Although their Principality may be famous for its Grand Prix, generous income tax laws and being the second smallest state in the world, the Princes of Monaco do not have a conventional collection of royal jewels unlike their dynastic counterparts throughout Europe.
Therefore, when she married Prince Rainier in 1956, the American actress Grace Kelly had to start her own jewellery collection from scratch. Prince Rainier’s mother, Princess Charlotte, did own several impressive pieces (such as her Cartier Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiaras) but these were personal property and she was apparently unwilling to share with her new daughter in law.
Fortunately for Grace, she had received several impressive jewelled wedding presents to kick start the collection, including a Diamond Festoon Necklace from the jeweller Cartier.
The necklace featured 64 Carats of Round Brilliant and Baguette Cut diamonds set in Platinum. The ‘Festoon’ design is said to represent the garlands of flowers, leaves, or ribbons, which are used as decorations at important festivities .
Princess Grace would wear the Festoon necklace throughout her life, including her official visit to the Vatican in 1957. She would often pair it with her other wedding present, the Bains de Mer Tiara.
She also famously wore it for her iconic French Vogue photo-shoot in 1959.
After her tragic death in 1982, Princess Grace’s jewellery became part of the ‘Palais Princier de Monaco Collection’.
This Collection encompasses not only jewels but fine art, furniture and Prince Rainier’s famous vintage cars. The jewels are available for use by any member of the Grimaldi family but it has been Princess Caroline who has been the main wearer of her family’s pieces over the years. The Grimaldi’s have also generously loaned out Grace’s necklace to various exhibitions.
From the time of her mother’s death in 1982 to her brother Albert’s marriage in 2011, Caroline was effectively Monaco’s first lady.
As such, she would wear her mother’s jewels when representing and promoting the Principality. In 1999, Princess Caroline married Prince Ernst August of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick. This marriage elevated Caroline from a Serene Highness (HSH) to a Royal Highness (HRH) and put her at the heart of the European Royal Society.
Ernst August is head of the House of Hanover which in turn, makes him a Prince of the United Kingdom. The Hanoverians are related to all the major European royal families so Caroline’s presence is required at high profile events.
She was pictured wearing the necklace publicly once, at the Monaco National Day celebrations in 2006
But (to the delight of jewellery lovers) the necklace made a spectacular reappearance at the wedding of Princess Grace’s granddaughter Charlotte Casiraghi. Charlotte chose to wear stunning piece at the evening reception of her marriage on June 1st 2019.
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