Albert of Monaco and Charlene, Devastated: The Worst News in the Principality Is Confirmed

The Grimaldi family is once again under the world's gaze, this time due to a loss that has deeply affected Prince Albert. Five years later, the memory has stirred emotions in Monaco. For Albert and Charlene, it wasn't just another day.

Sometimes, life strikes silently, and sadness becomes apparent in unexpected situations. It is then that the pain transcends the private sphere and becomes part of the collective memory. That is what has happened in the heart of Monaco.

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Charlene and Albert Feel the Absence of the Figure That Faded Silently

On June 10, 2020, Elizabeth-Ann Taubert de Massy passed away at the Princesse-Grace hospital. Her death came weeks before her 73rd birthday, after a long illness that she bore with great discretion. With her, a beloved figure within and outside the family was lost.

She was the daughter of Princess Antoinette of Monaco and niece of Prince Rainier. She was also the godmother of Stéphanie of Monaco and a close advisor to Albert. She always kept a discreet but indispensable role for the family.

The baroness attended all significant events. The Red Cross Gala, the Circus Festival, National Day, the Rose Ball. Her favorite, however, was the tennis tournament; she presided over the Monegasque Tennis Federation and loved the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

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Caroline of Monaco: Between Nostalgia and Shared Grief

For Caroline, it was another deep blow in her already long list of losses. First, she lost her mother Grace Kelly, then her husband Stefano, and later her father, Rainier. "She was one of the great pillars of the Grimaldi family," the chronicle recalls.

Elizabeth-Ann was born in Monte Carlo on July 3, 1947, and her story is tied to the principality and key events in its recent history. At nine years old, she was a bridesmaid at her uncle's wedding to Grace Kelly. She first married Baron Bernard Taubert-Natta, with whom she had Jean-Léonard, and later, choreographer Nikolaï Costello, father of her daughter Mélanie.

Her brother Christian de Massy attended the funeral during full lockdown from Colombia. He did so thanks to his cousin Albert: "He sent me a private plane," adding, "Although I wasn't his biggest fan, I was there." The death of Elizabeth-Ann is the memory of a woman who knew how to be without prominence but with deep dedication.