Charlotte Casiraghi opens up about grief and her mother Princess Caroline in debut book
In her first book 'La fêlure,' Charlotte Casiraghi explores the trauma of losing her father, Stefano Casiraghi, at age four and pays tribute to her mother, Princess Caroline.
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By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press
MONACO — Charlotte Casiraghi, the eldest daughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover, has bared her soul in her literary debut, La fêlure (The Crack). Far from a standard celebrity memoir, the book combines her passion for philosophy with a deeply personal account of her life, touching upon the tragic loss of her father and the steadfast influence of her mother.
In an interview with Point de Vue regarding the release, Casiraghi revealed how literature became her sanctuary during a childhood marked by public scrutiny and private tragedy.
"My mother is a role model"
The book serves as a tribute to the women in her family, particularly her mother, Princess Caroline. Casiraghi describes her mother as a pillar of strength who guided the family through their darkest times.
"My mother is a role model in discipline and moral sense," Casiraghi stated, acknowledging the resilience required to raise a family under the constant glare of the spotlight while navigating profound grief.
Coping with early loss
Charlotte was only four years old when her father, Stefano Casiraghi, was killed in a speedboat accident off the coast of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on October 3, 1999. The tragedy shattered her world.
"The death of my father shook my childhood world," she explained. "But also the fact that we were exposed [to the media] at so many painful moments. Reading and writing were the things in which I could hide with that vulnerability."
Following her father's death, a young Charlotte developed a deep fear of losing her mother as well. Writing became a coping mechanism. "I wrote letters, took notes, and collected fragments," she recalled. "It was a way to make the absent present, and I could express my sadness and anger in it."
The "Crack" beneath the surface
For a time, her diary was her fortress, making her feel "almost invincible." However, this safe haven was breached during a summer camp when a peer told her, "You bore us with your poems."
The comment deeply affected Casiraghi. "I realized that my poems isolated me and locked me in a melancholic bubble. I also wanted to attract boys and come out of my shell," she admitted, leading her to stop sharing her writing for years.
Now, with La fêlure, she returns to the written word. Explaining the title, Casiraghi notes that it refers to an internal, subtle shift rather than a loud explosion. "The word 'fêlure' (crack) carries an audible vulnerability, as if there is a small break in the sound. It is not a spectacular collapse, but a barely perceptible shift. Something below the surface."
