Princess Caroline of Monaco: Age, Husband, Children, News

Princess Caroline of Monaco has spent nearly seven decades in the glare of European royalty—and her story makes for unusual reading. Daughter of Grace Kelly and Rainier III, she became heir presumptive at birth, watched that position shift with her brother Albert’s arrival, and eventually carved out a quieter but deeply influential role in Monaco’s cultural life. Her journey through three marriages, a family tragedy, and a circle of grandchildren now entering adulthood offers something a simple biography rarely does: a clear view of how someone navigates relentless public attention while protecting what matters most.

Born: January 23, 1957 ·
Children: 3 (from second marriage) ·
Marriages: 3 ·
Current Title: Princess of Hanover ·
Parents: Rainier III and Grace Kelly

The following table summarizes key biographical details about Princess Caroline of Monaco.

What happened to Princess Caroline of Monaco’s husband?

Princess Caroline has been married three times, and each marriage followed a distinct trajectory that tells its own story about royal life, private grief, and public expectation.

First marriage to Philippe Junot

Her first husband, Philippe Junot, was a Parisian banker born 19 April 1940. They married in 1978 but the union ended in divorce by 1980. The marriage produced no children, and Junot remained a relatively private figure even after the divorce. He died on 8 January 2026 at age 85, as recorded by Wikipedia (the online encyclopedia).

Second husband Stefano Casiraghi’s death

The most publicly documented chapter came with Stefano Casiraghi, an Italian businessman born 8 September 1960. They married in 1983 and had three children together: Andrea (b. 1984), Charlotte (b. 1986), and Pierre (b. 1987). On 3 October 1990, Casiraghi died in a speedboating accident off the coast of Monaco—a tragedy that thrust Princess Caroline into international headlines and left her a widow at 33. The event reshaped her public role entirely, as she shifted to raising her children away from media scrutiny, primarily in France.

Current marriage to Prince Ernst August

In 1999, Princess Caroline married Prince Ernst August of Hanover, a German businessman and member of a former European royal house. The marriage on 23 January 1999 made her the Princess of Hanover and produced a fourth child, Princess Alexandra, born 20 July 1999. Over the years, various media outlets have reported strains in this marriage, but the Monaco palace has not issued any formal confirmation or denial of separation claims. The couple has maintained a low-profile arrangement, with Ernst August continuing his business interests in Germany while Caroline fulfills her Monaco commitments.

Where does Princess Caroline of Monaco live now?

Pinpointing Princess Caroline’s primary residence requires reading between the lines of official schedules rather than any formal address.

Residences in Monaco

Her official base remains Monaco, where she maintains proximity to the Prince’s Palace and regularly attends state and cultural events. The 2026 Rose Ball and Exotic Garden reopening—both requiring her physical presence in Monaco—confirm she remains actively engaged in the principality’s civic calendar. She presides over the Princess Grace Foundation from Monaco, with Prince Albert II serving as vice-chair, according to New My Royals (a Monaco-focused royal coverage outlet).

Properties in France and Germany

Long-standing reports place her and her children at family properties in southern France, particularly after the 1990 tragedy when she sought distance from paparazzi attention. Her marriage to Prince Ernst August presumably gives her access to Hanover family estates in Germany, though joint public appearances there remain rare. The lack of confirmed, current residence details reflects the family’s deliberate privacy strategy rather than any official secrecy.

The implication: without formal announcements, Caroline’s residence remains fluid between Monaco, France, and Germany depending on her calendar and family obligations.

How many children did Caroline of Monaco have?

Princess Caroline has four children from two marriages, though only three came from her second marriage to Stefano Casiraghi and represent the primary line continuing the Grimaldi heritage in Monaco.

Andrea Casiraghi

The eldest, Andrea Casiraghi, was born in 1984 and represents the family member most often discussed as potentially carrying forward the direct royal line alongside his cousins. He married Tatiana Santo Domingo, and the couple reportedly maintains a similarly private lifestyle to his mother’s approach.

Charlotte Casiraghi

Charlotte Casiraghi, born 1986, has built a public profile as a writer and editorial figure while maintaining connections to Monaco’s cultural world. She had a son, Raphael Elmaleh, in 2013 with comedian Gad Elmaleh, then married Dmitri Rassam in 2019. Her career in publishing and fashion keeps her name regularly in circulation, though she carefully controls the narrative around her family life.

Pierre Casiraghi

Pierre Casiraghi, born 1987, pursued business ventures while also representing the family at official Monaco events. He married Beatrice Borromeo, a journalist and model, and they welcomed their third child—Bianca Carolyn Marta Casiraghi—on 4 October 2025, as confirmed by YouTube (royal family documentation). The birth represents the most recent addition to the family’s next generation.

Princess Alexandra of Hanover

Her youngest child, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, was born 20 July 1999 from her marriage to Prince Ernst August. She has begun making appearances at Monaco events, including attending the 2026 Rose Ball alongside Ben-Sylvester Strautmann, per Monaco Life (Monaco-focused lifestyle media).

Is Princess Caroline of Monaco separated from her husband?

Separation rumors around Princess Caroline and Prince Ernst August have circulated for years without resolution from official sources.

Marriage to Prince Ernst August

The couple married on 23 January 1999 in Monaco, making Caroline the Princess of Hanover in addition to her Monégasque titles. Ernst August, born 1954, is head of the House of Hanover and operates various business interests. Their marriage joined two European families with complex histories, and the union has been scrutinized by royal watchers since its announcement.

Separation rumors

Media outlets have periodically reported that the couple maintains separate lives, with Ernst August based primarily in Germany while Caroline fulfills her Monaco commitments. However, no formal statement from the Monaco palace or from Prince Ernst August has confirmed any split. The lack of official clarity leaves the situation genuinely uncertain, distinguishing it from the well-documented facts of Caroline’s earlier marriages.

Who are Princess Caroline of Monaco’s children?

The four children of Princess Caroline represent a cross-section of how European royal descendants navigate the line between private inheritance and public visibility.

Family roles in Monaco

Prince Albert II serves as the current head of the Monégasque royal family, succeeding his father Rainier III in 2005. Princess Caroline, as his elder sister, holds a distinct but secondary role—officially Hereditary Princess from 2005 until Albert’s children began arriving in 2014. Her children occupy an interesting position: they are the descendants of Grace Kelly through a branch that does not carry Monaco’s crown, yet they command significant public interest and carry forward Grimaldi heritage.

Grandchildren

The grandchild generation has grown substantially. Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo have reportedly had multiple children, with Alexandra Sasha reportedly born in 2013. Charlotte Casiraghi has son Raphael Elmaleh (b. 2013), now in his preteen years. Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo have three children, with the youngest—Bianca—born in October 2025. All grandchildren are being raised with the privacy-first approach that has defined the Casiraghi children’s adult lives.

Princess Caroline’s public role in 2026

Beyond family matters, Princess Caroline maintains a significant public presence through Monaco’s cultural and charitable institutions.

On 21 March 2026, she presided over the 70th Rose Ball—the annual fundraiser for the Princess Grace Foundation she has chaired since her mother’s death in 1982. The ball, themed “Galaxy Rose Ball,” featured artistic direction by Christian Louboutin, who has overseen the event’s design since 2022. Attendees included Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, Pierre Casiraghi with Beatrice Borromeo, and Princess Alexandra, per New My Royals (Monaco royal coverage) and Town & Country (luxury lifestyle magazine).

Then on 27 March 2026, she joined Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene for the reopening of Monaco’s Exotic Garden after a six-year renovation, as reported by Monaco Tribune (local Monégasque news outlet).

“Following Princess Grace’s death in 1982, her daughter Princess Caroline of Hanover assumed chairmanship of the foundation, a role she maintains today.”

— New My Royals (Monaco royal coverage outlet), on the Princess Grace Foundation

“Princess Caroline entrusted the artistic direction to French fashion designer Christian Louboutin, who has been responsible for the scenography since 2022.”

— New My Royals (Monaco royal coverage outlet), on the 70th Rose Ball

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