It was sad scenes at SW19 for one half of tennis’ latest it-couple, as Anna Kalinskaya was forced to retire from her round of sixteen match while Prince Albert of Monaco watched on from Wimbledon’s royal box. The monegasque monarch was without his wife, Princess Charlene and instead took to the most prestigious of seats with his cousin, royal insider Melanie-Antoinette Costello de Massy.
The pair looked the picture of Summer elegance in blazers, despite the infamous Wimbledon weather threatening a turn for the worse during the ladies’ round of sixteen match this Monday.
Melanie-Antoinette Costello de Massy is a familiar face to eagle-eyed royal fans, having often joined the Monégasque princely family at royal engagements. Last year, she supported Princess Charlene at a series of events to commemorate Saint Devote, the patron saint of Monaco, while Prince Albert was suffering with Covid-19. She previously accompanied Prince Albert on a number of engagements while Princess Charlene was absent from public life during a period of ill health.
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Melanie-Antoinette is the daughter of Prince Albert’s cousin, Baroness Elizabeth Ann de Massy, who was once close to his parents, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco, according to Vanity Fair Spain. Yet the two family’s relationship hasn’t always been so cordial, as Elizabeth’s mother (and Melanie-Antoinette’s grandmother), Antoinette de Monaco, Baroness de Massy, once tried to oust her younger brother Prince Rainier as the principality’s ruler. Prior to Rainier’s marriage to Grace Kelly and the birth of their children, Antoinette and her lover, Jean-Charles Rey, came up with a plan to depose Rainier and declare Antoinette regent, with a view to her son, Christian Louis, one day succeeding.
In spite of this fraught history, Melanie-Antoinette’s daughter, Elizabeth, has always been close to the princely family, having been a bridesmaid at Ranier’s wedding to Grace Kelly; before being named godmother to their daughter, Princess Stéphanie. Melanie-Antoinette has clearly been similarly trusted within the royal fold, called upon to offer support to both Princess Charlene and Prince Albert at high profile events.