Princess Charlene of Monaco visited Les Baux-de-Provence this Saturday, September 5, together with Prince Albert II and their children, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. The princess chose an elegant black dress by Carolina Herrera that inevitably recalls another design from the same fashion house worn by Queen Letizia almost a decade ago.
The match isn’t that they wore exactly the same dress, but rather a very recognizable style formula: black, sleeveless, round neckline and tiny white details. Charlene updates it with embroidered flowers and a more sophisticated midi silhouette, while Letizia opted back then for subtle sequin sparkles that looked like polka dots.
© Best Image/The Grosby GroupThe floral dress that flatters the figure
Charlene’s look is a midi lace dress with a white floral pattern, a fitted bodice and a voluminous skirt. The round neckline and sleeveless cut let the structure of the piece take center stage, while the skirt features a fitted hip panel and a flared hem that adds movement.
One of the most interesting details, precisely because it’s barely noticeable, is the belt made from the same fabric and with the same pattern. Finished with a covered buckle, it cinches the waist and helps define the silhouette without introducing an outside element that would break the dress’s visual continuity.
© Best Image/The Grosby GroupCharlene styled it with black slingback pointed-toe flats, an especially understated choice that tones down the formality of the dress without sacrificing elegance. For jewelry, she wore pearl earrings, while her hair, pulled back with a side part, reinforces that classic, refined impression.
The style déjà vu with Letizia
The connection with Letizia is especially striking because it goes back to 2017, when the then Queen of Spain debuted a black Carolina Herrera dress during a reception for the president of Israel. A year later, she wore it again for the Mariano de Cavia, Luca de Tena and Mingote journalism awards.
That design also featured a round neckline and no sleeves, but it was shorter and covered in tiny black and white sequins, creating a visual effect similar to polka dots. Now, almost ten years later, Charlene opts for a more romantic and intricate take, trading that graphic sparkle for embroidered flowers over lace.
© Europa Press EntertainmentTwo different dresses, but the same idea: proving that black and white remain one of the most powerful combinations in a royal’s wardrobe.
A story that links the Grimaldis with France
This fashion moment took place during the princely family’s visit to Les Baux-de-Provence, a French town historically linked to Monaco and part of the network of Grimaldi Historic Sites of Monaco.
© Best Image/The Grosby GroupThe relationship dates back to 1642, when the seigneury of Les Baux was elevated to a marquisate and granted to Hercule Grimaldi, son of Prince Honoré II. Since then, the title of Marquis of Les Baux has traditionally been held by the heir to the Monegasque throne: Jacques received it at birth in 2014.
During the visit, the young prince was symbolically presented with the keys to the town, echoing the gesture his father, Albert, took part in back in 1982 with Princess Grace.
A dress with royal memories
The day also took the family to the church of Saint-Vincent, home to the contemporary stained-glass windows created by Max Ingrand in 1962 and donated by Rainier III after Albert’s birth. So, amid family history, protocol and fashion, Charlene found in a simple black dress by Carolina Herrera a particularly elegant way to accompany a visit full of symbolism.
© Best Image/The Grosby GroupAnd almost a decade after Letizia made a similar-looking design her own, this coincidence proves once again that the great style formulas never disappear: they evolve, change silhouette and find new leading ladies.
