event, and from 1958 to 1982, the honour fell to his mother, Hollywood screen icon Grace Kelly – and thanks to her connections, it attracted acting royalty in the form of Elizabeth Taylor and Gregory Peck, and the likes of former US First Lady Jackie Onassis. Princess Grace's granddaughter, Camille Gottlieb, paid tribute to her in an Elisabetta Franchi dress similar to one the Oscar-winner wore in the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie Rear Window. 'This ball is an opportunity for us to come together around a cause that's dear to us and touches us deeply,' said Camille (27), who was there with her mom Princess Stéphanie (60) and brother Louis Ducruet (37). Following Charlene's speech, 10 members of the Prince's Carabinieri – Monaco's military guard – performed a moving version of the country's anthem, which saw a visibly touched Albert joining in. A few minutes before midnight, he officially opened the dance floor with his wife to Coldplay's Everglow, and the evening closed with a bang with a performance by veteran English rocker Billy Idol, who played over 10 of his biggest hits. For guests, it was a night to remember. 'The gala is one of the biggest drawcards in Monaco,' one said afterwards. 'And Albert's anniversary made it all the more special.' READ MORE | 'Breach of trust': New controversy rocks Monaco royals as former wealth manager claims tax fraud When Albert took over the principality after his father died, it was largely seen as a tax haven for the super-rich – a principality that lived up to writer William Somerset Maugham's description of it being 'a sunny place for shady people'. Rainier focused on transforming Monaco into an upmarket tourist destination, developing luxury hotels and glitzy casinos. He also ensured owning property in the principality came with stringent bank-account checks – you had to have a certain level of wealth to own a slice of this seaside pie. Things aren't all that different in that regard today – sports cars still line the streets, designer shops glitter on litter-free roads, and heaven help dog owners if their pooches relieve themselves anywhere other than fenced-off poo-parks. But Albert's vision is more encompassing than the financial success of his country. He's passionate about the environment and is the only head of state to have travelled to both the North and South Poles to highlight the dangers of global warming. He's deeply committed to the welfare of his countrymen and women and in his first year as ruler founded his Prince Albert of Monaco Foundation, a global non-profit organisation committed to preserving the health of the planet. In a recent interview, Albert said he wanted to ensure a future Monaco that's 'proud of its values and its past, serene, prosperous, responsible and united'. He likened leadership to sport. 'You can train very thoroughly and prepare for every scenario, but there are always unforeseen events – and you have to respond as best as possible. What drives me is my love for my country, my sense of duty and the trust the Monégasques place in me Prince Albert 'Governing means anticipating, but also facing challenges with loyalty and resolve. In Monaco's history, we've always found ways to secure our future – even in tough and uncertain times. If we stay united, enthusiastic, innovative and supportive, we'll have one of the happiest futures possible.' Part of that future are his 10-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella with Charlene. And for Jacques, his son and heir, he hopes to 'hand down to him a principality that is neither quite the same nor entirely different'. Supporting Albert along the way is Charlene, who remains a steady rock by his side despite constant divorce rumours. On 2 July they celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary, an occasion marked by an Instagram post of the couple at the Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco earlier this year. The princess certainly seems to have put behind her annus horribilis of 2021, which saw her stuck in South Africa with ongoing medical issues and beset by rumours that her marriage was on the rocks. There was also speculation she wasn't happy in her role as princess, and felt ostracised and lonely in Monaco and longed to be back in South Africa. But these days, she and Albert seem more united than ever, and she appears to be throwing all her weight into helping him run Monaco instead of coming back regularly to SA. 'Charlene is emotionally more invested in Monaco now,' a source close to her told YOU. 'It appears she's far more comfortable now than ever in her role as princess.'
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Grace Kelly's lookalike granddaughter, 27, stuns in replica of princess' 1954 Rear Window gown at charity ball
Grace Kelly 's lookalike granddaughter turned heads at a recent charity ball — not just for her striking resemblance to the late princess, but for wearing a jaw-dropping gown inspired by one of her most iconic film looks. Camille Gottlieb, 27 — daughter of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and Jean Raymond Gottlieb — made a show-stopping appearance at the Monaco Red Cross Gala on Saturday, channeling every bit of her grandmother's Oscar-winning charm and timeless elegance on the red carpet. The young royal wore a custom gown inspired by Grace's unforgettable wardrobe in Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 thriller Rear Window, in which Kelly starred opposite James Stewart. The original design — a romantic navy dress with a dramatic portrait neckline and voluminous white skirt — was the work of legendary Hollywood costume designer Edith Head. Camille's modernized take paid homage while adding her own flair, featuring sparkling silver floral embellishments across the bodice and a daring thigh-high slit. After the event, Camille took to Instagram to share a glimpse behind the scenes, writing: 'Thanks to @elisabettafranchi, I was able to pay tribute to my grandmother with this beautiful dress.' The beauty completed the look with Cartier jewelry — a nod to the very brand that supplied her grandmother's engagement rings. Also in attendance at the elegant affair were Princess Grace's son Prince Albert and his wife Princess Charlene. The royal fashion moment was a nod to Grace's glamorous Hollywood legacy before she gave it all up to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. The couple went on to have three children: Princess Caroline, Prince Albert, and Camille's mother, Princess Stéphanie. Grace first met her future husband thanks to a bit of matchmaking by actress Olivia de Havilland. The Gone with the Wind star introduced the pair after meeting Kelly on a train to Cannes in April 1955. De Havilland thought the American screen siren and the prince should meet over dinner. Grace had reportedly described Rainier as 'charming' when they first met after being invited to do a photoshoot at the Prince's palace to promote her film The Country Girl. They kept in touch in secret before spending two days together in Philadelphia getting to know one another, ahead of his proposal. After a brief engagement, Kelly and Prince Rainier III tied the knot in a quiet civil ceremony inside the throne room of Monaco's royal palace on April 18, 1956. But under the Napoleonic Code of Monaco, a second, religious ceremony was required — and it was anything but quiet. The following day, the couple exchanged vows again in a grand service at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, officiated by Monaco's bishop, Gilles Barthe, and broadcast to an estimated 30 million viewers around the world. Amid her whirlwind engagement and royal wedding the following spring, Grace filmed what would become her final movie role in High Society, starring alongside Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. She was just 26 years old when she retired from acting to become a real-life princess. Though Camille never had the chance to meet her legendary grandmother — who tragically died at 52 from a brain hemorrhage following a car accident — she's clearly inherited her iconic sense of style.
