THE ‘PAMPERED’ PRINCESSES
Princess Caroline (67) and Princess Stéphanie (58) didn’t like him keeping an eye on their expenses, Claude says. They’d complained about an unfair distribution of their father Prince Rainier’s riches, despite a will dictating which of the three siblings would receive what.
“Comments from Stephanie and Caroline on the sale of cars, the advantage (they say) I have given HSH [Albert] in the Prince Rainier inheritance: enough fantasies and lies,” he rants in his diaries.
He also criticises the two women for indiscriminately helping themselves to family assets including jewellery and paintings, some of which were apparently removed from the palace and taken to the family château at Marchais in northern France.
“I can’t agree. The crown assets belong to the prince and the princesses can’t dispose of them.” But he noted, “HSH satisfied,” presumably referring to Albert’s approval of his sister removing the items.
Claude clearly held no affection for Caroline.
His duties included the upkeep of Château de Marchais and he noted her behaviour in relation to the 16th-century property that’s been in the Grimaldi family since 1854.
“She decides everything . . . The inventory is a mess. She gives a lot of instructions, so I’m going to issue a reminder about budget constraints.”
Caroline’s youngest son,
Pierre Casiraghi (36), comes in for critique too. In an entry from 2012, Claude noted his concerns that a construction business run by Pierre is “going to cause problems”.
Pierre is the majority shareholder in Engeco SA, a construction firm started by his dad, Stefano, in 1984. “He’s very ambitious. Be careful,” Claude writes.
The former employee also hints at family strife, claiming that Caroline “hates” Princess Charlene and describing their voices as sometimes “ringing out under the gilding”.
For years Caroline carried the unofficial title of “first lady of Monaco” and was reportedly put out when her brother married Charlene, as she wanted the throne to go to her eldest son, Andrea Casiraghi (39).
‘THE CROWN ASSETS BELONG TO THE PRINCE AND THE PRINCESSES CAN’T DISPOSE OF THEM’