This Monday, Beatrice Borromeo celebrates her 40th birthday during one of the happiest moments of her life. The wife of Pierre Casiraghi and daughter-in-law of Princess Caroline of Monaco is pregnant with her third child, bringing great joy to her family.
Elegance, social commitment, and a life marked by aristocratic tradition and journalistic passion are part of the story of one of Europe’s most admired royals.
© Stephane Cardinale - CorbisFrom Italian aristocracy to international journalist:
Born on August 18, 1985, in San Candido, Italy, Beatrice belongs to the influential Borromeo family, whose lineage goes back centuries and is tied to Lake Maggiore. She grew up between Milan and the Borromean Islands, but she soon showed a desire to carve her own path.
© Stephane Cardinale - CorbisShe is the youngest of five siblings from two mothers (Zota, the first wife of her father Carlo, with whom he had three children, and Paola Marzotto, Beatrice’s mother, with whom he had two). Beatrice maintains a close bond with all of them.
On her mother’s side, Beatrice descends from the noble family that founded the Marzotto textile house. The Marzotto Group, once owners of Hugo Boss and producers for Gianfranco Ferré, Marlboro Classics, and Missoni, acquired Valentino in 2002 and sold it five years later.
© SC Pool - CorbisBeatrice earned a law degree from Bocconi University in Milan and completed a Master’s in Journalism at Columbia University in New York in 2012. Her journalism career includes investigative reporting, documentaries, and interviews with a strong social conscience, from environmental protection to human rights. While studying, she also modeled for brands like Chanel, Pronovias, and Roberto Cavalli to pay for her education.
A real-life love story:
Fate brought her together with Pierre Casiraghi in 2008 when they both studied at Bocconi University in Milan. Their discreet relationship culminated in 2015 with a double wedding: a civil ceremony in Monaco’s Palace on July 25, where Beatrice wore a lavender Valentino gown, followed by a religious ceremony on the Borromean Islands on August 1.
© Arnold JerockiThe event was attended by Italian aristocrats, European royals like Haakon and Mette-Marit of Norway, and singer Lana Del Rey. For the religious ceremony, Beatrice chose a gown by Giorgio Armani.
Since then, the couple has built a family with two sons, Stefano, born in 2017 and named after his paternal grandfather, Stefano Casiraghi, who died in 1990, and Francesco, born in 2018. The boys are being raised with strong social and environmental values and a focus on sustainability. Now, the couple eagerly awaits the arrival of their third child, their first daughter.
© PLS PoolPierre and Beatrice are known for keeping their family life private, while it's known that they own an estate in southern France where they raise animals and enjoy peaceful moments, as well as maintaining a residence in Monaco.
Style icon and Dior ambassador:
Beatrice Borromeo has earned her place among the most elegant women in royalty. Her style blends Italian sophistication with modern, natural flair. Her appearances at official events and red carpets are often praised by fashion magazines. Since becoming a Dior ambassador in February 2021, she has been a fashion icon, starring in campaigns, magazine spreads, and attending Dior fashion shows and events.
© Andrew Milligan - PA ImagesBetween family and advocacy:
Despite her royal commitments and work with fashion brands, Beatrice has remained professionally active, directing documentaries and working on communication projects with a social focus. Her ability to balance public life, work, and motherhood makes her a role model for the modern princess.
Her most notable work includes:
"Mamma Mafia": an English-language documentary about women in the mafia.
"Lady ’Ndrangheta": exploring the role of women in the Calabrian mafia.
© Netflix"Bambini Mai": focused on children in marginalized neighborhoods of Caivano, depicting their harsh daily conditions.
"Il Principe" (The Prince): a three-episode Netflix docuseries investigating the controversial case of Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy and the 1978 death of 19-year-old German Dirk Hamer, allegedly shot by the prince, who was never convicted.
The documentary that sparked a feud with the House of Savoy:
In July 2023, Beatrice presented her first docuseries as director, a personal and intimate project due to its connection with her mother, Paola Marzotto, a close friend of Birgit Hamer, the victim’s sister. Beatrice sought to give emotional and narrative closure to the tragedy, presenting the case to the public and letting viewers decide.
© Daniel SIMONThe series delves into one of the most controversial episodes involving the son of Italy's last king. In the summer of 1978, on the island of Cavallo (Corsica), Dirk Hamer was shot after Prince Victor Emmanuel confronted a group of young people who had taken one of his boats without permission. Two shots were fired, and Dirk was fatally wounded.
Securing interviews with Victor Emmanuel and his son, Filiberto, was a major challenge. The production was filled with tension, while exclusive testimony and support from the Hamer family challenged the official version and revealed how impunity shaped the story. Victor Emmanuel wasn’t tried until 1991, thirteen years later, and was acquitted.
© NetflixThe series caused a major stir in Italy, reopening public debate on responsibility and historical memory. Beatrice, already a critic of the House of Savoy, had previously published a 2015 article in Il Fatto Quotidiano where she worked, exposing prison recordings of Filiberto boasting about deceiving French authorities in the Hamer case. The Savoy family sued her but lost.
Her new milestone:
On her 40th birthday, Beatrice is preparing to become a mother of three, as Monaco celebrates not just one of its most beloved figures but also a journalist-princess who has shown that elegance lies in staying true to one’s values.
© WWD
