Yesterday, the Daily Beast had a rather interesting and epic take on the Monaco royals. Part of it is what I’ve been discussing recently – Albert and Charlene seem especially close and functional these days, like their marriage is stronger than ever. So the question becomes: why? What’s changed? The Daily Beast’s article is “Are Monaco’s Royals Keeping Up With Kate and Will—or the Kardashians?” and it could be read as an epic takedown of the Grimaldis’ new Windsor-esque media strategy to show a strengthened core marriage (Albert and Charlene) while promoting the younger, sexier royal-adjacents (Pierre and his new bride). You can read the full piece here. Some highlights:
Fawning press coverage. In the past two months, Albert and Charlene have both been very active in the media, sitting down for exclusive interviews with People and Paris Match. They’ve been pivoting to their roles as parents a lot. Plus, Charlene has stepped up the fashion p0rn and in turn, she’s been declared a “royal style icon.”
One Brazilian-Monegasque says Duchess Kate is the reason: “Blame Kate Middleton. They saw how beloved she and William and their kids are and they wanted some of the action. They were under pressure from people in Monaco as well. The two couples got married at the same time but nothing was happening with Albert and Charlene while Kate was taking over the world.”
Albert’s other children are getting with the program. Albert’s daughter Jazmin has a big spread in Harper’s Bazaar this month and all coverage of Jazmin in particular totally whitewashes the fact that Albert didn’t support or acknowledge her for years.
None of the good vibes are real. Another Monegasque woman says the good press is for show. “It’s not real and everyone knows it,” she says.
An American based in Monaco disagrees. “They get along wonderfully and they’re great parents. Monaco’s a magical place and Albert has made it even more so. It’s so dynamic, it’s like a little New York City on the Riviera.”
One journalist claims is all a rebranding effort for Monaco: “Monaco is trying to re-brand itself and that’s why you’re seeing a lot of this new media coverage,” says Nice-based Elizabeth Chandler, who covered the south of France and Monaco for British media in the 1990s. “They want to seem hip and cool and young and appeal to American tourists and American celebrities, especially the younger ones. It’s gotten too stuffy and off the radar. They want to change that….Prince Albert is actually a great ruler of Monaco. He does loads of work for charities that a lot of people don’t even know about. He doesn’t brag about it like Brad and Angelina. He’s cleaned up Monaco by kicking out a lot of the criminals. My friends who know them say he and Charlene are a genuine couple who really care about each other.”
That Elizabeth Chandler woman says that Charlene really struggled with the media because she basically just wasn’t comfortable around the cameras, unlike Kate who seems to thrive when she’s being photographed. Anyway, I sort of agree with a hodge-podge of this stuff. I think Albert is a decent ruler and yes, he does a lot of charity work. He also wants to make Monaco “sexy” again for tourism, which is probably why the Casiraghi kids have been spending more time in Monaco lately – Charlotte and now Pierre are catnip for European gossips. I also think that Albert and Charlene are probably working with some new and improved press people AND that they genuinely feel more comfortable these days now that Charlene has given birth to the heir and the spare.
Photos courtesy of PCN, WENN.
I knew Albert had children before he got married but I’m a little shocked that he didn’t support them as well as he should have. That too is the biggest problem.
He was supportive of the younger one, spent time with him – his baby mama couldn’t wait to divulge private photos of Albert with the boy. She’s revised her statements to say that contact was cut off or it’s been difficult since he married Charlene
He REALLY didn’t acknowledge the older girl. For years. I don’t think he met her before she was a tween.
However, they are financially taken care of. Probably the better option. All the money and status without the spotlight.
I think it will be an interesting dynamic, not to mention PR dilemma, if He decides to draw them into Monaco’s public life. He seems OK with speaking about them now.
Maybe he needs to surround himself with family to look like a normal royal dynasty too, in addition to the rebranding. I am saying this because it seems like Caroline and Stephanie have disappeared publicly (PR-wise) since the advent of Charlene. Maybe that;s just my impression. Charlotte has replaced them, for obvious reasons and maybe some less so (PR plan, strained relationship, Ernst factor?).
Sadly, I can only ever see a pic of Albert and see in my mind’s eye his awkward creepy appearance on The Girls Next Door. That Hef’s Bunnies reality show w Holly Madison etc — I saw one episode one night and it was that one and it creeped me out. There is something so skeevy about him, even though he is Grace’s son and does charity work. Ir their PR is trying to cool them up, he needs a big past-life eraser. Acknowledge ALL the kids (isn’t there still a missing baby?) and ry to look normal for a photo, I guess.
Char? how long in Monaco without bothering to learn the language? Nice that she has twins and dresses a bit better, but I still shake my head.
@Liberty: Caroline is no longer Monaco’s first lady, and is pretty clearly not happy about her change in station. Before the twins were born the word was that she really wanted Andrea to become the next Prince (she would have stepped aside in his favor, should the circumstances happen) and now she’s been relegated to the sidelines. There are some very odd family dynamics at hand. Caroline is chaming, well educated, beautiful… and hell on heels. There’s a reason why she’s been firmly moved to the side.
@Bridget…interesting!! I knew she hoped for Andrea to move up, but didn’t know she had that helll on wheels rep.
OT but in those recent photos for Bazaar, Jazmin looks like Lady Gaga without all the crazy makeup and costumes. I actually thought it was Lady Gaga at first.
Most of the ‘fawning’ coverage of the lazy Duchess in the British press is hilariously ironic. ‘The hard working Duchess’ (said nobody in all seriousness ever), ‘stunningly beautiful’ (she isn’t and to make the point they’ll add photos of genuinely stunning women who are in awe of her ‘beauty’). When the British press overdoes the complements they are never serious, they are mocking.
Charlene and Albert are bores, they should enjoy their nice lifestyle and appreciate what they have. They have nothing to offer as celebrities.
Oh what planet does Kate Middleton have glowing press coverage? 😂
I get that Will and Kate’s new PR guy is trying to divert the talk away from their lack of work ethic in the papers but from what I read on here they’re not fooling anyone.
Charlene’s red jumpsuit is GORGEOUS.
And still I like them better than the Duke and Duchess of Do-Nothing. They have twin babies and are out and about doing this “royal work” that Willy seems to know nothing about.
Also, I have a hard time believing Charlene felt miserable and trapped at any point. I don’t believe the passport story. I think they may have had some tension when she was trying to get pregnant, but do a search for their wedding day photos and you will see plenty where she is happy and radiantly smiling. Look at pictures of the two of them from the London Olympics, and there are several moments where they are sitting together and cuddling. It’s very sweet.
Charlene was an accomplished athlete, wasn’t she? So she’s hard working and disciplined. Not in her nature to sit on her bum doing nothing all day while servants and helicopter mommy attend to every need. Kate spent her entire twenties unemployed and living off her parents through choice. She did nothing. Nothing. How does somebody with every opportunity do nothing?!!
Those attempts to leave were credible enough that when Albert sued he couldn’t prove they were false. And he wouldn’t have had to prove much either. Just anything to support his side as I understand it. Probably as simply as she wasn’t there trying to board a plane out of the country and her passport wasn’t removed from her possession. Since he couldn’t there was a technicality though my memory is a bit foggy on it.
End result Albert couldn’t prove the passport story was at all false.
I don’t know about other publications, but The Times paid up. Quotes from the article below.
The Guardian
Tuesday 15 January 2013
Prince Albert of Monaco has accepted a high court apology and substantial damages from the Sunday Times over “seriously defamatory allegations” that he had entered a sham marriage with Charlene Wittstock.
The prince sued the News International paper following the publication of the article in July 2011 for damages of more than £300,000, but the high court heard on Tuesday morning that the exact settlement has yet to be agreed. The Sunday Times will also pay Prince Albert’s legal costs.
Rupert Earle, a lawyer representing the Sunday Times, said the paper offered “its sincere apologies to the claimants for the damage, as well as the distress caused”.
If I remember correctly the Times had to pay on a technicality. Libel laws in Britain are very favorable to the plaintiff.
Now, I’m familiar with the reports at the time and I’ve seen the wedding day photos where she indeed looks happy enough. And of course there’s the wedding video. A case could be made for her having changed her mind and being stuck going through with the marriage, and a case could be made that it was just nerves. Who knows.
Correct ladies. The publication did have to pay up, but it was a technicality. Not having to do with the reports being false though.
Bridget
Those wedding day photos. It’s a trick of the press. Some look so happy and some look so depressed.
I don’t go by those. It’s a broad assessment imo. How she looked, her and his body language. And it’s stark contrast to how she looked when away from Albert. She was beaming every second. Just as she did with the Olympics around the swimmers. I’m including the wedding video and other videos i’ve seen in my overall opinion.
IMO It’s tough to ignore that perspective and the sketchy passport issue that happened more than once. On top of reports Charlene resisted much to do with the wedding and learning her country’s language. Even if she only changed her mind and wanted to get away something must have stopped her. Even if it was just nerves at the time she appeared to have wanted out, but ultimately had nowhere to go and was met by security that lead her away. Others in the area were witness to that.
At least she appears totally happy now. Those babies did a world of good for her.
Yeah, I agree Monaco gives off a stuffy vibe. The place you go if you’re an gold digger in your late 30’s still hoping to meet a rich guy old enough to be your dad. Then you sit around in uncomfortable, ill fitting shiny matronly clothes while he and his buddies play canasta.
Did I miss a time when everyone here discussed Princess Charlene’s Deep Tragic Family Secret and Royal Background That Drive Her? from the DM in January? Complete with pix of her as a baby? and her royal-ishBRITISH ancestor, a lady in waiting, blah blah? Did we talk about this?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2913172/Secret-family-tragedy-drives-Princess-Charlene-Monaco-British-ancestor-dumped-children-Barnardo-s-home-abandoned-husband-killed-bomb-blast.html
So, I mean, the rebranding of this boring pair started months ago, right?
I have to hand it to Jason. He’ll even dress up as a Brazilian-Monegasque to get in some over-the-top flattery of Kate in the press.
🙂
It’s just shameless. Ridiculous even. Or perhaps the Monegasque people know that it’s all a BS con PR game of rebranding & reimaging & it’s time to jump on the bandwagon. Truth is that Albert finally has some legitimate kids who can inherit so it’s probably in his & their best interest to begin the long clean up of the principality’s public image.
*********
This has nothing to do with nothing here but the other day the DM featured a photo of Kate with her assistant (I can’t remember her name. Beth? Betty? Becca?) Anyway, I thought about Lucille Ball & Ethel Mertz & believe or not Rhianna & her best friend (and assistant?) & entourages in general. To the point, I remember reading somewhere that Lucy “required” Ethel to remain 20 pounds heavier, to always appear frumpy next to Lucy’s polish, and how Ethel couldn’t look too good (aesthetically) in general. I’m not saying that Kate demands or even requires that of her assistant. However, I was thinking about women who play important roles for other women but who are of lessor status & how some have to walk a tightrope of not out-shining their employer, in general, and their friend more specifically. It is a support role but how women negotiate that is always interesting to me.
Dena
It’s Rebecca Deacon.
This ties in with the article of how Swifty wants to be the prettiest of her group.
And these behaviors do exist. As a female I don’t like admitting it or realising it, but it’s a fact of life. And while 1 girl may not say anything like that or hint anything like that they might get a bit b!tchy if that sidekick friend diverts attention.
Jazmin probably scored a major trust fund, so I don’t blame her for putting the past behind her.
They’ve gotten much better press since the twins were born. Something was never quite right with this marriage from the very start, but now that there are babies involved, it makes it easier for Albert and Charlene to rebrand their image as a happy family. I don’t really entirely believe it; I think they are happy that the heir and spare issue is resolved and that Charlene has finally found some joy in this set-up with her babies. But I also believe that everything else about this marriage is just for show which is not out of the ordinary from other royal and celebrity couples. You never really know what is going on behind closed doors until there are real rumors of divorce on the horizon.
The British royals have always received more attention than other monarchs, especially after Diana. The public and the media were always fascinated with Diana and her children. It wouldn’t have mattered who Will married. The press was always waiting to anoint his wife as the next Diana.
I’m just glad Charlene doesn’t look like she’s about to burst into tears anymore. She was starting to depress me.
It´s interesting how different these two women are presented in the media. Kate and Charlene both are in their 30s. Charlene is just 4 years older than Kate, but people/media impose different standards:
Kate: she is young, her mother in law was “too big”, she needs to learn, she has two kids, she can´t do more royal work, give her time, in a few years…
Charlene: almost the same age, her mother in law is an icon too, she also has two little kids, but she works for her charities, she even was active in charity work before her marriage, she does her job as First Lady of Monaco
Where are the people saying Charlene should live a normal life as stay at home mom for a few years? Why is Kate treated as a special snowflake, all other royals ladies manage charities, duties and kids. It´s not as if royal spouses have to work in a mines…
I think it’s all part of a rebranding effort as well. I do think Albert and Charlene are happy together, especially now that the strain of having babies is out of the way. They were together for years prior to marrying, so they knew one another well enough that there were no surprises.
However, I was a huge fan of Albert’s mother and am old enough to remember (52) when Monaco drew hot celebrities to their tiny principality in droves. You would frequently see the television stars of the time (Farrah Fawcett, Lee Majors, James Brolin, etc.) as well as movie stars (Jack Nicholson, James Caan, Jacqueline Bisset, etc.) mixing it up with the world’s richest moguls. It was THE place for the rich and famous to see and be seen.
Those days are long past and while Albert appears to be a really great ruler for Monaco, I think he envisioned making Charlene into a replica of his mother (statuesque beautiful blonde) and they could recapture those days again. The problem is, most people don’t care about Charlene on an international “celebrity” level.
I remember I used to think, “Albert should marry Brooke Shields, because she’s tall, beautiful, Catholic and has enough entertainment industry and fashion connections to continue Monaco’s glamorous legacy.”
Monaco needs to be a Kardashian meets the British Royalty type of place and I think they’ve lost that PR game.
IMO, Grace Kelly was the best thing that ever happened to Monaco, and when she died, the principality reverted to what it has always been–“a sunny place for shady people” (Somerset Maughm) (sp?).
He was referring to the whole French Riviera and general Cote d’Azur in that quote, but I think Monaco was definitely included as part of that.
Charlene is attractive but she seems shy and doesn’t photograph well either. Albert is a plain looking middle aged man. Everyone knows that he would not have stood a chance with Charlene much less most of the women he’s bedded if he were not a royal. There is nothing appealing about the man at all. The best thing they can do in the next decade is bring out their twins for the public to dote on . They have nothing else to offer and no one believes this love story is real.
It’s amazing how different their body language and her face look since she gave birth.
Whether or not it’s a re-branding exercise, they are doing a better job of it than the love story of the century that is Kate and William.
Char looks happy like she did with her personal trainer 😉
I thought the spread of Jazmin in Harper’s Bazaar was intriguing, mostly because I’ve been wondering for years if Albert had any sort of relationship with his out of wedlock kids. Also Jazmin’s story served as the basis for the book series The Princess Diaries (devoured them as a teen!) so I was always curious about her and wondered whether she’d ever play up the royal connection as she got older and talk about growing up with an absent father. Looks like she’s going with it!
But Albert totally refused to acknowledge her at first. Apparently Jazmin’s mom had to physically confront him while he was visiting in the States with Jazmin as a baby to get him to acknowledge paternity.
The story goes that the mother tried several times to confront him and or take him to court for years.
He finally met, argo she succeeded, Jasmine was 11yrs old.
I’m not sure whether he fully acknowledged paternity just before or immediately after Ranier died.
Eh, it’s Monaco though……can I say I was horribly, horribly disappointed with my visit there? Very cramped and crowded, you have to pay to go in the casino, and not really all that nice compared to the other nearby cities on the water. I enjoyed my time in Nice much, much, MUCH better. Royals or not, they’re not going to get me to visit there again. And I like them a million times better than Bill and Lazy.
I enjoyed visiting the palace and the cathedral where Grace is buried because I’m a big fan. But I agree that there are much better places to visit all along the Cote d’Azur.
This is funny to me. I have been reading about the royal family of Monaco since I was a kid in the 80s and I cannot really remember them ever having good press. I DO remember a ton of stories about “scandalous” behavior within the family, however. I don’t put the BRF above them though. I’ve always thought the BRF has some deeper stuff to hide while the Monegasques just seemed like a normal, rich family with rebellious kids.
I miss Eringer’s blog.
Are they trying to rebrand the Grimaldi’s in order to drive more and more tourists to Monaco? Because that’s only going to get them so far when the place is obscenely expensive and you can easily go elsewhere on the Riviera.
Bridget
You are forgetting the other reasons a person might vacation in Monaco. Maybe you are running from the law in your country? Trying to hide money? Looking for a place so expensive you know there will be discretion in your debauchery. Come to Monaco!
You forgot that it’s also the place to go when you are exiling American children from their country and mother. (Total sarcasm here)