Princess Alexandra Wears Grace Kelly's 1962 Givenchy Gown Days After Engagement Announcement

Key points

• Princess Alexandra of Hanover wore a canary-yellow Givenchy column dress with golden embroidery, beads, and sequins, which previously belonged to her grandmother, Grace Kelly.
• Grace Kelly originally wore the dress to the wedding of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain in Athens, Greece, in May 1962.
• Alexandra shared photos of the dress on Instagram with the caption 'Yellow mood in archival Givenchy' days after announcing her engagement to Ben-Sylvester Strautmann.
• The engagement ring is a custom 18-carat yellow and white gold piece featuring a 4.8-carat Fancy Yellow diamond, designed by Antinori di Sanpietro with a secret motif inspired by the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome.
• Alexandra is the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco and Prince Ernst August of Hanover, and is 13th in line to the Monégasque throne.
• This is not the first time Alexandra has worn items from Grace Kelly's wardrobe; she wore a vintage chocolate-brown skirt suit for Monaco's National Day in 2024.

Background

The Grimaldi family has a history of paying sartorial tribute to Princess Grace of Monaco's style. In 2024, Princess Alexandra wore a vintage chocolate-brown suit from her grandmother's wardrobe for Monaco's National Day. In 2025, her cousin Camille Gottlieb wore a bespoke gown by Elisabetta Franchi that was modeled after the Edith Head-designed gown Grace Kelly wore in the 1954 film 'Rear Window' at Monaco's Red Cross Gala. These instances highlight the ongoing influence of Grace Kelly's fashion legacy within the Monégasque royal family.

How outlets are covering it

Harper's BAZAAR and Town & Country Magazine both emphasize the significance of the Givenchy gown as a family heirloom and note Alexandra's recent engagement. Harper's BAZAAR highlights the dress's canary-yellow color and intricate golden embellishments, while Town & Country focuses on the scoop neckline and flouncy hem. Tatler provides additional details about the engagement ring, noting its 4.8-carat Fancy Yellow diamond and the secret design inspired by the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome. All three outlets agree that Alexandra's choice of dress is a tribute to her grandmother's style and a possible hint for her own wedding ensemble. The Yahoo source is not a news article and is excluded from the synthesis.

Why it matters

This event underscores the enduring influence of Grace Kelly's fashion legacy within the Monégasque royal family. By wearing her grandmother's archival Givenchy gown, Princess Alexandra of Hanover not only pays tribute to her grandmother's style but also signals a possible connection to her own upcoming wedding. The engagement ring's custom design and the dress's historical significance highlight the importance of royal fashion as a means of expressing family heritage and personal identity. This moment also reflects the broader trend of royal family members reusing and reinterpreting iconic garments from previous generations.

What to watch

Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Ben-Sylvester Strautmann are expected to marry in the future, though no specific date has been announced. There is speculation that Alexandra may wear Grace Kelly's 256-diamond diadem, which was donated to Princess Caroline in 1978 and has not been seen in public since Grace Kelly's death in 1982, at her own wedding. Additionally, Alexandra has hinted at following in the literary footsteps of her sister Charlotte Casiraghi, suggesting a potential career in writing or publishing.