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duchessofostergotlands · 4 years ago

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Do the monegasque family have to be so attractive during a pandemic? Also could you please explain some of the main members.I know Prince Albert and his little family and Grace Kelly only.

The Kelly and Casiraghi genes are great, the family members who got them are damn lucky haha. Sure.

So you know the main royal family. Prince Albert who is 62, he became Prince of Monaco in 2005. He married Charlene Wittstock, a South African swimmer who had competed in the Olympics, in 2011. They have twins, Jacques and Gabriella, who were born in December 2014. Gabriella is older but Jacques is heir as Monaco still has male preference primogeniture.

Jazmin Grimaldi: Albert’s illegitimate daughter. Jazmin was born in the US in 1992 after her mother - then a waitress - had a fling with Albert. The Prince knew about her but didn’t spend time with her until she went to Monaco for the first time aged 11. He acknowledged her publicly in 2006 after a DNA test. Since then they have become close. Jazmin regularly spends time in Monaco and speaks very fondly of him. She is close to the younger Grimaldi cousins (particularly Pauline Ducruet, she’ll be covered later) and has been to official events with both Albert and Charlene. She is a singer and is dating Ian Mellencamp, the nephew of John Cougar Mellencamp.

Alexandre Coste: Albert’s illegitimate son (on the right with Jazmin in the middle). His mother is from Togo and was an air hostess when she had a relationship with Albert that lasted several years. Alexandre was born in 2003. Again Albert knew he existed and spent time with him; he eventually publicly acknowledged him in 2005. Alexandre is a lot less public but he is still a child - he’s only 17 - and has been heavily protected because he was acknowledged at a younger age than Jazmin. His social media is private and unlike his sister he hasn’t given interviews. But Jazmin has said he also lives part time in Monaco and they get on well as a family, and he has been to family events like weddings

Princess Caroline: Albert’s older sister. She is 63. As Albert took so long to marry she took on a lot of the charitable roles her mother had established - she is Chair of AMADE which was founded by Grace and Chair of the Princess Grace Foundation. She’s best known for her fashion and her relationships. She is a style icon who was close friends with Karl Lagerfeld. She’s been married three times: first to Philippe Junot from 1978 to 1980; secondly to Italian business man Stefano Casiraghi from 1983 until he died in an accident in 1990, they had three kids; and she is currently married to Prince Ernst August of Hanover. They married in 1999 and have one child but are separated; Ernst August has been seen with a few other women but for some reason they don’t formally split. EA has struggled with alcohol addiction for a long time and has been put in a medically induced coma at least twice as a result of health issues.

Andrea Casiraghi, Tatiana Santo Domingo and their children Sasha, India and Maximilian (Max is not pictured above): Caroline’s oldest child, born to her and Stefano Casiraghi in 1984. He did a BA in visual arts and international politics and has worked at the Monegasque embassy to Qatar. He’s also been involved in lots of charities, including AMADE. I’m not really clear what his job is now; until the twins were born in 2014 people thought he might end up being Prince of Monaco some day so he didn’t seem to invest much in a career. He married Tatiana Santo Domingo in 2013. He and Tatiana met at school in France. She is from a wealthy Colombian family who made their money in brewing. She is a billionaire in her own right after inheriting over $1 billion from her grandfather Julio. She has her own fashion label, Muzungu Sisters, and has modelled for Dior and Emilia Wickstead with her kids. The couple have three children who are all in line to the throne: Sasha (Alexandre) born in 2012, India born in 2015 and Maximilian born in 2018. They live/lived in London

Charlotte Casiraghi, Dimitri Rassam and Charlotte’s children Raphael Elmaleh and Balthazar Rasam: Caroline and Stefano’s middle child, born in 1986. Charlotte’s professional life has been group around three areas: horse riding (she has been honorary president of the Global Champions Tour and has competed in show jumping); fashion (she’s been an ambassador for Gucci and YSL and launched her own magazine focusing on sustainability) and philosophy (she has a philosophy degree from the Sorbonne and has written books about it). She had her first son, Raphael, in 2013 with her boyfriend at the time, comedian Gad Elmaleh. They split in 2015 without marrying so Raphael is not in line to the throne. In 2018 she had another son, Balthazar, with Dimitri Rassam. Dimitri is a film producer whose mother Carole Bouquet is a very well known French actress and a friend of Caroline’s. They married in 2019.

Pierre Casiraghi, Beatrice Borromeo and their children Stefano and Francesco: Pierre is the youngest child of Stefano and Caroline, born in 1987. He has followed his father into business and is the majority shareholder of the construction firm founded by his father, Engeco. He’s also passionate about sailing. He recently sailed across the Atlantic with Greta Thunberg and her father so she could attend the UN Convention on Climate Change without flying. In 2015 he married Beatrice Borromeo. She is a member of the aristocratic Italian Borromeo family who have been very powerful in Italian society for at least 600 years. She is a journalist who has done extensive work on corruption and the mafia. Unlike many royals she’s an atheist, politically left wing, and has pissed off other royal houses - mainly the deposed Italian royal family - by exposing their corruption. They had son Stefano in 2017 and Francesco in 2018.

Princess Alexandra: She is the only child of Caroline and Prince Ernst August and is therefore a Princess of Hanover. She was born in 1999. She is a figure skater who represented Monaco in the European Youth Olympic Festival. She is dating Ben-Sylvester Strautmann who is a German basketball player. She lived a mostly private life but has started to become more public, appearing at fashion shows and recently doing her first magazine interview

Princess Stephanie: The youngest child of Rainier and Grace and Albert and Caroline’s little sister, born in 1965. She got a lot of headlines in the 1980s through her risque modelling, her music career, and her relationships (she dated Rob Lowe!) She married her bodyguard Daniel Ducruet in 1992 and they had two children before divorcing in 1996. In 1998 she had a third child with her Head of Security Jean Raymond Gottlieb. She is a patron of the annual circus festival in Monaco and earned more headline when she moved her kids to live with an elephant trainer she began dating in 2001. She married her second husband, acrobat Adans Lopez Peres, in 2003 and they divorced in 2004.

Louis and Marie Ducruet (and Pancake): Louis is the oldest child of Stephanie and Daniel Ducruet, born in 1992. He did a degree in Sports Management and worked as Assistant to the VP of AS Monaco football club. In 2020 he signed on as an advisor for Nottingham Forest football club. In 2019 he married Marie Chevallier who he met as a student. She manages events for Monte Carlo Casino. They have no children but do have an adorable dog, Pancake, who I love more than any other royal

Pauline Ducruet: Younger child of Stephanie and Daniel Ducruet, born in 1994. She studied at Parsons and did internships for Vogue and Louis Vuitton. She launched a gender neutral fashion line, Alter, in 2018. She was also a competitive diver who represented Monaco in the Summer Youth Olympics.

Camille Gottlieb: Only child of Stephanie and Jean Raymond, born in 1998. As her parents never married she is not in line to the throne. She works in PR for a club (which one I don’t know). She is also the founder of Be Safe Monaco which is an anti drink driving charity.

#ask #anon #monegasque princely family

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ealinginsider · 7 years ago

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You will absolutely love the stylish Laura Downes

Laura Downes is a fabulous Ealing based Jewellery designer. I first discovered her work when my neighbour gave me one of her pieces for my birthday – the navy hand rolled beads (which I am wearing as I type!) I found her Instagram account filled with stunning jewellery and I was hooked. She sells from her home studio so I became a regular visitor and a proud wearer of her work.

Read on to find out more about Laura and how to win one of her stunning necklaces.

How did you start designing jewellery and when?

I first started designing and making jewellery as a teenager in North Wales. My friend Kate and I started a company called the fantastically titled ‘Essential Earrings’ and we sold our pieces at local events and in gift shops. I grew up in a seaside town in North Wales and I’ve always been obsessed by fashion. I used to buy magazines like Vogue, Elle and The Face from our local newsagent and pore over the pages. We’d then go to local charity shops to try and recreate the same look. Making jewellery was an extension of this love for fashion and still is.

My son Ted was born three years ago and when he slept in the day I found I had this spare time. I wanted to do something for me so I started making jewellery again. This time I made pieces that I wanted to wear myself. After a baby you often can’t go straight back into your old clothes (if ever!) so jewellery was the perfect way for me to express my style.

I started giving the jewellery to friends to get their opinion on it, but I think Laura Downes Jewellery was properly born as a business when the utterly stunning and bohemian haven The Cross in Holland Park bought some pieces from me. That was a defining moment for my confidence as a designer.

You have so created many lovely things; tell us about your top three

My neon bright bracelets were my first serious piece that I sold. I played around a lot with this design to get to the product I love now. They originally had tassels on them. I think they are a good price point for a present or as a treat for you.

My other favourites are my colourful hand rolled clay beads. These are simple and yet really striking. I love spotting these on people around West London. A friend was recently in New York wearing some orange ones and someone came up in the street to ask after them – that’s pretty thrilling for me!

The third is my Sun Circle pendant necklace, again I’m proud of the process I went through to get to this design from sourcing the materials to the idea of celebrating the curve of a woman’s neck. I love it. This is the design you can win in our competition (details below).

What is your most proud moment for Laura Downes Jewellery so far?

I’ve honestly had so many. Every day seems to bring something exciting. Whether that be Natalie Imbruglia or Laura Whitmore wearing my jewellery on their personal social media accounts, to a note from the truly spectacular Anya Hindmarch saying she loved my Neon Brights to a male former first artist of the Royal Ballet rocking a Sun Circle pendant.

Closer to home it is when local women buy a piece from me or even more amazingly come back to buy more. It’s a real compliment when stylish, hard working women see my designs as a treat. That makes me proudest.

What business advice have you been given that has helped you?

I recently met Jane Shepherdson, the former CEO of Whistles at a networking event. She has to be one of the most impressive business women out there. I took the opportunity to give her a piece of my jewellery. At midnight the same night I received a long email from her saying she liked my product and giving me the most valuable business advice including some ideas for evolving my website and advice on building relationships with potential clients. I was blown away.

What other useful advice have you been given that has stayed with you?

Hustle and Fox said never use the word ‘just’, as in ‘I am just a jewellery designer’. Style Me Sunday said each morning to look in the mirror and tell yourself who you are and what you want to be. These inspiring women were on a panel event together from which my overall impression was to ‘take your seat at the table’. Women supporting women has been a real theme for me since starting this company.

Who would your dream customer be?

I love the way French women dress, so probably someone like Caroline de Maigret or Isabel Marant or someone effortlessly cool like Diane Kruger.

What do you enjoy doing when you have some ‘me time’?

Running a business from home and having two small children means ‘me time’ is so precious. My husband works in New York for a week every month so our lives can feel crazy busy. I love exploring London. I’ve lived here for nearly 20 years now but I still get a buzz from the energy of the city. I love going for lunch with friends and having people over. Our house is always pretty busy. My husband makes the best gin and tonics and there is nothing better than lighting our fire box and sitting in the garden in the evening with a delicious G&T!

Where are your favourite places in Ealing?

Ealing is a great place to live. I’ve lived all over London but am so glad we moved here. We’ve made some of our best friends in this gorgeous supportive community.

I love the parks. I spent so much time walking around them when the children were small. I love the feeling of green space in Walpole and the design of the park. It’s also great in the summer with all the festivals. We watched an outdoor production of Alice in Wonderland in the rose garden a few years ago and that was beautiful.

I think ‘Nuki’ the Thai restaurant on Northfield Avenue is consistently delicious, unpretentious and very reasonably priced. I also love Charlottes W5 for brunch and the design of the building.

Your hashtag is #Luxhippie – what does it represent?

I’m very proud of #Luxhippie. I came up with it to represent me and the kind of customer I think would wear LDJ. It’s someone who has a bohemian edge and enjoys clothes or pieces with a story. I think they enjoy travel and experiencing other cultures and would prefer to hunt for an item of clothing than just buy the first thing they see. Brands they might wear are Isabel Marant, Masscob or Muzungu Sisters but they’re also not afraid to wear a fabulous £3 skirt from a local charity shop if the look works.

So really not far off from the teenager in North Wales busy making her jewellery and rummaging through vintage – just now with far better shoes!

Competition

Laura is giving away a gold Sun Circle Pendant to one lucky reader! To be in with a chance of winning:

Follow both Laura Downes Jewellery and Ealing Insider on Instagram or Facebook (links below)

Comment on any one of the competition posts across the Ealing Insider platforms with your favourite place in Ealing for a treat or some ‘me time’.

The winner will be selected at random on Sunday 9th July.

(See below for full Competition Terms and Conditions.)