Caroline, Princess of Hanover

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Caroline
Princess of Hanover
Princess Caroline.jpg
The Princess of Hanover at the Monaco Media Forum Awards ceremony in 2009.
Born (1957-01-23) 23 January 1957 (age 67)
Prince's Palace, Monaco
Spouse Philippe Junot
(m. 1978; div. 1980)
Stefano Casiraghi
(m. 1983; his death 1990)
Ernst August, Prince of Hanover
(m. 1999)
Issue Andrea Casiraghi
Charlotte Casiraghi
Pierre Casiraghi
Princess Alexandra of Hanover
Full name
Caroline Louise Marguerite Grimaldi
House Grimaldi (by birth)
Hanover (by marriage)[1][2][3]
Father Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
Mother Grace Kelly
Religion Roman Catholicism

Caroline, Princess of Hanover (Caroline Louise Marguerite; born 23 January 1957), is the eldest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly. She is the elder sister of Prince Albert II and Princess Stéphanie. Until the births of her niece and nephew Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques of Monaco in December 2014 she had been heir presumptive to the throne of Monaco since 2005, a position which she previously held from 1957 to 1958.

Caroline is married to Ernst August, Prince of Hanover (born 1954), the heir to the former throne of the Kingdom of Hanover,[4] as well as the genealogical heir male of George III of the United Kingdom.

Family and early life

Caroline was born on 23 January 1957 in the Prince's Palace, Monaco. She is the eldest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and his wife, former American actress Grace Kelly. Christened Caroline Louise Marguerite, she belongs to the House of Grimaldi. She was the heir presumptive from her birth to 14 March 1958, when her brother Prince Albert was born. On 1 February 1965, her younger sister Princess Stéphanie was born. Caroline is a legitimate patrilineal descendant of the Dukes of Polignac, and as such belongs to the historical French nobility. Through her mother, she is of Irish and German descent.[5][6]

As a child, she spent some of her time at the home of her maternal grandparents John B. Kelly, Sr. and Margaret Major in Philadelphia. In an interview for People in April 1982, shortly before her death, Grace described Caroline and Stéphanie as "warm, bright, amusing, intelligent and capable girls. They're very much in tune with their era. Besides being good students, they are good athletes – excellent skiers and swimmers. Both can cook and sew and play the piano and ride a horse. But, above all, my children are good sports, conscious of their position and considerate of others. They are sympathetic to the problems and concerns in the world today."[7] Princess Grace died on 14 September 1982, the day after suffering a stroke, and driving her car over a cliff while returning from France to Monaco with Princess Stéphanie.

Education

The princess received her French baccalauréat in 1974 with honors. She was also educated at St Mary's School Ascot. Caroline continued her studies at the Sorbonne University, where she received a diploma in philosophy and minors in psychology and biology.[8] She is fluent in French, English, Spanish, German and Italian.[9]

Official appearances

Princess Caroline and Albert, then Hereditary Prince of Monaco, with Ronald and Nancy Reagan in Washington D.C. on 28 March 1983

In 1979, Princess Caroline was appointed by her father as the president of the Monegasque Committee for the International Year of the Child. Two years later, in 1981, she founded her own foundation Jeune J'écoute.[8] Other philanthropic organizations Caroline has been involved with include the World Association of Children's Friends (AMADE),[10] the Princess Grace Foundation,[11] the Prince Pierre Foundation,[12] the Peter Le Marchant Trust and UNICEF. Her other patronages include the International School of Paris,[13] Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, which she also founded,[14] the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra,[15] the Association des Guides et Scouts de Monaco, the Monte Carlo Garden Club and The Spring Arts Festival.

Following her mother's death in 1982, Caroline served as de facto first lady of Monaco until her brother married Charlene Wittstock in 2011.[16][17] She regularly attends important social events in Monaco related to the Monegasque Princely Family, such as the National Day celebrations,[18] the annual Rose Ball,[19] the Red Cross Ball and the Formula One competition Monaco Grand Prix.[20]

Due to her commitment to philanthropy and arts, Caroline was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador on 2 December 2003.[21] The UNICEF honoured her with Children's Champion Award on 20 May 2006. The next year, she travelled to the Republic of South Africa to meet its former president Nelson Mandela.[22] In December 2011, the World Association of Children's Friends honoured her for "tireless endeavours in continuing the organisation's legacy". Her personal friend and the Chanel head designer Karl Lagerfeld presented her the award.[23] Caroline had also previously been given the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Charles, and had been appointed as the Commander of the Order of Cultural Merit.[24]

Personal and media life


Monegasque Princely FamilyGreat coat of arms of the house of Grimaldi.svg

HSH The Prince
HSH The Princess

HRH The Princess of Hanover
HSH Princess Stéphanie

Caroline's personal interests include horseback riding, swimming and skiing.[8] Since her youth, she has been considered an international fashion icon and as one of the best dressed women in the world.[25][26] In November 2011, an exhibition honouring Princess Caroline was opened at the National Museum of Monaco.[27]

Caroline was romantically linked to many famous men, including Mark Shand, the younger brother of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Guillermo Vilas; Sebastian Taylor, who had previously dated Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia; Jonathan Guinness, the son of Jonathan Guinness, 3rd Baron Moyne;[28] Henri Giscard d'Estaing, the son of former President of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing; and French singer Philippe Lavil.[9] Following her divorce from Philippe Junot, she was briefly engaged to Robertino Rossellini, the son of Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman. Between her second and third marriages, Caroline had a relationship with French actor Vincent Lindon.[29]

First marriage

Princess Caroline's first husband was Philippe Junot (born 19 April 1940), a Parisian banker. They were married civilly in Monaco on 28 June 1978, and religiously on 29 June 1978.[30] Their lavish wedding ceremony was attended by some 65 guests, including Hollywood stars Ava Gardner, Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra.[31]

The couple divorced, childless, on 9 October 1980. In 1992, the Roman Catholic Church granted the princess a canonical annulment.

Second marriage

Her second husband was Stefano Casiraghi (8 September 1960 – 3 October 1990), the sportsman heir to an Italian industrial fortune. They were married civilly in Monaco on 29 December 1983, and had three children:

The two younger children are named for their maternal great-grandparents, Princess Charlotte and Prince Pierre, whilst Andrea was named for a childhood friend of his father's. Stefano Casiraghi was killed in a speed-boating accident in 1990, aged 30 years.

Despite their parents' not having married in the Church as required for legitimacy under church law, they were legitimised by Pope John Paul II in February 1993, eight months after their mother's marriage to Junot was annulled in June 1992.

Third marriage

Caroline's third and present husband is Prince Ernst August of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick, head of the House of Hanover which lost its throne in 1866.[4] From 1913 to 1918, his family ruled the sovereign Duchy of Brunswick.

The couple married in Monaco on 23 January 1999. Ernst August had previously divorced his first wife Chantal Hochuli, with whom he had sons Prince Ernst August and Prince Christian, and who had been Caroline's friend.

The couple has one daughter together:

Her husband's title as Duke of Brunswick is honorific since the ruling family of that state was removed by the Weimar Republic in 1918, along with all royal and noble German ruling families, which were still allowed to retain their titles. Neither she nor her husband has royal rank in Germany, but Monaco recognizes the Hanoverians' former German royal titles, attributing to the couple the style of Royal Highness. On 11 January 1999, shortly before Caroline and Ernst's wedding, his fourth cousin once removed (George III was their common ancestor), Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, issued this Order in Council, "My Lords, I do hereby declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between His Royal Highness Prince Ernst August Albert of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg and Her Serene Highness Princess Caroline Louise Marguerite of Monaco...". As a legitimate male-line descendant of George III, Ernst August is subject to the Royal Marriages Act 1772: Without the Queen's Royal Assent, the marriage would have been void in Britain, where Ernst August's family owned substantial property and he holds (dual) citizenship.[4]

Likewise, the Monégasque court officially notified France of Caroline's contemplated marriage to Prince Ernst August and received assurance that there was no objection, in compliance with Article 2 of the 1918 Franco-Monégasque Treaty.[33] Despite obtaining the official approval of the governments of France, Monaco and the United Kingdom, upon Caroline's marriage to Ernst August he forfeited his own place in Britain's order of succession. He is also subject to the Act of Settlement 1701, which imposes that consequence upon British dynasts who marry Roman Catholics.[4]

In 2009, it was reported that Caroline had separated from Ernst August and returned to live in Monaco.[34][35]

In January 2010, photos emerged of Ernst August kissing a woman who was not identified as Caroline, leading press to speculate that the couple are divorcing.[36]

Princess Caroline's residence is the Villa Clos St Pierre in Monaco-ville where she lives with her youngest child, Princess Alexandra.[37]

Defense of privacy

Caroline has had a bad relationship with media and paparazzi since her youth, when she complained she "could not live the life of a normal student".[38] On 24 June 2004, the Princess obtained a judgement from the European Court of Human Rights condemning Germany for non-respect of her right to private life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.[39] The case concerned, for instance, the publication of pictures of her taken secretly at the Beach Club in Monte Carlo, but the lack of implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgement in Germany led to a second round of proceedings before the Strasbourg Court. This time five NGOs filed their observations in support of paparazzi, and the Princess lost her case.[40][41]

Succession issues

Princess Caroline was heir presumptive to the crown of Monaco until the birth of her brother's legitimate children.

There is precedent for a Monégasque prince to adopt his own illegitimate child and thereby place that child at the head of the line of succession to the Monegasque throne, as was done for Caroline's grandmother, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois.[42] However, because of changes to the constitution of Monaco in 2002, this was no longer an option.[43]

Albert's lack of legitimate children until the 2010s prompted Prince Rainier III to change the constitution so as to ensure there would be a successor to the throne, which strengthened the places of Caroline and her descendants in the line of succession. On 2 April 2002, Monaco passed Princely Law 1.249, which provides that if the Sovereign Prince assumes the throne and then dies without a legitimate direct heir, the throne will pass to his dynastic siblings and their descendants according to the rule of male-preference cognatic primogeniture. The law was then ratified by France, as required by a 1918 Franco-Monégasque Treaty, on 4 October 2005.[43] Before this change, the crown of Monaco could pass only to a descendant of the last reigning prince, excluding such collateral relations as siblings, nephews, and nieces.

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles

Caroline's monogram
  • 23 January 1957 – 14 March 1958: Her Serene Highness The Hereditary Princess of Monaco
  • 14 March 1958 – 23 January 1999: Her Serene Highness Princess Caroline of Monaco
  • 23 January 1999 – 6 April 2005: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover, Princess of Monaco
  • 6 April 2005 – 10 December 2014: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover, Hereditary Princess of Monaco
  • 10 December 2014 – Present: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover, Princess of Monaco

Contrary to usage in most other monarchies, not only is the heir apparent to the Monégasque throne titled Hereditary Prince, but whenever there is no heir apparent the heir presumptive legally bears the title of Hereditary Prince (ss). Therefore, Caroline first became the Hereditary Princess of Monaco at birth. From the birth of her only brother until his accession to the throne as Albert II, she was legally Princess Caroline of Monaco; at Albert's accession she resumed the position of heir presumptive. So long as Prince Albert remained without legitimate issue, Princess Caroline remained first in line to succeed him on the throne. However, Albert's legitimate children displaced her in the line of succession.

In Monaco and other monarchies, Caroline is usually referred to and addressed by the female form of the style attributed by tradition to her husband, i.e. Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover, rather than by her own legal title, which until December 10, 2014 was Her Serene Highness The Hereditary Princess of Monaco. Historically, styles associated with kingdoms, such as Ernst August's, have been deemed of higher rank and status than those associated with principalities.[44]

Honours

See also List of honours of the Monegasque Princely Family by country

National Honours

Foreign Honours

Awards

Ancestry

Family of Caroline, Princess of Hanover
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16. Count Charles de Polignac
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. Count Maxence de Polignac
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17. Caroline Joséphine Le Normand de Morando
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. Count Pierre de Polignac
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18. Isidoro Fernando de la Torre y Carsí
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9. Susana Mariana de la Torre y Mier
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 19. María Luisa de Mier y Celis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20. Albert I, Prince of Monaco
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10. Louis II, Prince of Monaco
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21. Lady Mary Hamilton
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22. Jacques Henri Louvet
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11. Marie Juliette Louvet
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23. Joséphine Elmire Piedefer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Princess Caroline of Monaco
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24. Brian Kelly
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12. John Henry Kelly
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25. Honora Margaret McLaughlin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. John B. Kelly, Sr.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 26. Walter Costello
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13. Mary Anne Costello
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 27. Anne Burke
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. Grace Kelly
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 28. Johann Karl Majer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14. Carl Majer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29. Luise Wilhelmine Adam
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7. Margaret Katherine Majer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30. Georg Berg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15. Margaretha Berg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31. Elisabetha Röhrig
 
 
 
 
 
 

See also

References

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  24. ↑ Caroline de Monaco, Retrieved 28 March 2012[better source needed]
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External links

Caroline, Princess of Hanover
Born: 23 January 1957
Lines of succession
Preceded by Line of succession to the Monegasque throne
3rd position		 Succeeded by
Andrea Casiraghi
Monegasque royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Rainier		 Hereditary Princess of Monaco
23 January 1957 – 14 March 1958		 Succeeded by
Albert
Preceded by Hereditary Princess of Monaco
6 April 2005 – 10 December 2014		 Succeeded by
Jacques
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