Princess Caroline of Monaco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caroline of Monaco |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess of Hanover | |||||
Princess Caroline in 2009
|
|||||
| Born | 23 January 1957 Prince's Palace, Monaco |
||||
| Spouse |
Philippe Junot
(m. 1978; div. 1980) |
||||
| Issue |
|
||||
|
|||||
| House | Grimaldi (by birth) Hanover (by marriage) |
||||
| Father | Rainier III, Prince of Monaco | ||||
| Mother | Grace Kelly | ||||
Princess Caroline Louise Marguerite of Monaco was born on January 23, 1957. She is the Princess of Hanover because she married Prince Ernst August. She is the oldest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and Grace Kelly. Her younger siblings are Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Princess Stéphanie.
When she was born in 1957, Caroline was the next in line to the throne of Monaco. This changed when her brother Albert was born the next year. She became next in line again in 2005 when Albert became Prince. This lasted until his twins, Gabriella and Jacques, were born in 2014.
Contents
Family and Early Life
Caroline was born in the Prince's Palace in Monaco. Her parents were Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and Grace Kelly, who was a famous American actress. Caroline was the first child in the House of Grimaldi. She was the next in line to the throne until her brother Prince Albert was born in 1958. Her younger sister Princess Stéphanie was born in 1965.
Princess Grace, Caroline's mother, once described her daughters. She said Caroline and Stéphanie were "warm, bright, amusing, intelligent and capable girls." She also mentioned they were good students and athletes. They were good at skiing, swimming, cooking, sewing, playing piano, and riding horses.
As a child, Caroline visited her grandparents in Philadelphia, USA. She also spent time at Camp Oneka in the Poconos when she was 14.
Princess Grace died on September 14, 1982. She had a stroke while driving with Princess Stéphanie. This led to a car accident.
Education
Princess Caroline finished high school in 1974 with high marks. She also studied at St Mary's School Ascot. After that, she went to Sciences Po and then to the Sorbonne University. There, she earned a degree in philosophy. She also studied psychology and biology. She can speak many languages, including French, English, Spanish, German, and Italian.
Activities and Public Role
Princess Caroline has been involved in many important activities. In 1979, her parents made her the president of Monaco's committee for the International Year of the Child. In 1981, she started an organization called Jeune J'écoute. This group created a phone line for young people to talk about their problems.
She also supports many other groups. These include the World Association of Children's Friends (AMADE Mondiale) and UNICEF. She is also a patron of the Peter Le Marchant Trust, which helps ill and disabled people enjoy canal boat trips.
After her mother's death in 1982, Caroline became the de facto first lady of Monaco. She held this role until her brother Albert married Charlene Wittstock in 2011. She often attends important events in Monaco. These include the National Day celebrations, the Rose Ball, and the Monaco Grand Prix car race.
Because of her work for charity and the arts, Caroline was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2003. UNICEF gave her the Children's Champion Award in 2006. She has also received other important awards for her contributions.
Personal Life
Caroline enjoys riding horses, swimming, and skiing. Since she was young, she has been known for her great fashion sense. She is considered one of the best-dressed women in the world. In 2011, an exhibition about Princess Caroline opened at the National Museum of Monaco.
First Marriage
Princess Caroline's first husband was Philippe Junot, a banker from Paris. They got married in Monaco in 1978. Many famous people, including Hollywood stars, attended their wedding. They divorced in 1980.
Second Marriage
Her second husband was Stefano Casiraghi. He was a sportsman from Italy. They married in Monaco in 1983. They had three children together:
- Andrea Albert Pierre Casiraghi (born in 1984). He is married to Tatiana Santo Domingo and they have three children.
- Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi (born in 1986). She has two sons.
- Pierre Rainier Stefano Casiraghi (born in 1987). He is married to Beatrice Borromeo and they have two children.
Stefano Casiraghi died in a speed-boating accident in 1990. He was 30 years old.
Third Marriage
Caroline's third husband is Prince Ernst August of Hanover. He is the head of the House of Hanover. They married in Monaco on January 23, 1999. They have one daughter together:
- Princess Alexandra Charlotte Ulrike Maryam Virginia of Hanover (born in 1999 in Austria).
In 2009, it was reported that Caroline and Ernst August had separated. She returned to live in Monaco.
Images for kids
-
Princess Caroline in 2009
-
Princess Caroline and Albert with Ronald and Nancy Reagan in Washington, D.C., in 1983.
-
Alliance coat of arms of Prince Ernst and Princess Caroline of Hanover
-
Royal monogram of Princess Caroline
-
Dual cypher of Prince Ernst and Princess Caroline
See also
- House of Grimaldi
- Line of succession to the Monegasque throne
- Monegasque Princely Family
