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. Charlotte had been the illegitimate daughter of Louis II of Monaco. In order to prevent a succession crisis, Louis adopted Charlotte as his legal heir in 1919.
Like much of her personal jewellery collection, the origins of these earrings are a mystery. They are made in the Art Deco style featuring large Cushion Cut diamonds suspended from a diamond set bow shaped drop.
Regardless of how she came to own these earrings, Princess Charlotte was filmed wearing them 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 Cartier Diamond and Pearl Drop Tiara & Diamond Fringe Tiara, Princess Caroline has been the main wearer of her grandmother’s pieces. She first wore the diamond earrings for a series of portraits for Life Magazine in 1985 and has continued to do so throughout the years.
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 earrings when representing and promoting the Principality.
Caroline wore the tiara for a photo-shoot with her young family in 1988
She also wore them 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 earrings 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 but Caroline is a Princess in her own right and is still active in her capacity as one of Monaco’s most glamorous ambassadors.
