The Kaiser and the Princess – The Friendship of Caroline of Hanover and Karl Lagerfeld
When we think of Monaco, we think of the yachts, the casino, Formula 1, Grace Kelly and tabloid papers. But there has been a lifelong friendship between a Princess and the “Kaiser” – you may have guessed it already, I am talking about the friendship between Princess Caroline and Karl Lagerfeld. The two had a lot of things in common, she frequently wore his designs – not only for Chanel but also the other brands he represented, they considered each other family members and they also worked together. Let’s take a closer look into this interesting friendship.
You can also watch my video here:
The Beginnings of Their Friendship
Princess Caroline of Hanover was born on 23 January 1957 and is the eldest child of Rainier III, the former Prince of Monaco, and his wife, Princess Grace, also known as Grace Kelly. Princess Caroline has always had a keen interested in fashion and arts and met the “Kaiser” when she was a teenager. She rarely speaks to the press but she did talk about her first meeting with Lagerfeld: She was about 16.5 years old and met him at his beautiful Art Déco apartment at Place Saint-Sulpice, in 1973. After her baccalauréat, her high school graduation, Caroline would soon spend one semester at Sciences Po, the reputable grande école focused on political studies, but would later switch to the Sorbonne. In addition to her focus on political sciences, the young princess was very passionate about culture and fashion. In 1973, she was still in high school and she was in a group with the fashion photographer Chris von Wangenheim and they ended up at Lagerfeld’s apartment. The princess quietly observed a photo shoot for American Vogue. The princess said in another interview that she wore Chloé clothes designed by Lagerfeld and that she was very happy even though she was still very shy at that young age. It is not entirely clear if this means that she just tried on the clothes he designed or if he photographed her. We know that from then on, she was part of Lagerfeld’s circle and also attended his photoshoots.[1]
Princess Caroline and Karl Lagerfeld
Photographer Mary Russel, who was part of Lagerfeld’s circle, said in an interview that frequently, they were shooting dresses for Chloé – the group was very small – Lagerfeld, his partner Jacques de Bascher, Yves Saint Laurent, the Princess and Russel. This is interesting, it must have been at the times when Saint Laurent and Lagerfeld were still on better terms. (As you may know, their friendship ended when de Bascher had an affair with Saint Laurent – an ending of a friendship which would also divide the fashion scene in Paris.) After the shoots, the group often went out to their favourite places in the neighbourhood. According to Russel, Lagerfeld and the Princess soon developed a very deep friendship. They were a good “match”, as they had a lot in common, not only did they share the same sense of humour, but also their passion for literature, music and classical and contemporary dance.[2]
Lagerfeld and the Princess not only had a strong friendship, she became one of his muses and he dressed her for many occasions, for example both royal engagements and also further formal and more casual occasions. She also attended his fashion shows in the front row. When Lagerfeld moved to Chanel, Princess Caroline started to wear more and more Chanel. This meant that she shifted from Dior, a legacy of her mother, who had close ties with the Maison.[3]
A Strong Bond Like Family
Over the years, their bond become stronger and stronger and the designer stood by her side through every stage of her life, we could say “in good times and in bad”. Remember, Princess Caroline’s mother tragically passed away in a car accident in 1982. After that, Caroline served as the First Lady of Monaco until her brother married Charlène in 2011. Also Lagerfeld went through tough times when his partner Jacques de Bascher got very sick and passed away. In an interview with the magazine Point de Vue in 1995, Lagerfeld said that Caroline is “the modern woman, the ideal mother, and a princess with a real place in today’s world”.[4] He said he would always be loyal to her and that he would take her side even if she was ever wrong.[5]
Karl also lived close-by for some time of the year and he frequently attended social events, such as the performances of the Monte Carlo Ballet. He also photographed Princess Caroline and her three children at his Villa La Vigie in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin on the occasion of her fifth wedding anniversary in 1989.[6]
Princess Caroline and Karl Lagerfeld at the Bal de la Rose in 2017 – the theme was the Vienna Secession which is also reflected in the Princesse’s dress patterns.
In addition to their friendship, the Princess and Lagerfeld also worked together. Their biggest project in Monaco was the Bal de la Rose. As mentioned in my article about Lagerfeld, the designer loved to host themed events, this also influenced his “megalomaniac” runway shows. This annual charity ball was first held by Princess Grace of Monaco in 1954 and takes place at the Salle des Étoiles of the Sporting Monte-Carlo. The proceeds of the charity event go to the Princess Grace Foundation which runs humanitarian and philanthropic projects to support people and children in need. Princess Caroline and her brother Prince Albert have been chairing this even since the 1980s and in 2009, she entrusted Lagerfeld with the creative concept. Together they revived the image of the event and turned it, again, into a major part of the social calendar in Monaco. Similar to Lagerfeld’s own events, the Bal de la Rose was also themed, for example Caroline and Lagerfeld chose Cuba, the Viennese Secession and Constructivism as themes, to name a few.[7]
Fashion Runs in the Family
The princess wore many of Lagerfeld’s designs over the years, even after he passed away, she stayed close to the Chanel. She also passed down her passion and the close friendship with the designer down to her daughters Charlotte and Alexandra who also attended the Chanel fashion shows in the front row with their mother. Like her mother, Charlotte is very passionate about fashion and became a brand ambassador for Chanel in 2020. In addition, she has also collaborated with other fashion houses and regularly attends fashion week. Many consider her a fashion icon like her mother and grand-mother. While Charlotte is a bit more known, also her younger sister Alexandra has started to make fashion headlines. She was recently spotted in a dress with a white collar and matching embroidery at the sleeves and pockets which was worn by her mother in 1990.[8]
Princess Alexandra in a vintage Chanel suit which her mother wore in 1990
Princess Caroline said that a relationship like the one between her and Lagerfeld is difficult to define. He meant a lot to her and he was always present, she considered him a family member. When Lagerfeld passed away, the Princess said that she and her family were really affected by his death and that it had been particularly difficult for the children who had known him since they were born. She mentioned in an interview that Lagerfeld was there the day before she gave birth to Andrea. Her comment, “He was there when they were born,”[8] probably refers to the birth of her daughters.[9]
She also mentioned that he has influenced and enriched her a lot. According to the magazine Le Point, the princess is mentioned in Lagerfeld’s will and that she would be able to choose furniture from Lagerfeld’s apartment in Paris. As you may know, Lagerfeld’s will was not easily resolved; it took until end of 2024, until the heirs finally reached an agreement. As a tribute to their friendship, Princess Caroline hosted the Bal de la Rose in March 2019 with a Riviera theme – which Lagerfeld had planned for the event.[10]
Princess Caroline in Lagerfeld’s Designs
There are countless looks of Princess Caroline, this is just a very limited selection to illustrate not only her friendship with Karl Lagerfeld but also the development of her style and how she makes the designs her own.
Princess Caroline wore a lot of Dior until the mid-1980s
Until the mid-1980s, Princess Caroline often wore Dior, which is a legacy of her mother who had close relations with the Maison. From the mid-1980s onwards, Princess Caroline slowly substituted Dior by Chanel, where her friend Lagerfeld had recently become the creative director.
One of the first pictures of Princess Caroline in Lagerfeld’s Chanel.
With this switch, we can also see how the Princess slowly developed her own style – maybe it can be seen as a kind of emancipation from her mother’s fashion style. One of the first pictures is from the mid-1980s where she wears a black Chanel dress from the Spring/Summer ready-to-wear 1986 collection – she wears dramatic makeup, very 1980s but she looks very sophisticated.
Princess Caroline photographed by Lagerfeld
Lagerfeld also often photographed the Princess – like in this dress from the Fall/Winter 1988 couture collection.
Lagerfeld and Princess Caroline at the runway shows in Paris in 1989
As mentioned previously, Princess Caroline was a regular in the front row at Lagerfeld’s runway shows.
In a black Chanel dress in the late 1980s
And she often wore, and therefore promoted, Lagerfeld’s most recent collections.
A dress which was presented by Claudia Schiffer on the runway.
She often took the outfits directly from the runway but added her own twist – like with the dress from the Spring/Summer 1990 collection.
Chloé from 1994
She also showed how the outfits looked if they were not styled for the runway. For example, she wore a dress from the Chloé Fall/Winter 1994 collection which was styled quite uniquely with a special hairstyle on the runway. Princess Caroline made it hers with a turquoise stole and a small blue purse making it more “realistic” or wearable.
She paired the top from the Chanel Spring/Summer 1995 couture collection with a long tulle skirt…
… and adapted the styling of this silver dress from Spring/Summer 2004 with a transparent shawl and a small purse and without wearing the belt.
Tiny details, like black tights, take the looks from the runway into real life.
This Spring/Summer 2004 couture dress was presented by Nadia Auermann on the runway.
The Princess also wore many of Lagerfeld’s design for more casual occasions as wel. She has a big tweed jacket collection.
Footnotes
[1] Daily Mail 2025 & Point de Vue 2025.
[2] Point de Vue 2025.
[3] Daily Mail 2025 & Grace de Monaco Foundation 2025.
[4] Point de Vue 2025.
[5] ibid.
[6] Daily Mail 2025 & Point de Vue 2025.
[7] Daily Mail 2025, Point de Vue 2025, W Magazine 2025.
[8] Daily Mail 2025.
[9] ibid.
[10] Daily Mail 2025, Le Point 2025, Point de Vue 2025.
Sources
Daily Mail, Princess Caroline of Monaco emerges as ANOTHER beneficiary of Karl Lagerfeld’s much-contested will – as it’s revealed the Chanel designer left her the pick of his furniture collection, published on 18 April 2023, last accessed on 20 March 2025.
Grace de Monaco Foundation, Fashion and Friendship: Karl Lagerfeld & Princess Caroline, published on 3 May 2023, last accessed on 20 March 2025.
Le Point, Les derniers secrets de Karl Lagerfeld, by Aurélie Raya, published on 1 April 2023,
last accessed on 20 March 2025.
Monte Carlo, Societé des Bains de Mer, Rose Ball, last accessed on 20 March 2025.
Point de Vue, Karl Lagerfeld et Caroline de Hanovre, une amitié indefectible, published on 8 March 2019, last accessed on 20 March 2025.
W Magazine, Princess Alexandra Repurposed Princess Caroline’s Old Chanel At Couture Week, by Matthew Velasco, published on 27 January 2024, last accessed on 20 March 2025.
Sources Title Image
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