Monaco’s Annual Rose Ball celebrates Rock’n Roll

The 59th annual ‘Bal de la Rose’ (Rose Ball) was held Saturday evening in Monaco’s Salle des Etoiles – Sporting. This year’s theme, Rock’n Roll was truly inspired. Entertainment was provided by The Fratellis, a Scottish alternative rock band, and Chuck Berry. As the start of the Monaco social season, the event is always well attended by celebrities and socialites alike, even with a 1,500 US ticket cost for the black tie event.

Prince Albert II presided over the event and shared the first dance with his sister, the Princess of Hanover, who was dressed in a floor length Chanel white gown with a short bust length black jacket. The Princess was presented with a unique ‘bouquet’ in keeping with the theme.  It was a motorcycle helmet filled with roses with a pair of goggles attached.

As in previous years, former South African Swimmer Charlene Wittstock accompanied the Prince. This year, she was perfectly coifed for the occasion with a tall ’80s hairdo and dressed in a floor length strapless black gown with a sparkling left bust and a black “rock’n roll” style fingerless, sparkling glove on her left hand.

Princess Caroline’s younger children Charlotte (also dressed by Chanel) and Pierre Casiraghi attended without their stepfather Prince Ernst August of Hanover, who remained in the hospital following a fall earlier this week. Also missing from the glittering affair were the Princess’s older son Andrea, her aunt Princess Antoinette and her younger sister Princess Stephanie.

Monaco’s annual Rose Ball (Bal de la Rose), the primary fund raiser held to benefit the Princess Grace Foundation, is believed to be first held in 1964. The Ball exclusively benefits the Monaco branch of the foundation as opposed to the US branch which is supported by the Princess Grace Awards Gala. Multiple published and official sources report that the late Princess Grace originally arranged the event to support her own philanthropic efforts and to help fund the American Hospital in Paris.

After Princess Grace’s tragic death in 1982, Prince Albert and Princess Caroline transformed the gala to support the newly enacted Princess Grace Foundation. They have continued their mother’s use of themes and have celebrated “Pop”, “Movida”, “Latin America”, “Carribbean” and “Africa” among others.

A photographic retrospective of the ball is available here while pictures and information about this year’s ball are here.

For more information on the Princess Grace Foundation, please visit: La Fondation Princesse Grace de la Principaute de Monaco.

Filed under Germany, Monaco
Tagged Albert II of Monaco, Charlotte Casiraghi, House of Hanover, Pierre Casiraghi, Princess Caroline of Hanover, Princess Charlène of Monaco, Princess Grace Foundation, Rose Ball.

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