The Monaco Princes and Princesses

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene, Princess of Monaco, at an event for the Princesse Charlène Foundation in 2013.

Charlene and Albert at a Monégasque Red Cross gala in 2013.

Charlene and Albert at a Monégasque Red Cross gala in 2013.

Charlene and Albert presenting their newborn twin sons, Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès, and Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco, in late 2014 or early 2015.

Charlene, Princess of Monaco.

HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover, older sister of Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, youngest child of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and his consort, Princess Grace.

Princess Caroline, Princess Charlene and Prince Albert at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

HSH Prince Albert and Charlène Wittstock, a former Olympic swimmer from South Africa.

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert at a Monaco Against Autism gala.

The New Monégasque Twins

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert with their new twins, pictured on December 24, 2014.

His Highness Prince Albert is the son of Prince Rainier III, Louis Henri-Maxence-Bertrand (31st May 1923 - 6th April 2005) and Princess Grace, née Kelly (Philadelphia, United States, 12th November 1929 - Monaco, 14th September 1982). 

H.S.H. Prince Albert II succeeded his father, Prince Rainier III who died on 6h April 2005.

On 12th July 2005, at the end of the period of official mourning, the Prince's accession to the throne was celebrated.  Since 1984, H.S.H. Prince Albert had assisted his father in conducting the affairs of State.

Charlene Lynette Wittstock was born on 25th January 1978 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Africa. When she was aged 12, her family emigrated to South Africa.

Before marrying Prince Albert, she was a successful Olympic swimmer.

Miss Wittstock was married to the Prince in a civil ceremony on 1st July 2011 in the Throne Room at the Palace of Monaco. The religious ceremony took place on 2nd July 2011 in the Cour d'Honneur of the Palace of Monaco. She bears the title "HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco" along with all the historical titles vested to the Prince, in the feminine.

Other royal twins to note: Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine of Denmark, born January 8, 2011; and Prince Alexander and Prince Philip of Yugoslavia, born 15 January 1982.

Charlotte of Monaco

Charlotte in 2014.

Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi (born 3 August 1986) is the second child of Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and Stefano Casiraghi, an Italian industrialist. She is seventh in line to the throne of Monaco. She is a granddaughter of Grace Kelly, who became the Princess of Monaco in 1956 when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

Charlotte in 2014.

Charlotte and her two brothers, Andrea and Pierre, were born in the Mediterranean Principality of Monaco, ruled by their maternal grandfather, Prince Rainier III. When she was four years old, her father was killed in a boating accident. After his death, Princess Caroline moved the family to the Midi village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, with the intention of minimizing their exposure to the press.

In January 1999, Charlotte gained a stepfather and two stepbrothers (Prince Ernst of Hanover and Prince Christian of Hanover), when her mother married Ernst August, Prince of Hanover. Six months later, Casiraghi's half-sister, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, was born at a clinic in Vöcklabruck, Austria. The family then moved to the Parisian suburb of Fontainebleau. 

Casiraghi and her partner, Jewish French-Moroccan actor and comedian Gad Elmaleh, have a son named Raphaël, born in Monaco on 17 December 2013.

Charlotte with her son, Raphaël.

Charlotte with an unidentified man.

 Casiraghi works as a published writer and magazine editor.

A young Princess Caroline of Monaco, Charlotte's mother. They share a striking resemblance.

Charlotte and her son, Raphaël, who is pictured in September 2014 at the age of 9 months.

Thanks to Wikipedia.com for the biography of Charlotte Casiraghi.

Royal Barbie Dolls

I still just love Barbies, with their tiny cute little outfits and super glamorous clothes! There are even really nice upscale Barbie Dolls with "silkstone" faces, which are more finely featured that the normal vinyl dolls are, and look a lot more like the actual people.

Here are some super cool royalty Barbies! I wish I had some of them.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden Barbie.

Empress Josephine of France Barbie. This thing is apparently very rare, it sells on Ebay for upwards of $800!

A beautiful Queen Marie Antoinette of France Barbie. She has one of those fine silkstone faces.

Another Queen Marie Antoinette Barbie.

A Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge Barbies. William looks a bit funny, as his head is pretty large in relation to his body.

The famous post wedding kiss of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

A lovely Grace Kelly Barbie in a flowered dress.

Another Grace Kelly Barbie, I think this one is from the film To Catch a Thief, but correct me if I'm wrong.

Grace, Princess of Monaco wedding day Barbie.

A luxurious Queen Elizabeth I Barbie.

A bunch of Royals!

 Here are a bunch of random royals!

Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco, daughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover.

Princess Caroline of Hanover, eldest daughter of Grace, Princess of Monaco.

Queen Mathilde and King Philippe of Belgium.

Princess Haya of Jordan, who is married to the ruler of Dubai.

A collage of Queen Rania and her family. The royal palace in Jordan sent this to me about 10 years ago when I wrote a letter to her Majesty.

Lalla Salma of Morocco, wife of the King of Morocco.

Princess Lalla Salma at the abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

Hereditary Princess Sophie of Lichtenstein.

The Prince and Princess of Lichtenstein.

King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, who have been living in England since the fall of the Greek Monarchy. Anne-Marie is the sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Constantine is the brother of Queen Sofia of Spain.

Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece.

Wonderful Royals

 And now, for a completely random assortment of royals!

Princess Madeleine and her husband, being greeted by well-wishers at their wedding.

Princess Charlene of Monaco.

Charlotte Casiraghi, daughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover, and granddaughter of Princess Grace.

The ever stylish Queen Silvia of Sweden!

The christening of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel's first born, Princess Estelle, with godparents Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, unidentified woman (is it Mette-Marit of Norway?), King Willem-Alexander, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark,  and Prince Haakon of Norway.

Princess Grace and Princess Charlene of Monaco looking remarkably similar.

Hereditary Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Princess Stephanie de Lannoy at their wedding.

Princess Iman of Jordan at her wedding.

The Dowager Queen Noor of Jordan with her daughter, Princess Raiyah.

Princess Marie and her husband, Prince Joachim of Denmark.

Crown Princess Marie-Chantal and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Princess Martha Louise of Norway.

Princess Martha Louise of Norway with her husband, author Ari Behn.

Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark.

King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima looking out at the Dutch people after they were sworn in as king and queen.

Crown Prince Pavlos and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece.

Chantal and Pavlos of Greece.

Princess Mette-Marit and Prince Haakon of Norway.

Queen Silvia of Norway and Princess Mette-Marit.

The fairy princess, Mette-Marit of Norway.

American teen fiction writer Carina Axelsson, dressed very much like a royal.

Best royalty picture ever: Prince Harry, Princess Kate and Prince William at Leavesden Studios in England, at the Harry Potter set. They are seen holding wands in Diagon Alley.

Queen Silvia and Princess Madeleine of Sweden with some dignitaries from a Middle-Eastern country.

Queen Sonja of Norway.

Prince Edward and the still young and lovely Countess Sophie.

Prince Edward of the United Kingdom with his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, at the abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

Crown Princess Mary and Prince Frederik of Denmark.

Princess Benedikte, Prince Joachim, Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of the Denmark.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark with her husband, Prince Henrik.

Princess Martha Louise of Norway with a young admirer.