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. The Grimaldi’s may have ruled the principality since 1297, but before the American actress Grace Kelly enlarged the royal jewellery collection with her marriage to Prince Rainier in 1956, the next best thing were the personal jewels of Rainier’s mother, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois.
It is unclear whether she received this tiara on her wedding day or if she commissioned it later in life. What we do is that it was made by renowned french jeweller Cartier. The ornate frame is fashioned from gold and platinum featuring intricate, interlocking diamond arches. Nine large oriental pearls hang from the central design.
Regardless of how she came to own this piece, Princess Charlotte was filmed wearing it for the pre wedding ball of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly in 1956. The new Princess Grace wears her Bains de Mer Tiara
After her death in 1977, Princess Charlotte’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.
Along with her Diamond Fringe Tiara & her Sapphire Suite, Princess Caroline has been the main wearer of her grandmother’s pieces over the years.
The first clear pictures we have of this tiara was in a Life magazine photo-shoot in 1985.
It is worth mentioning how unbelievably similar this tiara is to the Emerald Tiara belonging to the Thurn und Taxis dynasty (Pictured: Caroline of Monaco and Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis).
Thought to have been made by the London jewellers Hannocks it was displayed at the Paris Exhibition in 1855.
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 grandmother’s tiara when representing and promoting the Principality.
Caroline wore the tiara for a photo-shoot with her young family in 1988
She also wore it for King Gustav of Sweden 50th Birthday celebrations in Stockholm.
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. Here, she is seen wearing the tiara at the pre wedding celebrations of Prince Guillaume Of Luxembourg in 2012
It is rumoured that Ernst and Caroline have been separated for a number of years now so it is unlikely that we will see the tiara as regularly as we did but Caroline is a Princess in her own right and is still active in her capacity as one of Monaco’s most glamorous ambassadors.
Further Reading
