In a ceremony steeped in symbolism and royal charm, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II and Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene unveiled two new portraits in Monaco’s historic Wedding Hall on Monday. Flanked by the principality’s mayor, Georges Marsan, the royal couple added fresh faces to a venerable gallery of Monaco’s ruling lineage.
The newly installed artworks depict Princess Charlene herself and the late, beloved Princess Grace — two pivotal figures in Monaco’s royal narrative. Their portraits now join the ranks of past sovereigns already watching over the room, including Prince Charles III, Prince Albert I, Prince Louis II, Prince Rainier III, and Prince Albert II.
Princess Charlene’s portrait, a delicate gouache on paper created in 2013 by South African artist Stéphanie Van Zyl — who was present for the unveiling — captures the former Olympian with grace and poise. Opposite her hangs the portrait of her mother-in-law, Princess Grace, portrayed in rich oil on canvas by the late Paul Werner Sochtig. Both paintings are on loan from the Prince’s Palace.
Carefully positioned for narrative symmetry, Princess Charlene’s image faces her husband’s portrait, while Princess Grace’s rests opposite that of her late husband, Prince Rainier III. The layout isn’t just aesthetic; it’s intentional — a visual ode to two royal couples whose stories are etched into the fabric of Monaco’s modern history.
The Wedding Hall, long associated with Monegasque marital traditions, now stands as even more of a tribute to love, legacy, and lineage — its walls telling the tale of Monaco’s past, present, and continuing royal chapter.
