Karl Lagerfeld was a legendary fashion designer and had many famous clients, but one of his most famous royal clients was Princess Caroline of Monaco. This is a long-standing professional and personal relationship has Karl Lagerfeld was very close to the Grimaldis and especially Princess Caroline.
In an interview to Vogue in December 2016, Princess Caroline said: “I must have been 16-years-old (…) It was Saint-Sulpice Square, in Karl’s beautiful art deco apartment, which I remember very well, that’s how I knew him. (…) We can not define a relationship like this, he’s someone who is so important for me, who is so present, he’s like a family member, he has influenced me, he did so much for me, he is absolutely central in my life, that’s for sure, but I must not be the only one to say that “
Princess Caroline wore Chanel many times over the years, including for her third wedding to Prince Ernst-August of Hanover. Princess Caroline wore Chanel to many important events, including to several royal weddings such as the wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie in 2012 and Prince Albert’s enthronement in 2005.
Over the years, Karl Lagerfeld became more and more involved with Princess Caroline’s Bal de la Rose, designing the decor of the ball each year since 2013 after attending the ball for many years as a guest and dressing the Monegasque princesses. Some of Princess Caroline most famous Chanel outfits were worn for Monaco’s balls and family events.
It’s no surprise that Princess Caroline’s love of all things Chanel was passed on to her daughters, and Charlotte Casiraghi and Princess Alexandra wore Chanel many times, even sometimes wearing their mother’s dresses.
At the 2017 Bal de la Rose, Charlotte Casiraghi wore a Chanel gown worn by her mother wore to an award ceremony in December 2000- which Karl Lagerfeld also attended.
For the religious wedding ceremony of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene in 2011, Princess Caroline and her daughters, as well as Princess Stéphanie and her daughter Pauline Ducruet, all wore Chanel, showing once again the close relationship between the Grimaldis and the designer.
Princess Caroline and Princess Alexandra both wore Chanel last November for the National Day celebrations.
Karl Lagerfeld was also a photographer, and he did a photoshoot of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene for Madame Figaro in 2011.
None of the Grimaldis made a statement following the death of Karl Lagerfeld, but Pauline Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb paid tribute to the designer on their Instagram account like many others. The 2019 Bal de la Rose will be held in March, and according to Gala, Princess Caroline and Karl had already designed everything, so Princess Caroline decided to keep everything as it is his last gift for her. As always, Princess Caroline and her children will attend the ball, and there is no doubt that they will be wearing Chanel to pay tribute to their dear friend.
