A royal birthday in the billionaires’ playground of Monaco is normally an occasion for celebration, fireworks, civic congratulations, a family appearance on the balcony of the Prince’s Palace to greet the crowds. 

And a rendition of Happy Birthday from by a military band in dazzling-outfits.

But this year Prince Albert, who is 66 today, could be forgiven for wanting to keep a low profile thanks to a humiliating furore about the House of Grimaldi’s spending habits, which are eye-watering even by the lavish standards of Monte Carlo.

The row erupted after Prince Albert dismissed his previously trusted accountant, the bespectacled Claude Palmero, who for two decades had managed the finances of the family.  

The scorned Mr Palmero – who was fired after allegations of financial impropriety at the Palace were posted on an anonymous website – has proved to be rather less mild-mannered than he first seemed.

Excerpts from five of his densely-written black-bound notebooks containing astonishing details of the Grimaldis’ spending habits have found their way into the hands of the French media and respected French newspaper, Le Monde

Among the more sensational revelations, according to Le Monde, are the spending habits of Albert’s wife, Princess Charlene, 46, a former swimmer who as Charlene Wittstock represented South Africa at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Palmero’s notebooks record that despite her generous allowance of £1.2 million a year, the princess – the mother of Albert’s twin nine-year-old children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella – has been bailed out repeatedly.

This includes a payment of £60,000 before they were married in 2011. It was widely reported that she had cold feet before the ceremony and had even booked a plane ticket back to South Africa.

Mr Palmero’s notebooks show that on one day in April 2016, the princess received £70,000 in cash, ‘less than the year before, but still far too much,’ and in 2017 there was £500,000 ‘to pay off her overdraft’.

Two years later, the speed at which Princess Charlene apparently burned through money so worried the Prince’s accountant that he wrote in his notes: ‘It’s crazy! I have no control over the Princess’ spending.’ 

In 2020, Palmero recorded a further ‘one-off payment’ of £171,000, plus £4,200 in cash.

 Charlene, who was raised outside Johannesburg by her photocopier salesman father and swimming coach mother, poured nearly £2 million into renovating a holiday house in Corsica and redecorating her office, it is suggested.

The notebooks also show that she rented another house in Corsica and spent time there apart from Albert.

Meanwhile, Charlene’s family, in particular her brother Sean with whom she runs a charity, also benefitted from Albert’s spectacular largesse, with Sean receiving £786,000 to buy a house in 2022. 

He now runs a coffee shop in Monaco.

The Wittstock family are not alone in receiving help. 

The notebooks show that the prince’s two sisters, Stéphanie and Caroline, are paid annual allowances of £680,000 and £770,000 respectively, ‘to manage their day-to-day’.

The head of Monaco’s ruling Grimaldi dynasty since 2005, Albert is the only son of Prince Rainier III and former Hollywood star Grace Kelly and has a personal fortune estimated at £2 billion.

The family has controlled the enclave on the Cote D’Azur since the 13th century. 

His exotic lifestyle in his younger years earned him the soubriquet ‘the playboy prince’ and his many rumoured conquests are said to include supermodels Naomi Campbell Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer and Janice Dickinson, singer Kylie Minogue, actresses Bo Derek and Brooke Shields, as well as actor Roger Moore’s daughter Deborah – though the truth of the stories has never been established.

Even as he approached his 50s, Albert was yet to marry or produce a legitimate heir to the throne – which under the state’s constitution would precipitate a crisis that would see the Principality of Monaco revert to French rule.

He did, however, sire at least two acknowledged illegitimate children, Alexandre, by former Air France air hostess turned fashion designer Nicole Coste, born in 2003; and Jazmin, by American waitress turned California estate agent Tamara Rotolo, who met Albert while on holiday in Monaco A bit part acrtress, Jazmin was born in 1993.

Albert’s youthful exuberance is also proving expensive. 

According to Le Monde, Jazmin, 31, receives £73,000 every three months – despite not being an official member of the Monaguesque royal family. 

Mr Palmero noted she was given £4,200 for her 18th birthday and a flat in New York worth £2.6 million seven years later.

He also noted that the palace was paying for kidnap and ransom insurance for Alexandre, 20.

Alexandre’s mother meanwhile, receives funding for her fashion business, to the tune of ‘getting on for £850m a year – including £300,000 to open a store in Knightsbridge, London.

Libération newspaper, which also interviewed Palmero, reported that Albert kept a private BNP bank account labelled AG (standing for Albert Grimaldi), allowing him to transfer money to the former girlfriends and their children without Charlene’s knowledge.

Nicole Coste demanded a flat, the notebooks show, which was to be ‘entirely in Alexandre’s name’ since ‘Nicole fears big problems with Charlene’ if Albert died. The prince’s name had to be kept out of the deal ‘at all costs’, Palmero wrote.

The notebooks further record Palmero’s alarm at the number of staff the palace employed illegally. These included Charlene’s personal cook, paid €300 a day in cash, and Filipino nannies, paid just £90 a day.

Le Monde also reported on the existence of ‘special funds’ that were allocated up to £500,000 a year for ‘secret missions’ and ‘parallel activities’ – such as paying a police officer a retainer for ‘useful information’ and ‘recovering compromising photos’.

According to Mr Palmero’s notes, Princess Charlene, who is 20 years younger than her husband, spent four months in a hospital in 2021/2 for ‘deep fatigue’ – which has added to speculation that life as a Grimaldi princess is not as happy and carefree as you might imagine.

Charlene took an extended break with her family in South Africa just after Albert was hit with yet another paternity suit. In September 2020, a teenager from Brazil claimed in a handwritten note to have been conceived during a round-the-world love affair in 2004.

The matter was due to come to court in Milan, but was dropped. A spokesman for the Prince said it was a ‘hoax’.

Charlene spent most of 2021 away from her husband and children in her native South Africa and shortly after her return to Monaco she was admitted to a treatment facility in Switzerland for exhaustion, both ’emotional and physical’. 

Charlene missed the seventh birthday of her twins Gabriella and Jacques and her tenth wedding anniversary with Albert.

So it’s fair to say that the marriage has not always been as sunny as the Mediterranean weather.

Even their fairytale wedding in 2011 was dogged by rumours of a last-minute hitch after Charlene, 20 years Albert’s junior, reportedly tried to flee the country before the big day.

There was speculation that Charlene had gone so far as to book flights back to her native South Africa and was prevented from leaving when her passport was confiscated.

So when Albert and Charlene Wittstock finally uttered I do – or ‘oui’ to be precise – under the gaze of European royalty, billionaires and celebrity friends, there was a collective sigh of relief, though the bride was photographed wiping a tear from her eye as the couple left the church.

Nevertheless, in 2014, the couple announced their ‘immense joy’ that Charlene was pregnant. 

Twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella were born on December 10 in 2014. Gabriella was first to be born by a few minutes, but under Monaco’s law of male primogeniture, Jacques is the heir apparent who will maintain the principality’s independence for at least another generation.

And recently the often tense relationship was said be becoming calmer and happier as Charlene, fortified by her devout Catholicism – she was brought up a protestant and converted to the Roman church in order to marry – has finally come to terms with her gilded if rather unconventional life.

She also enjoys the support of her brothers Sean and Gareth, 42, who moved to Monaco to ‘make sure his sister was being looked after’ a decade ago.

And earlier this year, MailOnline revealed that her father, Mike, 76, and mother, Lynette, 63, had moved more than 8,000 miles from their home in the suburbs of Johannesburg to live permanently in an imposing property in La Turbie, a short drive across the border in France.

‘It has made the world of difference,’ said a palace source in Monte Carlo who has known Albert and Charlene since before their wedding.

‘The Wittstocks,’ house is just a few minutes’ drive away from Charlene, and they meet all the time. They make her feel safe and secure, and remind her of the far more carefree life she enjoyed in South Africa.

Albert, too, is calming down. Last year he posed for a touching photograph for the first time with all four of his acknowledged children.

However the vengeance of Claude Palmero threatens to cause more marital discord.

Prince Albert’s deep displeasure was reflected in a stinging statement to Le Monde in which he said Palmero’s actions, ‘show his true nature and the little respect … he has for the family and the principality’, adding: ‘His duties imposed on him an absolute discretion, which he has violated.’

The prince continued, ‘I exercised my right to choose the asset manager of my choice. Events have shown how much this decision was the right one.’

Jazmin Grimaldi has said she feels a ‘special connection’ to her grandmother Grace Kelly after visiting the Oscar museum in Los Angeles.

The actress daughter of Prince Albert of Monaco, 32, paid tribute to the relative she never met in a sweet Instagram post on Sunday, before heading to Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Oscars party.

Grace died in a car crash ten years before Jazmin was born, meaning the pair never got to meet.

Taking to Instagram,  Grace shared a video of herself posing with an Oscar statue next to a clip of Grace picking up her Best Actress Oscar in 1954.

‘I recently visited the Academy Museum this Oscar season in Los Angeles,’ she wrote.

‘I couldn’t help but feel a special connection with my Grandmother Grace Kelly while walking through the museum and being able to hold an Oscar for this special yet comedic photo opportunity. 

‘Grace was an official Academy Award winning actress in 1955 for her role in Country Girl at the 27th Oscars! Here we are 69 years later. 

‘Happy Oscar season and congratulations to all the hardworking artists! You are all winners in my eyes,’ she added.

Jazmin then shared a series of snaps from Elton John’s Oscars party where she stunned in a black and lace dress and posed with her longterm partner Ian Mellencamp.

Jazmin is the love child of Albert of Monaco and Tamara Jean Rotolo, she is not in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne due to being born our of wedlock. Her mother, Tamara Jean Rotolo, was waitress at the time she met Prince Albert.

She grew up in Palm Desert, California, and when she was younger her mother would reportedly show her pictures of her paternal grandmother – Grace Kelly – an American film actress and Princess of Monaco, and Albert’s mother.

‘One of my first and fondest memories involving my grandmother was watching’ she told Harpers Bazar in 2015, speaking of the 1956 musical, in which Kelly starred alongside Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

‘It was the first time I realized we had a connection. I’m passionate about acting, singing, and dancing,’ adds Jazmin. ‘I saw that in her in this movie. It was a real goose-bumps moment for me.’

While she is not in line to the throne, her father has said that his children will be taken care of financially, and stand to inherit part of his personal fortune through be more than $1 billion.

Despite her mother being open about her lineage, she did not connect with her father until she was 11 – visiting Monaco for the first time, saying she has enjoyed a great relationship with him ever since, and says she has developed a bond with Albert and his wife – Princess Charlene.

According to Article 10 of Monaco’s constitution, out-of-wedlock children are not in the line of succession to the principality’s throne. It specifies that only ‘direct descendants’ of Monaco’s monarch or siblings may inherit it.

Extramarital children are common among the ruling family of Monaco, with ever Grimaldi generation for 100 years acknowledging a child that did not have legitimacy of birth.

Some of those children have gained succession right through legitimization or adoption – including Princess Charlotte – but Jazmin could not have been legitimized because her mother’s divorce proceedings were not finalized by the time of her birth – and therefore even the subsequent marriage of her biological parents would not have been enough.

Furthermore, in 2002 Albert’s father Prince Rainer III (and Grace Kelly’s husband) made obtaining succession rights through adoption impossible with a modification to the constitution.

Her first on-screen performance was a role as a cashier in the TV series ‘Jay & Pluto’ in 2016, and in December 2019, she released her first single titled ‘Fearless’.

In January, French publication Le Monde alleged that the royal spends millions every year from a secret French bank account to pay his former mistresses and love children – with Jazmin Grace and her half-brother Alexandre Coste-Grimaldi receiving allowances of $344,000 (around £270,132.88) a year each.

In November, the socialite also put up pictures from a lush holiday to Italy’s Lake Como – beloved by the world’s rich and famous – posing up a storm by an outdoor pool overlooking stunning scenery.

Earlier that month she’d also enjoyed a flashy trip to Vegas as well as a fun weekend  in Memphis. 

She also appeared to spend much of the summer in Europe, the South of France and Monaco, sharing scenic views and photos of herself enjoying fine food and wine, sporting beautiful dresses and enjoying the sun and sea.

In other posts, Jazmin has also publicised her support for the SAG-AFTRA strike last year, although her acting career is still very much in its infancy. 

Her roles include an uncredited part as a casino girl in one episode of  The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in 2019, although she does appear as Angie Bowie in the upcoming Idris Elba production The Chelsea Cowboy. 

She also has two singles out – one called Fearless and another titled Thankful. It is also understood that Jazmin is involved with charity work.

In 2006 she set up The Jazmin Fund which helps people across villages in Fiji. In 2016, the organisation helped Naidi village with funds after a Cyclone devastated the region.

In 2022, it was reported that Jazmin had snagged a $3.3 million home in the Hollywood Hills.

According to Tatler, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom property featured stunning views of the Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign. Her famous neighbours were said to include Winona Ryder and Felicity Huffman.

Albert, 65, who is worth around $1billion, also brought his daughter a $3million flat in New York when she was 25. It is not clear if she still resides there.

Jazmin’s mother Tamara, she met Albert while holidaying on the Cote D’Azur in 1991. They enjoyed a two-week fling which resulted in the birth of Jazmin in 1992, but the baby was kept secret from the public until 2006. 

A friend of her mother Tamara’s said in 2005: ‘Tamara was from a very ordinary, working-class background and had decided to go on one big holiday to Monaco. Albert was quite infatuated with her.

‘They were together pretty much every day and night and, after her two weeks were up, he asked her to stay on.

‘She told him, “I have to get back to my job”. This was reality-check time.

‘To her surprise, Albert did not forget her. He kept in touch by phone and she could contact him in a heart- beat, wherever he was in the world. The wall came down after Prince Rainier found out.

‘All contact was cut off. First she was hurt, then she got mad and decided to go to court.’

In 1993, a judge ordered Albert to provide a blood sample to settle the paternity case. But Albert’s high-powered attorneys went back to court to argue that California law had no power to order the sample. A judge agreed and ruled that the case could not go to trial.

Albert neither confirmed nor denied that he was Jazmin’s father. He acknowledged in court papers: ‘I was briefly acquainted with the plaintiff when she was on vacation in Monaco in July 1991.’

But the death of Prince Rainier more than ten years later, coupled with Nicole’s revelation, proved to be the catalyst for fresh negotiations for lawyers and, in the summer of 2006, a year after the first love child bombshell, Prince Albert formally recognised Jazmin as his daughter.

A royal spokesman said at the time: ‘We can assure everyone that there are no more hidden children. This is the last one.’

Both children now carry the Grimaldi name, and while they can never accede to the throne they will be able to make a financial claim when he dies.

Talking about meeting her father for the first time when she was 11, Jazmin said in 2015: ‘I wanted that moment to connect with my father, to get to know him, and to have him get to know me.

‘Not having had that figure around, I missed that. It’s wonderful that it happened when it did, and we’ve been enjoying a great relationship ever since.’

Jazmin revealed her close relationship with her half-brother Alexandre as she marked his 18th birthday in a sweet Instagram post.

She shared a series of Instagram posts from his birthday party in 2021, writing: ‘It’s a celebration. Happy birthday my little brother Alexandre!’

And last year, Prince Albert posed with his two children by former lovers for the first time.

The extraordinary picture, taken in New York, was shared online by his ex, Nicole. Wearing an open-necked shirt, the Prince has his arm around Jazmin who had her arm around Alexandre. 

It comes as Jazmin Grimaldi sparked speculation she may have married her partner of eight year Ian Mellencamp after her shared a video of her in what appeared to be a wedding dress.

A video, posted to Instagram, showed the couple on their travels around the world, including putting a love lock on a bridge, celebrating Valentine’s Day and various hikes across the US.

And in one shot, the actress holds on to her dog Frankie Bleu by a poolside and appears to be wearing a white wedding gown.

Her hair is styled in a classic updo, while she dons sparkling jewellery to pose amid a stunning vista, not unlike many wedding venues.

In another shot, she appears to be wearing a ring on her engagement finger.

 

Jazmin Grimaldi has sparked speculation she may have married her partner of eight year Ian Mellencamp after her shared a video of her in what appeared to be a wedding dress.

The daughter of Prince Albert of Monaco, who turned 32 on Monday, appeared in a clip shared by her long-term beau.

The video, posted to Instagram, showed the couple on their travels around the world, including putting a love lock on a bridge, celebrating Valentine’s Day and various hikes across the US.

And in one shot, the actress holds on to her dog Frankie Bleu by a poolside and appears to be wearing a white wedding gown.

Her hair is styled in a classic updo, while she dons sparkling jewellery to pose amid a stunning vista, not unlike many wedding venues.

In another shot, she appears to be wearing a ring on her engagement finger.

Jazmin has been contacted for comment.  

The love child of Albert of Monaco and Tamara Jean Rotolo has been dating the nephew of rocker John Mellencamp, Ian, 41, for eight years and lives with him in California. 

The pair often release music together and pay gushing tributes to one another on social media. 

While Jazmin is the daughter of Prince Albert of Monacco, she is not in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne due to being born our of wedlock. Her mother, Tamara Jean Rotolo, was waitress at the time she met Prince Albert.

She grew up in Palm Desert, California, and when she was younger her mother would reportedly show her pictures of her paternal grandmother – Grace Kelly – an American film actress and Princess of Monaco, and Albert’s mother.

‘One of my first and fondest memories involving my grandmother was watching’ she told Harpers Bazar in 2015, speaking of the 1956 musical, in which Kelly starred alongside Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

‘It was the first time I realized we had a connection. I’m passionate about acting, singing, and dancing,’ adds Jazmin. ‘I saw that in her in this movie. It was a real goose-bumps moment for me.’

While she is not in line to the throne, her father has said that his children will be taken care of financially, and stand to inherit part of his personal fortune through be more than $1 billion.

Despite her mother being open about her lineage, she did not connect with her father until she was 11 – visiting Monaco for the first time, saying she has enjoyed a great relationship with him ever since, and says she has developed a bond with Albert and his wife – Princess Charlene.

According to Article 10 of Monaco’s constitution, out-of-wedlock children are not in the line of succession to the principality’s throne. It specifies that only ‘direct descendants’ of Monaco’s monarch or siblings may inherit it.

Extramarital children are common among the ruling family of Monaco, with ever Grimaldi generation for 100 years acknowledging a child that did not have legitimacy of birth.

Some of those children have gained succession right through legitimization or adoption – including Princess Charlotte – but Jazmin could not have been legitimized because her mother’s divorce proceedings were not finalized by the time of her birth – and therefore even the subsequent marriage of her biological parents would not have been enough.

Furthermore, in 2002 Albert’s father Prince Rainer III (and Grace Kelly’s husband) made obtaining succession rights through adoption impossible with a modification to the constitution.

Her first on-screen performance was a role as a cashier in the TV series ‘Jay & Pluto’ in 2016, and in December 2019, she released her first single titled ‘Fearless’.

In January, French publication Le Monde alleged that the royal spends millions every year from a secret French bank account to pay his former mistresses and love children – with Jazmin Grace and her half-brother Alexandre Coste-Grimaldi receiving allowances of $344,000 (around £270,132.88) a year each.

In November, the socialite also put up pictures from a lush holiday to Italy’s Lake Como – beloved by the world’s rich and famous – posing up a storm by an outdoor pool overlooking stunning scenery.

Earlier that month she’d also enjoyed a flashy trip to Vegas as well as a fun weekend  in Memphis. 

She also appeared to spend much of the summer in Europe, the South of France and Monaco, sharing scenic views and photos of herself enjoying fine food and wine, sporting beautiful dresses and enjoying the sun and sea.

In other posts, Jazmin has also publicised her support for the SAG-AFTRA strike last year, although her acting career is still very much in its infancty. 

Her roles include an uncredited part as a casino girl in one episode of  The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in 2019, although she does appear as Angie Bowie in the upcoming Idris Elba production The Chelsea Cowboy. 

She also has two singles out – one called Fearless and another titled Thankful. It is also understood that Jazmin is involved with charity work.

In 2006 she set up The Jazmin Fund which helps people across villages in Fiji. In 2016, the organisation helped Naidi village with funds after a Cyclone devastated the region.

In 2022, it was reported that Jazmin had snagged a $3.3 million home in the Hollywood Hills.

According to Tatler, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom property featured stunning views of the Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign. Her famous neighbours were said to include Winona Ryder and Felicity Huffman.

Albert, 65, who is worth around $1billion, also brought his daughter a $3million flat in New York when she was 25. It is not clear if she still resides there.

Jazmin’s mother Tamara, she met Albert while holidaying on the Cote D’Azur in 1991. They enjoyed a two-week fling which resulted in the birth of Jazmin in 1992, but the baby was kept secret from the public until 2006. 

A friend of her mother Tamara’s said in 2005: ‘Tamara was from a very ordinary, working-class background and had decided to go on one big holiday to Monaco. Albert was quite infatuated with her.

‘They were together pretty much every day and night and, after her two weeks were up, he asked her to stay on.

‘She told him, “I have to get back to my job”. This was reality-check time.

‘To her surprise, Albert did not forget her. He kept in touch by phone and she could contact him in a heart- beat, wherever he was in the world. The wall came down after Prince Rainier found out.

‘All contact was cut off. First she was hurt, then she got mad and decided to go to court.’

In 1993, a judge ordered Albert to provide a blood sample to settle the paternity case. But Albert’s high-powered attorneys went back to court to argue that California law had no power to order the sample. A judge agreed and ruled that the case could not go to trial.

Albert neither confirmed nor denied that he was Jazmin’s father. He acknowledged in court papers: ‘I was briefly acquainted with the plaintiff when she was on vacation in Monaco in July 1991.’

But the death of Prince Rainier more than ten years later, coupled with Nicole’s revelation, proved to be the catalyst for fresh negotiations for lawyers and, in the summer of 2006, a year after the first love child bombshell, Prince Albert formally recognised Jazmin as his daughter.

A royal spokesman said at the time: ‘We can assure everyone that there are no more hidden children. This is the last one.’

Both children now carry the Grimaldi name, and while they can never accede to the throne they will be able to make a financial claim when he dies.

Talking about meeting her father for the first time when she was 11, Jazmin said in 2015: ‘I wanted that moment to connect with my father, to get to know him, and to have him get to know me.

‘Not having had that figure around, I missed that. It’s wonderful that it happened when it did, and we’ve been enjoying a great relationship ever since.’

Jazmin revealed her close relationship with her half-brother Alexandre as she marked his 18th birthday in a sweet Instagram post.

She shared a series of Instagram posts from his birthday party in 2021, writing: ‘It’s a celebration. Happy birthday my little brother Alexandre!’

And last year, Prince Albert posed with his two children by former lovers for the first time.

The extraordinary picture, taken in New York, was shared online by his ex, Nicole. Wearing an open-necked shirt, the Prince has his arm around Jazmin who had her arm around Alexandre. 

The Monaco royal family is associated with enviable glamour thanks to actress, beauty and fashion icon Grace Kelly.

Yet the late fashionista, who became Princess Grace on marriage to Prince Rainier in 1956, isn’t the only princess of Monaco with enviable royal style – and the budget to purchase it.

Former Olympic competitor Princess Charlene has become known for her eclectic fashion sense, often redefining the rules of royal style protocol.

From the red carpet to more formal royal events, Charlene’s designer looks have given her the top-of-the-frocks crown year after year for the royal with the most expensive wardrobe.

Last year, her clothes were worth some £211,364, including gowns from Akris and Valentino, Graff jewels and accessories by Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo and Bottega Veneta. 

Princess Charlene’s expensive taste dates right back to her wedding day look in July 2011, when she was swathed in 130 metres of silk thanks to an Armani Privé gown with a bardot neckline, the whole thing dripping in 20,000 mother-of-pearl teardrops. 

The gown, which at the time cost £11,000 (making it some £15,500 at current prices) was pure princess perfection. 

Today, she is one of the one of the most recognised princesses around the world – and no wonder.

International Women’s Lunch – March 8 2023 (£4430)

Tennis Tournament – April 16 (£5330)

Monaco Grand Prix – May 28 (£4380)

Monaco Grand Prix Gala – May 28 (£9990)

Monaco Basketball – June 17 (£5070)

Closing Ceremony at the Monte Carlo TV awards –  June 21 (£6000)

Candlelit Dinner – July 19 (£1100)

Nelson Mandela Gala – July 18 (£2010)

A Meeting with the French Ambassador –  September 5 (£2194)

Golf tournament – September 6 (£5365)

Monégasque pensioners event – September 24 (£6905)

Rugby World Cup Final – October 26 (£3015)

Twinning Ceremony – November 4 (£2840)

Festival des Etoiles – November 12 (£3685)

Gifts to Red Cross – November 16 (£6815)

Monaco’s National Day – November 19 (£9185)

National Day Gala – November 19 (£4845)

Café de Paris Reopening – November 22 (£8440)

Children’s Rights Day –  November 23 (£2035)

Christmas Village – December 7 (£5780)

Receiving the Peace Light of Bethlehem – December 13 (£1160)

Christmas Gift Distribution – December 17 (£2295)

Christmas Gift Distribution – December 22 (£6300)

 

Being a member of the royal family can seem like a busy full-time job as senior figures carry out regular royal engagements both at home and abroad.

However, what many don’t know is that a number of royals have skills on the side, away from their public-facing duties – like, for example the recently abdicated Queen Margrethe who just won an award for her costume work on a Netflix film.

She isn’t the only royal with an unexpected skill: from truck driving to selling art for staggering amounts of money, a number of have alternative talents.

Among the most prestigious of these talents are Zara Tindall‘s efforts at riding, which have seen her pick up an Olympic medal, among other accolades. 

She follows in the footsteps of her talented mother Princess Anne, who was also a lauded equestrian in her day.

Here, FEMAIL looks at some of the most talented royals – and you should expect to be surprised by at least of couple of them…

Queen Elizabeth II – trained mechanic and truck driver

Of all the unlikely skills boasted by royals, the most surprising is perhaps the late monarch’s ability as a mechanic. She was trained to fix and drive trucks when she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service at just 18-years-old.

The then-Princess Elizabeth was taught skills like changing a spark plug as well as how to drive a truck. This involvement made her the only female member of The Firm to have been in the armed forces.

Her experience as a driver and mechanic during WWII, which she described ‘the terrible and glorious years’ was shared in a 2020 documentary, Our Queen At War.

Unlike many of her peers who were evacuated abroad, Elizabeth remained in Britain. She was prepared for the throne by studying the British constitution at Eton College, while putting on fundraising pantomimes at Windsor Castle and worrying about the safety of her parents who remained at Buckingham Palace.

By the time she was 16, Princess Elizabeth was inspecting the troops and launching ships while living in a secret location and keeping up with developments in the war by watching weekly newsreels.

At the age of 18 the Princess joined the women’s arm of the British Army, the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), and became the first female member of the royal family to serve in the armed forces.

Royal biographer Jane Dismore wrote: ‘The war gave Princess Elizabeth a humanity that she might have taken longer to discover she shared a lot in common with ordinary people in that she saw their suffering, she knew about it. She knew that people looked to her as that new generation, that new generation of hope. ‘

When the end of the War came, on VE day in May 1945, she mingled with the crowds outside Buckingham Palace incognito in her ATS uniform – seven years before taking the throne. 

Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty magazine, said: ‘She actually described it as the most exciting night of her life.’

Prince Albert of Monaco – Olympian

While very few may be aware of it, Prince Albert of Monaco is not only married to a famous Olympian (Princess Charlene is a swimmer), he is one himself.

Not only that, the royal took part in not one, but five consecutive Games, representing Monaco in bobsled. 

The son of Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly took up bobsleigh in the mid-1980s, and has been a member of the International Olympic Committee (UIOC) since 1985. 

Prince Albert, who was the bobsleigh pilot for Monaco, participated in the Olympics in Calgary, Albertville, Lillehammer, Nagano, and Salt Lake City between 1988 and 2002. 

He was flag bearer for his nation in 1988, 1994 and 2002.

The Monegasque royal, 65, met his fellow Olympian wife at a swimming event in Monaco in 2000 – the same year she competed in the Sydney Olympics.

It’s thought the couple bonded over the fact they both came from athletic backgrounds – and the bond was clearly a strong one as they are still together today. 

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark – artist

Margrethe of Denmark, who recently abdicated to give the throne to her son, King Frederik, showed off her creative talents in other projects while she was monarch.

Far from fading into the background following her abdication; the 83-year-old has just scooped a prestigious award for her costume and set design work on a Danish film.     

She worked on Netflix film Ehrengard – The Art of Seduction, for which she was awarded a Robert Award as Costume Designer of the Year.

Taking to Instagram, the royal wrote: ‘I am deeply grateful, touched and proud of the recognition that the Robert award represents. 

‘Receiving an award that the industry itself awards makes me particularly happy, and it has been a great joy and pleasure to be able to contribute to the expression of the film. 

‘I would like to thank the entire team behind the film, but I especially thank all those who have made my ideas, sketches and drawings a reality – not least the talented people who have sewn and worked with the many costumes.’

Many are unaware of the former monarch’s creative talents, but as a child, she aspired to be an artist.

She was not set to be monarch during her childhood as, despite being the eldest sibling, as primogeniture rules at the time stipulated any boys born into the family would take the throne, whether they were the eldest or not. However, the rules were changed when she was a child.

But even during her royal duty, after becoming Queen in 1972, she worked on creative projects.  

According to the Danish royal website: ‘As an adult, The Queen herself became involved in ballet as a scenographer and costume designer. 

‘From the mid-1980s and 30 years onwards, The Queen helped with the annual ballet performances at a friend’s dance school in Næstved, where the wing scenery and costumes were conjured up with enormous imagination from materials at hand. Quite special were the performances’ numerous paper hats, which The Queen thought up and created herself.’

After working on amateur productions, Margrethe took up more professional work, after being approached by the TV theatre at Danmarks Radio who ‘approached The Queen in 1987 and persuaded her to assist as a scenographer and costume designer for a TV production of H.C. Andersen’s fairy tale The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep’.

A litany of productions followed throughout the years, with her first performance as scenographer and costume designer being the H.C. Andersen-inspired ballet Love in the Dustbin in 2001.

‘Since then there have been ballets based on several of the author’s fairy tales, including Thumbelina, The Tinderbox, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Swineherd and The Snow Queen, but also The Nutcracker and Cinderella,’ says her online biography.

King Charles – one of the UK’s ‘most successful living artists’

The monarch has spoken often of his love of art, and it’s well known that he enjoys watercolour.

His Majesty, who has been known to pick up a paintbrush, modestly refers to himself as an enthusiastic amateur.

However, it was revealed in 2016 that the then-Prince of Wales was actually one of Britain’s most successful living artists after raising millions of pounds for charity by selling prints of his paintings.

Copies have been sold through the shop at his family residence, Highgrove House, and since 1997 the watercolour paintings have brought in £2million for The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation.

Added to that is the estimation by an art dealer who previously handled sales of the Prince’s lithographs that they raised at least £4million.

It means the total amount, which has gone towards a wide variety of good causes, is believed to be more than £6million, according to Robert Mendick at the Telegraph.

The average earnings of fine artists at the time was £10,000 a year, putting Charles in an elite group. 

The lithographs on display in the Highgrove shop are priced at around £2,500, while the Belgravia Gallery, which previously handled sales, offers limited edition prints for up to £15,000.

The Prince only paints with watercolours and never sells the originals.

He has painted for decades, inspired in the 1970s and 80s by his art master at Gordonstoun in Scotland Robert Waddel.

Mainly focusing on landscapes and nature scenes, his favourite locations include the Queen’s estate at Balmoral and Sandringham House.

The Prince has often shared his love of art with the public and in 2013 contributed to a television documentary, ‘Royal Paintbox’ on Royal artists throughout history.

He sees his watercolours as part of his legacy, and in the documentary said: ‘We walk away and shuffle off our mortal coil, but these things live on.’

Clarence House has said in the past: ‘The Prince has been an enthusiastic amateur artist and keen collector and Patron of the Arts for many years.

‘The Prince likes to paint whenever his schedule allows – whether on private holidays, or during a spare moment on an overseas tour – and finds it a most absorbing occupation.

‘These watercolours provide an insight into not only The Prince’s artistic interpretation of his environment, but into his private and public life.’

Sophie Winkleman (Lady Frederick Windsor) – actor 

Sophie Winkleman, who has been styled as Lady Frederick Windsor ever since her 2009 wedding to Lord Frederick Windsor.

Lord Frederick is the son of Prince Michael of Kent and his wife Marie-Christine, known as Princess Michael.

Sophie met Lord Frederick Windsor on a night out in Soho and married him in September 2009 at Hampton Court Palace.

The guests included senior members of the Royal Family and the bride’s half sister, Claudia.

She previously detailed her experience moving into the Royal Family, telling The Times in 2020: ‘I’ve been incredibly welcomed with open arms by all of them.

‘I haven’t had a single negative experience. The Queen’s been wonderful, Prince Charles has been wonderful, Prince William’s been heaven.

‘They’d never tell me off at all if I wanted to play some role. Everyone’s looked after me.’

As well as being part of the wider Royal Family, Sophie is also an actor, best known for her role as Big Suze in Peep Show.

Sophie was educated at the City of London School for Girls before completing an English degree at the University of Cambridge.

During her time there, she joined the Cambridge Footlights comedy troupe that, over time, has featured stars including Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry and David Mitchell.

Zara Tindall – the ‘Royal Olympian’

Perhaps one of the best known royals to have an impressive talent is Zara Tindall, who is a talented equestrienne who has even picked up an Olympic medal in the sport.

Her illustrious career includes a gold at the European Eventing Championships in 2005 and a silver at the World Equestrian Games in 2006.

Zara has also previously been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year and has been nicknamed the Royal Olympian, after scooping silver in a team event for Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.

However, the 43-year-old revealed recently that her professional horse-riding career is ‘very part-time now’ so she can spend more time with her three young children.

Zara, and her husband Mike Tindall – ex-rugby player and former reality show contestant – are parents to Mia, nine, and Lena, five, and son Lucas, two.

‘I’m very part-time now,’ she told the The Australian Women’s Weekly magazine. ‘I’ve only got four horses so hopefully I have enough time to care for my children and still compete. I hope I make better decisions. I definitely don’t go to everything now.’

Zara, who is the niece of King Charles, explained: ‘When I had 15 horses I was everywhere and away every weekend but now I very much pick [events] around the kids and holidays and try to be around as much as I can be.’

Prince Albert of Monaco has praised King Charles’ ‘determination, courage and openness’ as ‘a source of inspiration’ after the British monarch shared his cancer diagnosis with the world.

In a statement shared to Instagram this evening, the 65-year-old Monegasque royal sent his ‘warmest thoughts and prayers’ to Charles, 75, who is said to be ‘on good form’ following treatment earlier today for an unspecified cancer.

‘Your Majesty, In these difficult times, my family would like to express to you our full support,’ read the message.

It continued: ‘Your determination, courage and openness have always been a source of inspiration. I am convinced that you will show the same bravery throughout this challenge.

‘My family and the people of Monaco join me in sending you, the Royal Family and your loved ones our warmest thoughts and prayers.’

Albert was the first European royal to confirm their attendance at King Charles’ Coronation, and attended the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. 

Ahead of the Coronation, he spoke fondly of the British King, calling him ‘a very educated man and someone with a great sense of humour’.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Albert confirmed he and his wife Princess Charlene would attend, adding: ‘I’m certain that it’s going to be an incredible ceremony and a very moving one.’

A smiling King Charles today arrived back at Sandringham after meeting his son Prince Harry for less than an hour in their first face-to-face encounter for nine months. 

Charles and Queen Camilla were seen waving to crowds as they left Clarence House in London in an official car at 3.35pm before catching a helicopter to Norfolk.

The monarch’s Sikorsky S-76C chopper landed at around 4.30pm after a flight of less than an hour.

Harry was seen driving through the gates of Clarence House at 2.45pm after rushing to Britain following an 11-hour flight from California – where his wife, Meghan Markle, and children, Archie and Lilibet, are staying behind. 

Charles, 75, is said to be ‘on good form’ following treatment earlier today for an unspecified cancer. The royal helicopter was seen arriving in Sandringham just before 5pm. 

It is not known if Harry will remain in central London or stay at Windsor, most likely at Frogmore Cottage – which he and his wife had to move out of last June. 

Experts have said they hope that Harry’s trip is the ‘sign of a truce’ with Charles, but there remains little sign of a rapprochement with his brother William – with a source close to the Prince of Wales saying there were ‘no plans’ for a meeting. 

The source told The Mirror: ‘The prince’s main focus is for his wife, who is recovering from surgery, his three children and now his father. There are no plans for Harry’s visit to act as some kind of vehicle for reconciliation.’ 

Charles, meanwhile, is said to be ‘on good form’ and in regular contact with the Prince of Wales. 

‘He’s on his usual good form in every way, just a little frustrated that his condition has affected not just his own plans but impacted on others,’ a palace source told the Telegraph.  

Harry left LAX for London last night after Charles called him personally to tell him the devastating news.

A luxury Range Rover believed to be carrying the royal was seen arriving at LAX’s VIP terminal last night and he boarded the earliest flight so he could be in London by lunchtime.

Harry was accompanied by police security despite his ongoing row with the Home Office.  

Daily Mail diary editor Richard Eden tweeted today: ‘After his 5,000-mile flight from Los Angeles, #PrinceHarry is understood to have had a brief meeting with #KingCharles before His Majesty departed for his Norfolk retreat, Sandringham. It will be interesting to see how long Harry stays in this country.’

Earlier, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said it was crucial for the duke to show solidarity with his father. 

‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue,’ he said.  ‘It’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’.

Kristina Kyriacou, the King’s former press secretary, said: ‘Charles adores Harry. He didn’t want any of this estrangement.

‘If out of bad news, some good news comes and Harry and the King and the Queen and his brother are reunited – how wonderful.’

In Spare, Harry had revealed that Charles had urged his warring sons: ‘Please boys, don’t make my final years a misery.’ 

Harry’s trip could be motivated by that plea.

The Prince flew into London’s Heathrow on a scheduled British Airways flight from Los Angeles, before being picked up by a black Range Rover.

His father the King could be absent from public duties until at least March following yesterday’s dramatic announcement about his health. 

The Daily Mail’s Robert Hardman said this morning that the King’s ‘first pronounced absence’ could come on Commonwealth Day, which is traditionally held at Westminster Abbey on the second Monday of March.

Mr Hardman, the author of ‘Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story’, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I would imagine we probably won’t see him at Westminster Abbey now.

‘I’m sure there will be a statement, a message – he’ll want to engage with that. It’s moments like that when an absence is noted, but the day-to-day running of the monarchy will not really change.’

Former royal’s communications secretary Julian Payne said the King would be ‘chomping at the bit’ to return to public engagements and will be ‘deeply frustrated’ by having to step back.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said this morning that he was ‘shocked and sad’ to hear about the King’s cancer diagnosis but was ‘thankful’ it had been caught early.

Family and friends were said to be amazed by the King’s determination to carry on with ‘business as usual’. It is understood his condition has been caught very early and the prognosis is good. A family friend said: ‘He and his doctors are very, very positive.’

Charles has been making frequent Sunday night trips in recent months to Windsor Castle to spend time with Prince William, The Sun reported, with the father and son becoming closer.

While cancelling all his public engagements, Charles is insisting on carrying on with his ‘red boxes’ of paperwork and he may even conduct a small number of face-to-face private meetings.

The Mail has learnt that the King has known about his diagnosis since early last week, insisting on going to church in Norfolk on Sunday and waving warmly to well-wishers.

Camilla also stoically insisted on opening a new Maggie’s cancer care unit in London on Wednesday in the knowledge that her husband was about to have treatment.

She carefully told well-wishers at the Royal Free Hospital that he was ‘getting on, doing his best’. A source said: ‘Full credit to her. She has been marvellous.’

In a statement Buckingham Palace said last night: ‘During the King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.

‘His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual.

‘The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure.

‘He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world affected by cancer.’

Former royal communications secretary Julian Payne told Newsnight last night that the King will be ‘deeply frustrated’ by having to step back from work.

He added: ‘His work schedule is punishing and he really enjoys being out and meeting people and having the chance to speak up on causes that he cares about on representing the nation.

‘He will find that difficult. The reality of course is the machinery of state continues, the red boxes will come, the meetings with the PM will happen and the Privy Counsellors.

‘That side of things will continue but he will be itching to get back to things as quickly as he can.

‘The good thing of course is that although he is 75 he is a very fit and healthy 75-year-old.’

‘So I think he’s in as good a position as anyone can be to get through this next chapter. And he’ll be absolutely chomping at the bit to get back out as quickly as he can.’

Sunday Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah added: ‘He won’t want to step back. If he can continue with his duties… he’s not going to want to step back if he doesn’t have to.

‘It’ll be about other members of the Royal Family picking up the slack while he can’t be on public duties. The Queen is 76, she is very energetic 76 but 76 nonetheless.

‘So there’s a lot of pressure on her not only doing more duties, worrying about her husband too.

‘I think we will see her step a lot to fill that void and I’m sure we will see Prince William more doing public facing things.

‘We know the King will be frustrated but he will know he has members of the family who he trusts to the roles if needs be.’

Royal biographer Matthew Dennison told BBC News that the country is ‘going to see something that’s a little like what we saw in the last months of the reign of the late Queen.’

He explained: ‘The Queen maintained all of the functions associated with her role as head of state, the red boxes, the prime ministerial encounters, where possible Privy Counsellor meetings – but she didn’t do as many public engagements which are that head of the nation side of being the sovereign.

‘What we’re going to see is something remarkably similar that the King will continue as head of state but some of that head of the nation meeting and greeting that being a figurehead a focus of royalty, affection, unity he won’t be doing that in the short term.

‘Members of his immediate family who of course stepped up when the late queen died scaled back her public engagements will do the same in this case I think.’

He added: ‘The challenge for the Royal Family is fitting in engagements to what are often really very busy diaries which have been planned long in advance.

‘I would imagine we would see increased numbers of engagements for the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and possibly the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who are of course trusted members of the Royal Family too.’ 

And Dame Julia Cleverdon told BBC Radio 4: ‘I am absolutely sure that this reign will continue and that the determination of the King, who is a very determined man, knows a lot about cancer. I always remember when organising programmes within the last engagement of the day was always the visit to hospitals because he didn’t want any time taken – if he was going to use longer time it would be his time.

‘He will be really really a) knowledgeable b) determined and c) absolutely clear that the show will go on.’

Following last night’s devastating health update, Princess Anne got back to business as usual by handing out honours at Windsor Castle before she travels up to the Midlands for a busy day of royal engagements.

Princess Beatrice of York, the King’s niece, was seen driving to Clarence House this morning.

Royal aides said they were carefully balancing the King’s right to privacy at a difficult and sensitive time with his role as head of state. But he hopes that by sharing the news that it will enable accurate reporting of his condition and prevent speculation on an issue that affects so many other families.

No further details of which cancer he has been diagnosed with are being shared, aside from emphasising it is not prostate cancer, which is the biggest cancer killer of men in the UK each year. It is being stressed it was found only when the king had treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.

He was admitted for surgery on January 26 and remained in the private London Clinic in central London for three days.

It was during this intervention that a ‘separate cause for concern’ was noted and subsequently diagnosed as a form of cancer.

Details of his treatment are not being disclosed. 

A royal aide said: ‘No further details are being shared at this stage, but His Majesty is receiving expert care and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.’ 

Claude Palmero heeft nogal wat claims ingediend tegen de koninklijke familie van Monaco.

Mocht u de naam niet kennen: de heer Palmero is een voormalige accountant die ruim twintig jaar lang verantwoordelijk was voor de financiën van het paleis, maar vorig jaar werd ontslagen door Prins Albert.

Sindsdien zijn zijn 'notitieboekjes' opgedoken waarin wordt gesuggereerd dat prinses Charlene om oogverblindende sommen geld vroeg terwijl ze illegale immigranten inhuurde voor minder dan £ 90 per dag. De persoonlijke uitgavenvergoeding van de prinses zou zijn gestegen tot meer dan £ 1 miljoen per jaar.

Charlene's echtgenoot Prins Albert heeft gereageerd met een verklaring waarin hij zegt: 'De aanvallen daarop [Palmero] maakt tegen mij en tegen de staat [of Monaco] en de instellingen tonen zijn ware aard en het weinige respect dat hij heeft voor de familie en het vorstendom.'

Maar de controverse gaat door.

Intrigerend genoeg is er ook beweerd dat de koninklijke prinsessen, Caroline, 67, en Stephanie, 58, – de zussen van Albert – de ‘kroonjuwelen’ van Monaco hebben behandeld als ‘hun eigen persoonlijke accessoires’.

(Hoewel prinses Grace, Caroline en Stephanie, omdat ze ooit toebehoorden aan hun moeder en grootmoeder, heel goed zouden kunnen antwoorden: 'Waarom niet?')

Formeel gezien zijn er geen kroonjuwelen in het vorstendom.

Maar er zijn toch enkele prachtige familiejuwelen – geschikt voor een prinses en mogelijk een koningin – zoals deze foto's laten zien.

Cartier pareldruppel tiara

Het grootste stuk in de prinselijke collectie is de Cartier Pearl Drop Tiara, gemaakt in opdracht van prinses Charlotte in 1949 toen haar zoon, Rainier III, de monarch van Monaco werd na de dood van haar vader, Lodewijk II.

Het is gemaakt van goud en platina en is in zijn geheel bezet met diamanten, grote barokke parels die 'en tremblant' hangen aan een reeks ingewikkelde bogen, waarop bladeren liggen.

Charlotte droeg het tijdens de festiviteiten van de bruiloft van Rainier en Grace Kelly in 1956, maar toen ze stierf werd het aan de collectie overgelaten, maar sindsdien heeft alleen prinses Caroline het in het openbaar gedragen.

De Saffiersuite

Deze is ook gemaakt voor prinses Charlotte, hoogstwaarschijnlijk door Cartier, en bestaat uit een halsketting en een paar oorbellen – beide bezet met saffieren en diamanten.

De ketting heeft een grote cabochongeslepen saffier in het midden, met kleinere ovaal geslepen saffieren, afgewisseld met twee rijen kleine diamanten en saffieren; de knoopoorbellen zijn eenvoudige ovale saffieren omringd door diamanten.

Er zijn ook twee bijpassende broches. Prinses Charlotte droeg de demi-parure voor de officiële foto's na het religieuze huwelijk van haar zoon in de Sint-Niklaaskathedraal van Monaco in mei 1956.

Vervolgens heeft prinses Caroline ze de afgelopen 46 jaar heel vaak gedragen – onder meer samen met haar ouders in 1979 op het Rode Kruisbal van Monaco, en daarna zowel de Monaco Rode Kruisballen van 1986 als 2013; bij het huwelijk van de huidige koning en koningin van Denemarken in 2004, en nog veel meer.

Parel- en diamanten parure van prinses Grace

Een ander verlovingscadeau voor Grace Kelly, voordat ze prinses Grace werd, was de voortreffelijke parel- en diamantparure van Van Cleef & Arpels, door haar gekozen als verlovingsgeschenk van prins Rainier.

Hoewel het niet als parure is gemaakt en de vier stukken niet daadwerkelijk uit dezelfde VCA-collectie kwamen, droeg Grace ze vaak samen als zodanig, waardoor ze zelf een suite creëerde.

Het bestaat uit een ketting van drie strengen, met twee diamantwervelmotieven; een driestrengige armband met diamantenbloesemmotieven en een bijpassende ring bezet met een ovale parel; een paar oorbellen met een stokbrood- en marquisevormig bladpatroon.

Ze was altijd al een grote fan van parels en zei ooit: “Een vrouw heeft touwen en touwen vol parels nodig”.

Prinses Caroline droeg de parure in maart 2019 voor het eerst in zijn geheel tijdens het Rose Ball in Monaco, ten voordele van de Princess Grace Foundation.

Prinses Grace's Cartier Diamond Festoen ketting

Maar prinses Caroline is niet de enige koninklijke familie uit Monaco die de juwelen van de familie draagt.

Op haar huwelijk in 2019 met Dimitri Rassam, de zoon van Carole Bouquet, droeg Charlotte Casiraghi de Cartier-diamanten festoenhalsketting van haar grootmoeder.

Grace Kelly stopte in 1956 met acteren om met prins Rainier te trouwen. Dit was haar diamanten ketting met Cartier-slinger

De kleindochter van prinses Grace, Charlotte Casiraghi, droeg de ketting tijdens haar bruiloft in 2019

Prinses Grace ontving het halssnoer, bezet met 64 briljant en baguette geslepen diamanten, van Prins Rainier tegelijk met haar tweede diamanten verlovingsring. Ze zijn allebei gekocht bij Cartier in New York.

Bloemencorsage van prinses Charlotte

Prinses Charlene, de vrouw van Albert, droeg tijdens de bruiloft in 2011 een prachtig stuk door haar haar geweven, in plaats van een traditionele tiara.

De corsage zag er prachtig uit in combinatie met haar sluier en Armani Prive-jurk

Prinses Caroline heeft het bloemencorsage meerdere keren gedragen, soms in delen. Hier vormen de juwelen een paar oorbellen

Het stuk was ooit eigendom van prinses Charlotte en wordt een traine de corsage genoemd, een populair 19e-eeuws juweel gemaakt van verschillende broches die aan elkaar zijn geknipt en over de halslijn van een jurk zijn gedrapeerd, meestal een bloemenkrans – zoals die van Monaco, en omvat wilde rozen, bladeren en knoppen gemaakt in een reeks verschillende geslepen diamanten.

Zoals Charlene voorafgaand aan de bruiloft in een interview met Vogue uitlegde: 'Ik draag geen tiara, maar prinses Caroline heeft me een paar prachtige diamanten haarclips geleend die van haar grootmoeder zijn geweest.'

Caroline heeft de bloemencorsage meerdere keren samen als tiara gedragen; en in delen als een paar oorbellen, een broche en als een buikje.

Cartier Bains de Mer Tiara

De Société des Bains de Mer, het grootste bedrijf van Monaco dat verschillende resorts in het vorstendom bezit en ook gedeeltelijk eigendom is van de prinselijke familie, schonk prinses Grace de zogenaamde Cartier Bains de Mer Tiara, in de kleuren van Monaco – rood en wit, als huwelijkscadeau.

Nicole Kidman speelde de titelrol in de film Princess Grace uit 2014. Hier verschijnt ze in een replica van Cartier-halsketting en tiara

Ze droeg het voor het eerst tijdens een galavoorstelling in het prachtige Opera House, de avond na het burgerlijk huwelijk in april 1956.

De tiara bestaat uit drie rechtopstaande motieven, elk bezet met een enorme cabochon-robijn waaruit in pavé gezette diamanten golven omhoog vegen, vastgemaakt aan een slanke diamanten band.

Deze afzonderlijke stukken kunnen worden losgemaakt en gedragen als broches, als jurk of als haarspeldjes. Als alternatief kan het hele stuk worden omgezet in een ketting.

Prinses Caroline en Prinses Stephanie hebben elementen van deze parure gedragen.

Prins Rainier gaf zijn vrouw later een paar fantastische robijn- en diamanten oorbellen en een bijpassende robijn- en diamanten ring.

A new video has emerged claiming to show Vladimir Putin's secret northern hideout – just 18 miles from Russia's border with NATO.

According to unverified reports in Russia, the 71-year-old dictator is accused of “stealing” a scenic waterfall and a piece of the commandeered national park – bigger than Monaco – for his retreat of lakes and forests.

It is reported that the property's nearby neighbor, just two and a half kilometers away, is former Chelsea tycoon Roman Abramovich, 57.

The narrator of the footage claims that the secret hideaway that Putin is said to share with beloved Alina Kabaeva, 40, a world-famous gymnast, is located next to the picturesque 4-meter-high Marjalahti Waterfall.

According to the independent news channel Dossier Center, it has a modernist gazebo with a full view of the beautiful site, closed to ordinary Russians.

However, MailOnline has not been able to verify the footage and may have used AI or special effects to add the buildings.

The retreat is believed to take place in Lake Ladoga National Park in Karelia – as far north as the Faroe Islands – but close to Russia's NATO border with Finland.

The video goes on to say that there are several buildings and a telltale sign that this is part of a huge Putin portfolio of secret houses and palaces hidden from the Russian people.

“Behind the shed you see an ordinary hill,” says case journalist Ilya Rozhdestvenskiy.

'It is not known for certain what exactly this site is for, but based on satellite images it has appeared in recent years.

'It is possible that an air defense system is on display here…

“This is not the first time that ground markers – from the support of military equipment deployed from the air into combat positions – have protected the President.

'Since the start of the war, all of Putin's main residences have been covered by the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft system.

'The barn looks more like a reception house.

'Inside there is a living room, its own brewery and a tea room on the second floor.

'The building has a swimming pool or fountain.'

The retreat has a separate underground entrance, a helipad and a pier for yachts [on Lake Ladoga]as well as the gazebo opposite the waterfall.'

The so-called 'fishing hut' has its own helipad and pier.

Semi-precious stones are used in interior decoration.

Rumor has it that there is a bathhouse, a trout fishery and farm, a marbled beef farm and a secluded gazebo with breathtaking lake views nearby.

'Here the president can enjoy nature in complete solitude.

'You can't get here just by plane [helicopter], but also by yacht. Putin has a whole fleet at his disposal for that purpose.'

According to the narrator, just three and a half kilometers away are a country house, a sauna and a restaurant that, Rozhdestvenskiy says, belongs to Abramovich, as confirmed by entries in the Russian real estate register.

A nearby hotel is said to be owned by Yuri Kovalchuk, a longtime friend of Putin and known as the dictator's “personal banker.”

'Kovalchuk has created a network of companies that deal with the president's leisure activities and are responsible for all his real estate, including the famous [Black Sea] palace near Gelendzhik and the mansion in Valdai, where the head of state most often visits,” said the report on YouTube channel Khodorkovsky.Live.

“Abramovich is not part of Putin's inner circle, but has always been close to the highest levels of power,” the report said.

During Putin visits to his northern luxury retreat, 'local security is replaced by FSO agents.

'The entrances are blocked, as are the neighboring islands [on the lake] are blocked.

'The houses are gated, with CCTV cameras and motion sensors on the fences.

'Barbed wire runs through the adjacent forest.'

Change is sweeping through the royal houses of Europe.

After more than half a century on the throne, Margrethe is no longer Queen of Denmark.

And, almost unthinkably, Queen Elizabeth II has passed away after 70 years as Monarch of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

But for some young heirs, there is a little longer to wait yet before they get their chance to fulfil their destiny.

Long may their parents reign – although it is to be hoped that the next in line aren’t forced to endure the same record-breaking wait as our own King Charles III… 

Prince Jacques of Monaco, nine

Next in line for the throne of Monaco after Prince Albert is Crown Prince Jacques.

The young Prince, who is the son of 65-year-old Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, also holds the title Marquis of Baux, which has been passed on to Monegasque heirs apparent since 1641.

Jacques was born on December, 10, 2014, having been delivered via caesarean section at the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco, named after Albert’s mother, Hollywood actress, Grace Kelly.

He was born two minutes after his twin sister Gabriella, a statement from the palace confirmed at the time.

Their births were celebrated with 21 cannon shots each, 15 minutes of church bells and boat horns.

The twins, both eight, were formally presented to the public on January 7, 2015, and the date has since become a recognised as a public holiday in Monaco.

While Jacques is a few minutes younger than his twin sister, Monaco is one of the few countries in Europe still governed by male-preference primogeniture – meaning the eldest son inherits the throne over any older sisters.

It is only if a female heir has no eligible brothers or brothers with surviving male descendants that she will take the throne.

Jacques also has an older half-sister, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, and an older half-brother, Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, from their father’s previous relationships.

The young prince was baptized at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on May 10, 2015, where he was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Grimaldi.

Princess Charlene chose the name Jacques as it is a name native to South Africa, where she grew up.

He and his sister are currently enrolled at the L’Institution François d’Assise-Nicolas Barré since September, which is a private school in Monaco.

Talking to People, Prince Albert added that the twins are ‘very curious about geography and science.’

‘We went through a whole phase of them wanting to know all about the oceans and planets and everything about the solar system,’ he explained

Prince Albert revealed to People that Jacques is quieter and shyer than his sister, but said he ‘comes up with some funny things’. 

He added that the younger twin is an observer who first likes to size things up before making a decision.

Although the twins have made public appearances with their parents, their lives for the most part are kept out of the spotlight so that they can enjoy their childhood.

Princess Estelle of Sweden, 11

Born in 2012, Princess Estelle is the eldest grandchild of King Carl XVI Gustaf and the eldest child of heir to the throne, 46-year-old Crown Princess Victoria.

As Estelle was the firstborn child of the heir to the throne, her birth in Solna was celebrated with two rounds of twenty-one gun salutes.

She has a collection of royal godparents, including King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

The princess previously attended a pre-school near Stockholm which followed the Ur and Skur outdoor teaching methods to focus on the natural world.

She now attends Campus Manilla in Stockholm where she was joined last year by her younger brother, Prince Oscar.

The 1979 Act of Succession means that Estelle, as the eldest child, will inherit the throne rather than her younger brother and is now second in line to the throne after her mother.

The law, which came into effect some time ago (on 1 January 1980) had also meant that Estelle’s mother, Crown Princess Victoria, became heir to the throne when she was two years old – a title which was stripped from her younger brother, Carl Philip, at the time.

Reflecting on the change in an interview with local news channel SVT earlier this year, Estelle’s grandfather King Carl Gustaf said he felt it had been unfair to apply the new law to his children after they were already born. 

‘It’s tricky to have laws that work retroactively. It doesn’t seem wise,’ he said.

‘You can accept the next generation – that’s okay. But it was my son who was born, and they got rid of it all,’ he said, adding: ‘It’s quite strange. You can’t do that.’

When the interviewer asked him if it had been unfair to strip his son of his title after he’d already been born, he replied: ‘Yes, I think so.’

The young Princess Estelle regularly makes appearances with her mother Crown Princess Victoria and her father Daniel Westling, who was Victoria’s personal trainer and married the royal in 2010.

She carried out her first royal engagement in 2014 at just two years old when she opened a ‘fairytale path’ at Linköping Castle.

Prince Charles of Luxembourg, three

Prince Charles is second in the line of succession to the throne of Luxembourg.

He is the eldest child of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie and was born on May 10, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was born at Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg City and weighed 3.190kg.

Luxembourg’s Palace announced the happy news on Twitter, sharing that their son was born at 5.13am at la Maternité Grande-Duchesse Charlotte.

Images of baby Charles were also shared on Twitter and gave royal fans the first glimpse of the newborn.

The announcement read: ‘Time stood still at the Château de Berg during a video call during which the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess had the immense joy of meeting their grandson for the first time: Prince Charles.’

He was first introduced to his grandparents, the Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, over a video call given the lockdown regulations.

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, 42, also spoke a few hours after the birth of Prince Charles about the wonderful new addition to the family.

The new father shared his joy at becoming a father for the first time.

He said ‘today is a wonderful day…perhaps the most incredible day that we will have in our lives, to be able to greet a child that comes into one’s life is the most magical thing a couple can have.’

Prince Charles was baptised on September 19, 2020, at the Abbey of St. Maurice and St. Maurus of Clervaux in Luxembourg. His godparents are his maternal aunt Countess Gaëlle de Lannoy and his paternal uncle Prince Louis of Luxembourg

To mark the young royal’s birthday in May, his parents shared a series of snaps of Charles and his younger brother Prince Francois, who was born in March.

Prince George, ten  

With the passing of the late Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and King Charles’ ascension to the throne, Prince George was moved up to second in line for the British throne.

Prince George was born at 4.24pm on July 22, 2013, at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London – he is the eldest child to Prince William, now 41, and 42-year-ld Catherine, Princess of Wales.

The royals left hospital with their new son on 23rd July, but not forgetting to pause on the steps of the Lindo Wing to show the world a first glimpse of the new prince.

George was christened on October 23, 2013, at The Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace by The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby.

The young prince made his royal tour debut when he was 9 months old when the family spent three weeks in New Zealand and Australia in April 2014 – giving him a taste of his role as future King.

The following year, George made his first public appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Colour parade and stole the show with his adorable facial expressions – which were identical to a young Prince William. 

In January 2016, George began his education at the Westacre Montessori School nursery in Norfolk, before moving to Thomas’s Battersea School just over a year later.

In 2022, the family moved to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor. And since September, George and his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, have attended Lambrook, an independent preparatory school in Berkshire.

George recently  served as a page of honour at his grandfather’s Coronation in May.

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco continued their united front today as they arrived for the second day of the Saint Devote celebrations.

The couple broke up on Friday after the royal family was embroiled in a financial scandal, with details of their spending sensationally revealed by their former accountant, Claude Palmero.

In a staggering series of allegations, Palmero claimed Princess Charlene hired illegal migrants for less than £90 a day, while her personal expenses allowance skyrocketed to more than £1 million a year.

Moreover, it is also alleged that Prince Albert kept a separate bank account to pay his former mistress and the illegitimate children.

But it appeared the couple were trying to put the accusations over St Devotee celebrations behind them as they arrived together at St Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco today.

Charlene, 46, looked quintessentially chic in a striking navy blue suit, which she teamed with a matching scarf. She wore her short blonde hair to the side and opted for simple, natural makeup.

Her husband Albert, 65, matched her ensemble, in a classic navy blue suit.

He completed his formal outfit with a white shirt and blue tie.

Last night the prince and princess tried to put a humiliating week that overshadowed Charlene's 46th birthday behind them by kicking off the Saint Devote celebrations in Monaco.

The royals stepped out with their nine-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.

Melanie-Antoinette Costello de Massy, ​​the daughter of Prince Albert's cousin, Baroness Elizabeth Ann de Massy, ​​and Charlene's right-hand woman, were also present.

All eyes were on Monaco's royal family as they lit some leaves and watched a boat go up in flames for the traditional ceremony honoring the legend of Saint Devote, which takes place on January 26 and 27 every year.

A touching moment was caught on camera as Prince Albert crouched down to talk to his young children, whose beaming faces were lit up by the brightness emanating from the flames.

While Princess Charlene kept a watchful eye on her young children as they carried fire, a tender moment between the twins was also captured as they played with each other as the boat lit up.

Albert missed last year's celebrations after testing positive for Covid-19.

Princess Charlene, who celebrated her 46th birthday on Thursday, seemed in good spirits after a tumultuous week for Monaco's royal family.

Devastating, detailed financial information has been provided by Mr Palmero, who spent more than two decades at the heart of the royal family.

He kept notes in a series of five thick notebooks, and excerpts from them have now found their way into two French newspapers.

Palmero, 67, was responsible for the palace finances for more than twenty years before he was unceremoniously dismissed last year.

According to Mr Palmero's notes, Princess Charlene, who is 20 years younger than her husband, spent four months in hospital in 2021/2 due to 'profound fatigue' and was routinely given an allowance of around £1.2 million a year – but still managed to overspend.

In 2017, she reportedly needed more than £500,000 to pay off a significant overdraft.

Two years later, the speed at which Princess Charlene apparently burned through the money worried the prince's accountant so much that he wrote in his notes: 'It's insane! I have no control over the princess's expenses.'

Charlene, a former swimming champion who was raised outside Johannesburg by her copy machine salesman father and swimming coach mother, has invested almost £2 million in renovating a holiday home in Corsica and redecorating her office, Mr Palmero said.

He also claimed that she had rented another house on the French Island where she spent time without Albert.

Mr Palmero's notes also show that one day in April 2016 she asked for £60,000. On another occasion, in 2020, Palermo recorded a one-off payment to Charlene from Albert of £171,000, plus £4,200 in cash.

Meanwhile, Charlene's family, particularly her brother Sean with whom she runs a charity, also benefited from husband Albert's spectacular generosity, with Sean receiving £786,000 to buy a house in 2022. He now runs a coffee shop in Monaco.

The entries in Palermo's notebooks seem to suggest that Prince Albert's chaotic personal life has drained his wealth.

In 2019, Mr Palmero estimated that Charlene had spent around £12.8 million since marrying Albert in 2011.

Albert has been head of Monaco's ruling Grimaldi dynasty since 2005 and is the only son of Prince Rainier III and former Hollywood star Grace Kelly.

He has two acknowledged love children: Alexandre, from former flight attendant Nicole Coste, born in 2003; and Jazmin, by American real estate agent Tamara Rotolo, born in 1993.

In September 2020, another alleged love child sent a letter. The teenager – then 15 years old – grew up in Brazil and claims in the handwritten note that he was conceived during a love affair around the world in 2004.

The case was supposed to go to trial in Milan, but was dropped. A spokesperson for the Prince spoke of a 'hoax'.

According to Le Monde, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, 31, Albert's love child with Rotolo, receives £73,000 every three months despite not being part of the royal family. Mr Palmero noted that she was given £4,200 for turning 18 and seven years later a flat in New York worth £2.6 million.

He also noted that the palace paid for kidnap and ransom insurance for Alexandre, 20, Albert's son with Coste.

The prince acknowledged Alexandre's paternity in 2005.