Princess Caroline of Monaco Biography

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Caroline is the eldest child of Monaco's Prince Rainier and his wife Princess Grace, and the sister to Monaco's current head of state, Prince Albert. Caroline inherited her mother's movie-star beauty and early on became a favorite with the European society press. She served as the ceremonial (if unofficial) first lady of Monaco after her mother's untimely death in 1982. Caroline's first husband was French banker and playboy Philippe Junot; they were married in 1978 and divorced in 1980. She then was married to Italian industrialist Stefano Casiraghi from 1983 until his death was in a power-boat racing accident in 1990. In 1999 she married Prince Ernst August of Hanover; their daughter, Alexandra, was born later that year. Her sister Stephanie (b. 1965) is also a favorite of the celebrity press.

Extra credit: Caroline had three children with Stefano Casiraghi: Andrea (b. 1984), Charlotte (b. 1986) and Pierre (b. 1987)... As the eldest male child, Caroline's brother Albert was heir to Prince Rainier. However, Monaco's constitution was changed in 2002 so that if Albert dies without children, the throne will pass to Caroline and then on to her children with Casiraghi.

Other royal women in history include Princess Diana, Queen Liliuokalani and the Queen of Sheba.

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