Princess Stéphanie of Monaco (Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth Grimaldi; born 1 February 1965) is the youngest child of
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
Rainier III (Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi; 31 May 1923 – 6 April 2005) was Prince of Monaco from 1949 to his death in 2005. Rainier ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years.
Rainier was born at the Prince's Pal ...
, and his wife, American actress
Grace Kelly
Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982), also known as Grace of Monaco, was an American actress and Princess of Monaco as the wife of Prince Rainier III from their marriage on April 18, 1956, until her death in 1982. ...
. She is the younger sister of
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958) is Prince of Monaco, reigning since 2005.
Born at the Prince's Palace of Monaco, Albert is the second child and only son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. He attend ...
, and
Caroline, Princess of Hanover
Princess Caroline of Monaco (born 23 January 1957) is Princess of Hanover by marriage to Prince Ernst August. As the eldest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and Grace Kelly, she is the elder sister of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and ...
. Currently 14th in the
line of succession to the Monegasque throne, she has been a singer, swimwear designer, and fashion model.
Early life and education

Stéphanie was born to
Prince Rainier III
Rainier III (Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi; 31 May 1923 – 6 April 2005) was Prince of Monaco from 1949 to Funeral of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, his death in 2005. Rainier ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 year ...
and
Princess Grace
Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982), also known as Grace of Monaco, was an American actress and Princess of Monaco as the wife of Prince Rainier III from Wedding of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and Grace Kelly, th ...
on 1 February 1965 at
Prince's Palace in
Monaco
Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...
. She is the youngest of their three children. She has two older siblings,
Caroline and
Albert. Her godparents are her maternal uncle
John B. Kelly Jr. and paternal first cousin
Elisabeth-Anne de Massy.
Her mother, who described Stephanie as a "warm, bright, amusing, intelligent and capable girl" and a "good athlete", lovingly called her "wild child" (
French: ''enfant terrible'').
On 13 September 1982, while returning home from their farm in Rocagel, France, Stéphanie and her mother had a
car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a motor vehicle collision, or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other moving or stationary obstruction, such as a tree, pole or building. T ...
. Grace died the next day, on 14 September, while Stéphanie sustained a
hairline fracture of a neck vertebra.
Although the official report of the incident was that Grace suffered a stroke while driving, rumors began that Stéphanie, who had to miss her mother's funeral due to her recovery, was the one actually driving. Stéphanie herself refused to speak publicly about her mother's death until 1989, when she gave an interview to the author Jeffrey Robinson, insisting that the story was untrue. She said, "There was a lot of pressure on me because everyone was saying that I had been driving the car, that it was all my fault, that I'd killed my mother... It's not easy when you're 17 to live with that."
She did not discuss the subject again until a 2002 interview with the French magazine ''
Paris Match
''Paris Match'' () is a French-language weekly gossip magazine. It covers major national and international news along with celebrity lifestyle features. ''Paris Match'' has been considered "one of the world's best outlets for photojournalism". ...
'' in which she repeated her earlier denial, and discussed the trauma of being beside her mother at the time of the accident. She said, "Not only did I go through the horrible trauma of losing my mother at a very young age, but I was beside her at the moment of the accident. Nobody can imagine how much I've suffered, and still suffer."
Princess Stéphanie was educated at the
Dames de Saint-Maur in Monaco, and then at the école and collège Dupanloup in
Boulogne-Billancourt
Boulogne-Billancourt (; often colloquially called simply Boulogne, until 1924 Boulogne-sur-Seine, ) is a wealthy and prestigious Communes of France, commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France, located from the Kilometre zero, centre of Paris ...
,
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. Stéphanie earned her
baccalauréat
The ''baccalauréat'' (; ), often known in France colloquially as the ''bac'', is a French national academic qualification that students can obtain at the completion of their secondary education (at the end of the ''lycée'') by meeting certain ...
from the ''Cours Charles de Foucauld'' in 1982. During her school years, she studied classical dance and piano, and competed in gymnastics and horse riding. She also attended Camp Oneka, an all-girls' summer camp in the
Pocono Mountains
The Pocono Mountains, commonly referred to as the Poconos (), are a geographical, geological, and cultural region in Northeastern Pennsylvania. They overlook the Delaware River and Delaware Water Gap to the east, Lake Wallenpaupack to the nort ...
, in the United States, where her sister and mother both had previously attended.
Career
Fashion
In 1983, after her physical recovery from the accident that killed her mother, Stéphanie started an apprentice programme at
Christian Dior
Christian Ernest Dior (; 21 January 1905 – 24 October 1957) was a French fashion designer and founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, Dior, Christian Dior SE. His fashion house is known all around the world, having gained promi ...
under the direction of head designer
Marc Bohan
Roger Maurice Louis Bohan (22 August 1926 – 6 September 2023) was a French fashion designer, best known for his 30-year career at the house of Dior.
Early life and career
Bohan was born in Paris and grew up in Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine, Sceaux. ...
.
The following year, she debuted as a model on the biannual
haute couture
(; ; French for 'high sewing', 'high dressmaking') is the creation of exclusive custom-fitted high-end fashion design. The term ''haute couture'' generally refers to a specific type of upper garment common in Europe during the 16th to the ...
special published by Spanish magazine ''
¡Hola!
''¡Hola!'' is a weekly Spanish-language magazine specializing in celebrity news, published in Madrid, Spain, and in 15 other countries, with local editions in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru ...
'', a venture that she repeated in 1990. In 1985, Stéphanie appeared on the cover of German ''
Vogue'' magazine and the American publication ''
Vanity Fair''.
She also became the spokeswoman of the Swiss beauty line La Prairie, for which she was photographed by
Horst, and she appeared on the cover of French ''Vogue'', photographed by
Helmut Newton
Helmut Newton (né Neustädter; 31 October 192023 January 2004) was a German-Australian photographer. The ''The New York Times, New York Times'' described him as a "prolific, widely imitated fashion photographer whose provocative, erotically ch ...
in September 1986.

In 1986, Stéphanie launched a swimwear line Pool Position with Alix de la Comble, whom she had met during her internship at Dior. The fashion show to present the line, held at the Sporting Club in Monaco and attended by her father, Prince Rainier, and siblings Caroline and Albert, was a major event covered by the worldwide media.
In 1989, Stéphanie launched her own self-titled perfume.
Stéphanie co-owns Replay cafes and stores in both Monaco and
Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
. In December 2008, she was guest-editor of ''
Vogue Paris'' and appeared on the magazine's cover.
Musical career
In February 1986, Stéphanie self-produced and released her first single with the French label
Carrere, under the production of Yves Roze. The song "
Ouragan" and its English version "Irresistible" were both international hits, reportedly selling more than 2 million copies. The full album ''
Besoin'', released as ''Stéphanie'' in some countries, sold more than 1.5 million, with 100,000 in France. The single "
Flash
Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Fictional aliases
* The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed:
** Flash (Jay Garrick)
** Barry Allen
** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...
", as well as its English version "One Love to Give," also achieved success throughout Europe. In January 1987, Stéphanie released the single "Young Ones Everywhere" to benefit
UNICEF
UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
.
The same year, Stéphanie moved to
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
to record a new album. However, it took her five years to release it. The album ''
Stéphanie'', released in 1991, met with disappointing sales and negative reviews,
despite the promotional tour that included a performance on ''
The Oprah Winfrey Show
''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Oprah Winfrey. The show ran for twenty-five seasons from September 8, 1986, to May 25, 2011, in which it broadcast 4,561 episodes. The show was taped i ...
''.
Stéphanie then ended her music career after recording "
In the Closet" with
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...
for his album ''
Dangerous''. The song became a worldwide hit and reached the top 10 in the United States but Stéphanie was credited on the single under the alias "Mystery Girl" and her involvement in the song was not revealed until a few years later. She made a brief return to singing in 2006, when she recorded "
L'Or de nos vies", a charity single, along with her foundation Fight AIDS.
Philanthropy and patronages
Stéphanie is the president of several associations, including Monaco Youth Centre and Princess Stéphanie Activity Centre, and is an honorary board member of the
Princess Grace Foundation – United States. She has also been the patron of the
International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, which she regularly attends,
and the
World Association of Children's Friends (AMADE), which was founded in 1963 by her mother.
Since 1985, Stéphanie has been the president of the Monte-Carlo Magic Grand Prix and the
International Festival of Amateur Theatre.
She is also the president of the
Théâtre Princesse Grace.
In 2003, Stéphanie created her own Women Face the AIDS Association, which became Fight AIDS Monaco in 2004, in order to support people living with
HIV
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of '' Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the im ...
and to combat the social stigma attached to the disease. Since 2006, Stéphanie has been a
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) ambassador. The same year, along with the group of singers, she released a charitable single "
L'Or de nos vies".
On 26 June 2010, Stéphanie inaugurated, in the presence of Prince Albert, the House of Life (
French: ''Maison de Vie'') in
Carpentras
Carpentras (, formerly ; Provençal dialect, Provençal Occitan language, Occitan: ''Carpentrà s'' in classical norm or ''Carpentras'' in Mistralian norm; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the ...
,
Vaucluse
Vaucluse (; or ) is a department in the southeastern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It had a population of 561,469 as of 2019. ,
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, which offers both psychological and material aid to persons living with either HIV and AIDS and their families.
Stéphanie has organised numerous events, such as auction sales, concerts and galas, to support her foundation.
Personal life

Stéphanie dated
Paul Belmondo,
Anthony Delon,
Rob Lowe
Robert Hepler Lowe (born March 17, 1964) is an American actor, filmmaker, and entertainment host. Following numerous television roles in the early 1980s, he came to prominence as a teen idol and member of the Brat Pack with starring roles in ...
, Mario Oliver Jutard, and the late Jean-Yves Le Fur (1964-2024) before she began a relationship with her
bodyguard
A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects an very important person, important person or group of people, such as high-ranking public offic ...
Daniel Ducruet in 1992.
The couple have two children,
Louis
Louis may refer to:
People
* Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name
* Louis (surname)
* Louis (singer), Serbian singer
Other uses
* Louis (coin), a French coin
* HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy
See also
...
and
Pauline Ducruet, born in 1992 and 1994 respectively, at
Princess Grace Hospital Centre in Monaco. The children were included in the
line of succession to the Monegasque throne when Stéphanie married Ducruet on 1 July 1995 at
Monaco
Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...
town hall.
The couple divorced on 4 October 1996.
Stéphanie gave birth to her third child,
Camille Gottlieb, on 15 July 1998 at Princess Grace Hospital Centre.
Although she did not identify the father's name on the birth certificate, many suspected that Camille's father was her Head of Security Jean Raymond Gottlieb
and Camille has acknowledged Gottlieb as her father. As her parents never married, Camille is not included in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne.
In 2001, Stéphanie began a relationship with married elephant trainer Franco Knie and moved, along with her three children, into Knie's circus caravan. However, that relationship came to an end in 2002, and Stéphanie and her family returned to Monaco.
On 12 September 2003, she married Portuguese acrobat
Adans Lopez Peres
Adans Lopez Peres (born 8 November 1975) is a Portuguese acrobatic hand-to-hand artist and a fifth-generation performer. He was the eldest son of Salvador de Jesus Peres, a Portuguese acrobat and Beatriz López y Calderón, a Spanish classically t ...
, a member of Knie's circus ensemble.
The marriage ended in divorce on 24 November 2004.
Stéphanie is the godmother to
Andrea Casiraghi, the eldest son of her sister
Princess Caroline, and to
Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste
Albert II (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958) is Prince of Monaco, reigning since 2005.
Born at the Prince's Palace of Monaco, Albert is the second child and only son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. He attend ...
.
Discography
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Promotional singles
Featured singles
Honours
* : Knight Grand Cross of the
Order of Grimaldi
* : Chancellor Recipient of the
Monaco Red Cross Medal
References
External links
*
Princess Stéphanie of Monacoat the
Prince's Palace of Monaco
The Prince's Palace of Monaco (; ) is the official residence of the Monarchy of Monaco, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Built in 1191 as a Republic of Genoa, Genoese fortress, during its long and often dramatic history it has been bombarded and bes ...
Plastic Retro – Music fan site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephanie of Monaco, Princess
1965 births
Dance musicians
HIV/AIDS activists
House of Grimaldi
Kelly family
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Grimaldi
Living people
Monegasque people of American descent
Monegasque people of English descent
Monegasque people of German descent
Monegasque people of Irish descent
Monegasque people of Italian descent
Monegasque pop singers
Monegasque women singers
Monegasque princesses
Monegasque Roman Catholics
Monegasque people of Scottish descent
Monegasque people of Mexican descent
People of Ligurian descent
Carrere Records artists
Monegasque women activists
Monegasque activists
Daughters of princes regnant
Monegasque people in fashion