As family, friends, and public figures gathered this week to honour the life of Brigitte Bardot, one of the most notable gestures came quietly and behind the scenes, from His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco.
More than a week after the French screen legend’s death, a religious funeral service was held on Wednesday, December 7 at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Saint-Tropez, the town long associated with Bardot’s personal and artistic life. While the ceremony drew a number of high-profile attendees from France’s cultural sphere, Prince Albert did not attend in person. Instead, he chose a discreet yet symbolic tribute.
According to local florist Régis Eberwein, who was tasked with handling several high-profile floral arrangements for the service, the Prince of Monaco placed a last-minute order for a red and white wreath, colours closely associated with Monaco. Despite the tight timeframe and the heavy demand surrounding the funeral, the arrangement was delivered to the church in time for the ceremony.
“The Prince of Monaco contacted us shortly before the service,” Eberwein said. “It was a beautiful gesture and a real surprise.”
The tribute placed Prince Albert alongside a small number of institutional figures who opted to honour Bardot symbolically rather than publicly. French President Emmanuel Macron, who was also absent from the service, likewise sent floral tributes.
The funeral itself remained intimate and restrained, in keeping with Bardot’s wishes. Her son, Nicolas Charrier, travelled from Norway to attend, accompanied by his daughters and grandchildren. He placed a personal wreath near the coffin, adorned with wildflowers and mimosa, bearing the simple inscription: “To Mom.”
Prince Albert’s gesture underscored the enduring ties between Monaco and one of France’s most internationally recognised cultural figures. Bardot, whose influence extended far beyond cinema into activism and public life, maintained long-standing connections across the Riviera, including within Monaco’s social and cultural circles.
In a ceremony defined by discretion rather than spectacle, the Prince’s quiet tribute stood out as a reflection of the respect Bardot commanded across borders — and of Monaco’s continued presence in moments of cultural significance on the Côte d’Azur.
