Princess Charlene, Japan’s Princess Akiko, and Lady Kitty Spencer Enjoy Monaco's Most Glamorous Night of the Year
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Rachel KingSun, March 22, 2026 at 1:36 PM UTC
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Inside Monaco's Most Glamorous Night of the YearPLS Monaco Pool - Getty Images
Monaco’s high society enjoyed an exceptional night of glitz and glamour—even by Monte-Carlo standards—on Saturday night. The Principality’s annual Rose Ball marked its 70th anniversary this year, with an evening that was intended to feel out of this world. Also known as “Le Bal de la Rose” in French, the annual gala is a fundraiser for the Princess Grace Foundation, and each year, there is a new theme to the event.
This year, the event’s creative director, fashion designer Christian Louboutin, reimagined the Salle des Étoiles at the Monte-Carlo Sporting Club into a space-like venue for the “Galaxy Rose Ball,” transforming the venue into as a monochrome space shuttle-like complex, complete with portholes that changed color as guests “traveled” through the planets over the course of the night.
Princess Caroline, who has chaired the Princess Grace Foundation since 1983, presided over the gala alongside her brother, Prince Albert. Some of the extended Grimaldi family, including Princess Charlene, Pierre Casiraghi, Beatrice Borromeo, and Princess Alexandra of Hanover were all in attendance.
Below, a look inside the Salle des Étoiles, where the stars enjoyed another year of Le Bal de la Rose.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
Most guests arrive well before the royals arrive, but the Rose Ball doesn’t truly start until Prince Albert and Princess Charlene walk up the steps at the Monte-Carlo Sporting Club.
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The Prince and Princess were greeted by Christian Louboutin. The French fashion designer has been the event’s creative director since 2022.
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The Princess looked heavenly in a custom, off-shoulder Elie Saab gown with a cape that floated in the air as she walked across the room.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
The welcome attendants were all dressed in silver-hued, metallic-style fabrics in accordance with this year’s outer space theme.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
The Rose Ball welcomed a few extra special guests this year, including Princess Akiko of Japan. The Princess was in Monaco for “Japan Day,” and a special ceremony earlier in the day at the Grimaldi Forum, celebrating diplomatic relations between the two countries. Joining them was Princess Caroline of Monaco, Prince Albert’s sister, who has served as president of the Princess Grace Foundation since 1982 and oversees the Rose Ball each year.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
The members of the Grimaldi family in attendance this year posed for a group photo with Princess Akiko and Louboutin. From left to right: Princess Caroline’s daughter Princess Alexandra of Hanover and her partner Ben Sylvester Strautmann; Prince Albert and Princess Charlene; Princess Akiko; Princess Caroline; Louboutin; and Princess Caroline's son Pierre Casiraghi and his wife Beatrice Borromeo.
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Photo credit: PLS Monaco Pool - Getty Images
Princess Charlene wore her hair in a side-swept bun with diamond earrings that appeared to be in the shape of roses.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
Princess Alexandra wore a bespoke opaline blue gown with a matching leather purse, both by Prada.
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Princess Alexandra and Ben were also joined by Princess Dorothée D'Arenberg, a French aristocrat whose family’s lineage dates back to the Middle Ages. Dorothée also works in the fashion industry; She reportedly previously studied at the Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design in London, with internships at Dior and Oscar de la Renta.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
While Princess Akiko maintains a lower profile than other members of the Imperial Family, she made history in 2025. At the age of 43, Akiko of Mikasa became the first woman to head a Japanese royal branch in nearly 200 years.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
Princess Diana's niece, Lady Kitty Spencer, made a surprise appearance at the Rose Ball. Having a long-standing relationship with the house of Dolce & Gabbana, the daughter of the 9th Earl of Spencer wore head-to-toe D&G, including a gown from the 2019 Alta Moda Collection. The statement necklace and earrings are also from Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda line.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
“For first-time guests, I want them to feel transported, drawn into a time capsule for a little while,” Louboutin, wearing a pear of sparkly loafers with his own signature red soles, tells T&C about designing the Rose Ball experience.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
Princess Caroline, dressed in a dress from Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection with sequined Chanel blazer personally asked Louboutin to take over as the Rose Ball’s creative director several years ago after many years of friendship.
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Photo credit: PLS Monaco Pool - Getty Images
The Princess is also carrying a sparkly black Giorgio Armani pleated rhinestone satin shoulder bag, which is still available to shop online now.
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Photo credit: David Niviere/SBM
Prince Charles and Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies arrive at the ball. The Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies ruled over southern Italy from 1734 to 1861.
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Charles Leclerc, Monaco’s famous Formula One driver for Ferrari, and his wife Alexandra, dressed perfectly for the theme in a rose-hued silk gown with a floral appliqué, arrive for the ball.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
Guests walk down a traditional red carpet, but instead walked through this corridor resembling a spaceship.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
Benoît Miniou , a French designer and scientist who had been working on sending organic elements (including a case of Petrus wine) into space to study their behavior upon return, plans to send a rose into space later this year—specifically the hybrid bred in honor of the late Princess Grace. Roses were Princess Grace’s favorite flower, which is why the flower has always been associated with the gala.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
Attendants handed out programs and gift bags as guests entered the ballroom. The gift bags included Christian Louboutin’s “La Rose” perfume . The programs were especially important as they also included the raffle ticket numbers. Prizes ranged from Christian Dior’s Book Tote to two nights at Monaco’s luxurious Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
The grand prize, however, was a diamond Chanel necklace.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
After arrivals, guests enjoy a three course meal, with Perrier-Jouët champagne. The performances continue on stage during the dinner, so it’s continuously lively throughout the evening.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
The Berlin-based stilt performers Dulce Compania stand in the background while French television presenter Stéphane Bern announces the raffle winners. Bern has been awarded prestigious honors by several nations, including Monaco’s Order of Grimaldi, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France, and he received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Queen Elizabeth in 2014 for promoting British culture and royalty in France.
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Photo credit: La Société des Bains de Mer
This year’s Rose Ball welcomed approximately 800 attendees from around the world. The exact numbers aren’t usually revealed, but in the past, the event usually raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Princess Grace Foundation.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
