Charlotte Casiraghi

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Charlotte Casiraghi

Born Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi
3 August 1986 (1986-08-03) (age 21)
Princess Grace Clinic, Monte Carlo
Parents Stefano Casiraghi
Princess Caroline of Monaco

Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi (born August 3, 1986, at the Princess Grace Clinic in Monte Carlo, Monaco), also known as Charlotte of Monaco, is the daughter of HSH Caroline, Princess of Hanover, Hereditary Princess of Monaco and Stefano Casiraghi, an Italian industrialist. She is named after her paternal great-grandmother, Princess Charlotte of Monaco. She is popular with the paparazzi and society reporters who find her stylish good looks to be reminiscent of her mother and maternal grandmother, American actress Grace Kelly. Although not titled herself, she is fourth in line to the throne of Monaco.

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[edit] Early life

Charlotte and her two brothers, Andrea and Pierre, grew up in the tiny Mediterranean principality ruled by their maternal grandfather, Rainier III of Monaco. When she was four years old, her father was killed in a boating accident. Distraught, Princess Caroline moved the family to the beautiful Midi village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in France where the children grew up protected from the inquisitive eyes of the press.[1]

At the age of five, her paternal grandparents, Giancarlo and Fernanda Casiraghi, gave her a small island off Sardinia reportedly valued at US $7 million,[2] or $9 million according to one source.[3]

In January 1999, she gained a stepfather when her mother married Ernst August V, Prince of Hanover. Five months later, Casiraghi's half-sister, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, was born at a clinic in Austria. The family then moved to the Parisian suburb of Fontainebleau, to be closer to the Prince's children from a previous marriage, who live in London with their mother, Chantal Hochuli. Casiraghi continued to pursue show jumping, participating in a number of Junior and Amateur class equestrian competitions. Her then-trainer, Thierry Rozier, was quoted in the US magazine Newsweek saying that Casiraghi wanted to be seen as a serious show jumping athlete, rather than a socialite.[4]

[edit] Education

She obtained an "excellent" mark on her baccalaureate exam in July 2004. After passing her "BAC", she was enrolled in the hypokhâgne and khâgne course at the Lycée Fénelon, in St-Germain-des-Près - Paris, in the hope of entering the École Normale Supérieure (Paris). She took the written entrance exam for ENS in June 2006 but did not make the list of candidates eligible to proceed to the oral exam. She is currently enrolled at the University of Paris IV: Paris-Sorbonne, in philosophy (junior year).

[edit] Personal life

Casiraghi's first public romance was with European aristocrat Hubertus Herring Frankensdorf. The two were spotted in 2001 at Monaco's Grand National Prix and in 2002 her family on a skiing holiday in Zurs, Austria. They were also seen together early in 2004.

Casiraghi was in a relationship with Felix Winckler, the son of a Brussels-based international attorney, from 2004 to late 2006 or early 2007. They were often seen together and whether they were skiing in Austria or sailing aboard Princess Caroline's yacht, PACHA III, they were always very affectionate. The popular Italian magazine, Novella 2000, broke the news that Casiraghi and Winkler had parted ways after three years of romance. Casiraghi is very close to Winckler's sister, Cecile, who introduced them in 2003.

Casiraghi is a private person, but occasionally attends official functions. Since childhood, she and her brothers have made regular appearances with their family on occasions such as the Monaco National Day and the Monaco Grand Prix. Princess Caroline has, however, tried to minimize publicity in spite of the increasingly intense interest of Europe's mass media.[5]

At 16, Casiraghi was named number ten on a list of the world's Most Eligible young women.[6] Furthermore, Casiraghi upstaged her uncle Prince Albert on the day of his own Investiture ceremony on National Day 2005. While she did not attend the actual Investiture, she was the most-talked about presence on the palace balcony and at an opera performance that evening.[7] Despite a closet full of designer dresses from the likes of Chanel and Alberta Ferretti,[8] Casiraghi's life has been relatively similar to other women in her circles. Vanity Fair, selected Casiraghi as one of the International Best Dressed List of 2006.[9]

Nowadays, Casiraghi is photographed at fashion shows,[10] art exhibits, and other high-profile events. Two of her most notable appearances were the occasion of Monaco's Rose Ball (Bal de la Rose), an annual event to raise money for the Princess Grace Foundation[11] and her 18th birthday "champagne and fireworks gala" at La Vigie, her mother's luxurious villa on the French Riviera.[12] 450 people, including designers Karl Lagerfeld, who designed Casiraghi's one-of-a-kind gown, and Christian Louboutin were invited.[13]

Casiraghi has been dating current boyfriend Alexander Dellal, son of wealthy property developer Guy Dellal and Brazilian supermodel Andrea, since March 2007. The twosome has attracted much of Europe's media attention, and are regularly photographed together. They are often seen shopping in Paris and attending social functions in London, where Dellal lives and works as a co-owner of a gallery.

Casiraghi is enjoying an extended stay in London where she is doing a work experience as an intern at the London newspaper, the Independent.[14]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Heyman, J (2 July 2001) "Lives in the fast lane." US Weekly. Issue 33.
  2. ^ "Red Hot Blue Bloods." (18 August 2003) People. Vol. 60, Issue 7.
  3. ^ Sheffield, Rob (6 October 2005) "Hot Fantasy Girl." Rolling Stone. Issue 984.
  4. ^ McGuigan, Cathleen (12 August 2002) "Sixteen candles for Charlotte." Newsweek. Vol. 140. Issue 7.
  5. ^ Kurth, Peter (6 November 2006) "The Pleasure Principality." The (London) Observer.
  6. ^ "Life's a beach for Caroline." (12 May 2002) Sunday Mirror.
  7. ^ "All Eyes on Charlotte" Day, Elizabeth and Ian Sparks. (20 November 2005) Sunday Telegraph (London).
  8. ^ "The hit list." (15 September 2006) The Evening Standard (London) and "Fashion Stalker." (8 September 2006) Evening Standard (London).
  9. ^ The 67th Annual International Best-Dressed List, 2006. Vanity Fair.
  10. ^ "Youth brand turns to ladies of a certain age." (6 March 2006) The Times (London)
  11. ^ "Toast of Monaco." (17 April 2006) People Vol. 65, Issue 15.
  12. ^ "Charlotte Casiraghi: Princess Caroline's daughter turns 18." (9 August 2004) People. Vol. 62. Issue 6.
  13. ^ "Eye Scoop: Charlotte Deb." (5 August 2004) Women's Wear Daily. Vol. 188, Issue 26.
  14. ^ "Media Monkey's Diary." (1 October 2007) MediaGuardian

[edit] External links


Charlotte Casiraghi
Cadet branch of the House of Casiraghi
Born: 3 August 1986
Preceded by
Pierre Casiraghi		 Line of succession to the Monegasque Throne Succeeded by
Princess Alexandra of Hanover