by On January 23, 1957, Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and his glamorous wife, Grace Kelly, welcomed their first daughter, Princess Caroline of Monaco.
At the time, Kelly dominated the fashion press as an actress turned Hollywood Royale, who used fashion as a defining factor in her films such as “To Catch a Thief” and “Rear Window” by Alfred Hitchcock. Like her mother, Princess Caroline has been hailed as one of the world’s greatest women and a fashion icon with close ties to the industry.
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Caroline was one of the first royals to wear a traditional white wedding dress for her first wedding, before defining the style of her second and third weddings with more laid-back styles.
Ahead, learn more about Princess Caroline of Monaco’s three royal weddings, featuring wedding dresses and ceremony looks by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel and more.
On June 29, 1978, the young princess Caroline of Monaco married Parisian banker and well-known playboy Philippe Junot. The ceremony took place in an outdoor courtyard on the grounds of the Prince’s Palace in Monaco, where her mother had previously married.
For the occasion, Princess Caroline of Monaco was dressed in Christian Dior by Marc Bohan; the longest serving designer in the House, who was a close friend and favor designer to her mother, Princess Grace. The white floral embroidered organdie dress featured a round neck lace bodice, flowing sleeves and a soft full skirt. The romantic 70s-style look was topped off with two hair buns adorned with white flowers and a swept-up dress instead of a tiara.
Princess Caroline and Junot divorced two years later.
Caroline married Italian sportsman and heir Stefano Casiraghi on December 29, 1983. As her marriage to Junot was not yet annulled, she and Casiraghi were married in an intimate civil ceremony in the Mirror Room of the Prince’s Palace in Monaco .
At the time, Princess Caroline had a fashionable reputation for being extremely demure and very classy, which was reflected in her second wedding ensemble – the second one designed by the House of Christian Dior. For the intimate ceremony, Princess Caroline wore a simple cream silk charmeuse dress with a matching hair bow.
During their marriage, the two welcomed three children: Andrea Casiraghi, Charlotte Casiraghi and Pierre Casiraghi. As a mother, Princess Caroline never let go of style and continued to be a European style icon for her minimalist, controlled and elegant dress. The couple remained together until Stefano Casiraghi died tragically in 1990 in a sailing accident during a race.
In 1992, the Catholic church granted the annulment of Princess Caroline and Junot’s marriage following the tragic death.
In mourning, Princess Caroline moved to Provence and wore microfloral floor-length, black and white dresses, often with espadrilles and short hair pulled back, which became a huge fashion moment across Europe.
Princess Caroline then married for the third time, Prince Ernst August of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick, in Monaco on January 23, 1999.
By this time, she was a beloved muse, client and personal friend of not only the House of Christian Dior and Marc Bohan but also the House of Chanel, led by the creative director and designer, Karl Lagerfeld.
During a secret ceremony, Princess Caroline said “I do” in a light blue Chanel suit with gold buttons – similar to the House’s 1997 fall Couture runway series, which she wore that same year. The style icon’s best looks always prevail, as seen in her frequent appearances in tonal Chanel gowns.
During their marriage, they welcomed their daughter, Princess Alexandra, before divorcing in 2009.
From a young age, Princess Caroline has been a favorite and will go down in history as one of the most elegant and underrated European princesses next to Princess Diana, who was known for her more glamorous looks .
Princess Caroline of Monaco’s Three Royal Weddings: Dior Dresses, Chanel Outfits & More [PHOTOS]
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Launch Gallery: Princess Caroline of Monaco’s Three Royal Weddings Look Back: Dior Dresses, Chanel Suits & More
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