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The 2023 Rose Ball Delights With Bollywood Performances And Royal Glamour

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The Rose Ball (Bal de la Rose) in Monaco is one of the world’s most illustrious galas and this year’s event captivated with a sea of color inspired by Bollywood. Royals, celebrities, and socialites from around the world gathered at The Salle des Étoiles at Sporting Monte-Carlo to celebrate and raise money for the Princess Grace Foundation at the annual event hosted by Princess Caroline of Hanover. Designed by world-renowned designer Christian Louboutin, guests stepped into a glittering pink Jaipur palace for an evening of performances and Indian-inspired fine dining. Here’s what it was like to be there.

Descending down the venue’s red carpet, movie theater style posters indicated that we would be in for a night of world-class entertainment. Upon entering the Salle des Étoiles a breathtaking landscape of 12,000 roses and radiant tablescapes dazzled guests as they mingled and explored before being seated. Everyone collectively rose for the evening’s most important guests, the Monégasque royal family, with Prince Albert II, Madame Pierre Casiraghi, Madame Charlotte Casiraghi-Rassam and Andrea Casiraghi in attendance. Then it was time to enjoy — dinner included delectable dishes like lobster with pickled mango, tandoori black cod, lamb korma, and free-flowing Perrier Jouët champagne. During the dinner there was a raffle with highly sought-after prizes including a Louis Vuitton Capucines bag, Christian Louboutin Peep Tosachi shoes, a Flexjet private jet flight, and a Chanel diamond necklace.

The stage resembled a Bollywood movie studio and was the backdrop for enthralling dancing and singing choreographed by some of the biggest names in the business including Kamal Kant and Megha Jagawat. The evening also featured a classical ballet moment with Jeremy-Loup Quer the premier dancer for the Paris Opera Ballet. Singer Mika closed out the performances with guests getting up to dance at their tables with hits like “Relax, Take it Easy” and “Grace Kelly” named after the late Princess Grace of Monaco who launched the Rose Ball in 1964. His songs perfectly segued guests onto the illuminated dance floor for a glitterati boogie. It’s not every day that you get to dance to Beyoncé next to Beatrice Borromeo who stunned in Dior Haute Couture.

With the theme Bollywood you’re practically obliged to wear a gown that’s colorful and scintillating — ideally both. Wearing a blush rose sequined Mac Duggal gown was perfect for the occasion and made me feel as luminous as the event I was attending. Paired with light pink metallic fan-style earrings by Anastasia Kessaris and crystal-encrusted clutch bag by Serpui (there’s no such thing as too much bling with that theme) completed my outfit for this royal fête. Rose Ball guests really leaned into the theme with extravagant gowns, colorful hues and ornate accessories. As the evening drew to a close after lots of dancing, the charity event had once again raised money for children in need through the Princess Grace Foundation.

While this year’s Rose Ball is over, there’s still plenty of allure to visit Monte Carlo if the royal principality is calling your name. From beautiful architecture to luxury shopping to one of the world’s most recognizable casinos, there’s plenty to do here. The Hôtel de Paris truly embodies the Monaco experience in old world splendor and with world-class service. Book one of their balcony rooms overlooking the bay which glitters in the sunlight and is filled with the world’s largest superyachts to soak up a piece of incomparable Riviera luxury.

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