Charlene, the Princess of Monaco, wore a crown for one of the most important dates on the royal calendar: the National Day of Monaco. Every November 19, the royal family celebrates with a mass at St. Nicholas Cathedral, followed by a military parade at the palace, with the family greeting onlookers from the royal balcony. The evening is concluded with a concert that shows off the principality's most sophisticated side, occasions when Princesses Charlene and Caroline have showcased some of their biggest fashion moments over the years.
On this special occasion, the Princess opted for minimalism, making an impact by accessorizing her outfit with a tiara, an object that she wears on the rarest of occasions.
Over the years, Charlene has demonstrated that she isn’t afraid to take risks with her style: from her half-shaved hair to her penchant for leather jackets and bold designs, she's acknowledged as one of the most fashion-forward royals. Lately, the Monegasque princess has embraced a more classic and timeless image, departing from the more traditional royal choices by adding original touches to her outfits.
On the National Day of Monaco, she wore a white suit with a netted headpiece in the morning and a simple nude dress later on that day. The dress took a back seat to the jewel with which she paired it, a tiara, a rare addition for Monaco royals. While these items are popular in other monarchies, such as the British, Dutch, and at times, the Spanish, the Grimaldi family rarely accessorizes their outfits with crowns. They rarely even use them for weddings.
In the case of Charlene, she didn’t wear a traditional diadem for her civil or religious wedding, though she did wear an original tiara for her wedding reception.
A Custom-Made Tiara
Named “Écume de Diamants” but popularly known as the “Sea Foam,” the tiara was designed by the jeweler Lorenz Bäumer, a favorite of European royal houses, responsible for several bespoke pieces for Charlene. From the start, the tiara drew attention for its unconventional yet delicate aesthetic. Far from the classic Monegasque tiaras inherited from Grace Kelly, this piece takes a sculptural approach, made up of a series of diamond rods that rise asymmetrically, mimicking the way sea foam rises and dissipates as a wave breaks. The nod to the ocean, a meaningful element in Charlene’s life as an Olympic swimmer, adds some personal symbolism.
The piece is made with dozens of carats of diamonds mounted on a lightweight structure designed to create a sense of movement, as if each fragment sparkles independently, like droplets of water. It is a modern, bold, and deliberately distinctive design—just like its wearer.
For the reception after her wedding on July 2, 2011, she wore a Giorgio Armani Privé dress, pairing it with the tiara. Since that day, we have only seen her wear it in a photoshoot conducted shortly after, where she posed with Bäumer himself. In an ¡HOLA! editorial in 2014, Princess Charlene wore the "Ocean" tiara, designed by Van Cleef & Arpels.
The Detail That Makes the Difference
The updo Charlene wore yesterday evening is similar to the one she had at her wedding, though adapted to current trends, leaving out a loose, wavy strand. She placed the jewel differently to give it a refreshed look. Instead of wearing it from left to right as she did 14 years ago, she switched sides.