As expected, the Ball of the Rose, held this Saturday at Sporting Monte-Carlo’s La Salle des Étoiles, was a complete success. The presence of Isabel Pantoja at the event created great expectations from Spain, although the Sevillian singer played a hidden role in the event, where great faces from the world of celebrities and Monegasque high society attend. This celebration, intended to raise funds for the Princess Grace Foundation, returned to its maximum level after a few seasons marked by the pandemic. It should be remembered that in 2020 and 2021 the act was not held.
This appointment is very special for the Grimaldi, who remember the actress Grace Kelly, mother of Estefanía, Carolina and Alberto de Mónaco, who died in 1982 after a fatal traffic accident. One of the classics of the evening is the absence of the first lady of the country, Charlene Wittstock, who has not attended the gala for nine years. After a long illness, there was much speculation that after her recovery she would finally attend this gala. However, that has not happened. It would have been much more credible for her to attend to disprove the “malicious rumors” that pointed to a separation, but she finally issued a statement explaining her absence.
Carolina de Monaco was the hostess of the event. The Princess of Hannover, of course, did not have her husband, Ernest of Hannover, with whom she is still married, but she has no relationship. The German prince lives with the daughter of Pitita Tridruejo and spends a lot of time in Spain. He did not have the company of her husband, but Carolina had the company of her brother and her four children. Pierre Casiraghi and his wife, Beatrice Borromeo, were the first to arrive.
Later, Carlota Casiraghi arrived (without her husband, Dimitri Rassam); Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo; and Alexandra from Hannover with Ben-Sylvester Strautmann, who was already at this event last year. It was a special moment for the family, since many of its members gathered there, and it was all for a good cause: a solidarity fundraiser.
As we have been saying, the presence of Isabel Pantoja at the event was rather discreet. The tonadillera arrived at the Sporting Club of Monte Carlo accompanied by her brother, Agustín, as the only Spanish representation of the party. The interpreter opted for a spectacular design by Isabel Sanchís, folkloric and with a Spanish seal. She wore a fuchsia-toned dress with two large satin flowers on one shoulder and one of her cuffs. The XXL flowers are a staple in the wardrobe of the flamenco singer, who has always championed the symbols and trends of Spanish fashion, as well as her clothing.
Dinner always has a theme, so the guests wore some of the most spectacular looks. This year the Monegasques wanted the ball to have a Bollywood theme, so they auctioned off art and other curry-scented crafts, hosted by Stéphane Bern. The enclosure was disguised this March 25 as a Hindu palace. The decoration was totally up to par, with long tables with pink, orange and blue tablecloths, flower arrangements and mandala candles. All full of color, a clear reference to the culture of the Asian country.
The Franco-Egyptian designer Christian Louboutin, a confessed lover of India and a personal friend of Carolina, has been in charge of the artistic direction after the death of Karl Lagerfeld in 2019. As it could not be otherwise, there was also music. They delighted the evening with the show Bella, the Bassant group, the choreographers Kamal Kant and Megha Jagawat, the principal dancer of the Paris Opera Ballet, Jeremy-Loup Quer and the actor Punit J. Pathak. Mika, the singer of Lebanese origin, author of the song called Grace Kelly, premiered her new album to put the finishing touch on the evening.
