The 64th Edition of the Bal de la Rose: Created by Karl Lagerfeld with the participation of Sempé

IMAGES © Pierre VILLARD / Le Palais Princier / SBM

The 64th Edition of the Bal de la Rose, a benefit gala for the Princess Grace Foundation was held last 24th March at Salle des Etoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo. Under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Under the Presidency and in Presence of H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover, was designed by Karl Lagerfeld, at the special request of H.R.H.

For this exceptional evening, Karl Lagerfeld turned the Salle des Etoiles into an imaginary ballroom, perched at the top of a skyscraper with a view of New York illustrated by Sempé’s sketches. Jean-Jacques Sempé is known all over the world for his albums and his iconic covers in The New Yorker.

The tables are decorated with powder pink and light grey satin. A profusion of roses and vases inspired by Sempé’s drawings adorn the centres with not less than 14.000 roses and flowers.

The show reflected the multiple musical accents of New York, global music capital and birthplace of jazz and blues, among others. H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover requested that the musician Taj Mahal, a famous New York blues man, be the star of this new edition of Bal de la Rose.

The diversity of Manhattan’s musical accents rings out all night long, from jazz to hip hop, with dancers from Pockemon Crew – famous dance battle competitors – including 1970s’ disco from the two founding members of the Madman Regent collection, Antis and Adam. A real show is promised.

The meeting of these worlds; the refined one of Karl Lagerfeld, who has invented this Ballroom; that of Sempé and that of Taj Mahal, was perfectly natural, in order to re-create the “melting pot” that is so characteristic of the energetic district of Manhattan.

Le Bal de la Rose was established in 1954 to launch the party season in the Principality of Monaco. Starting in 1957, Princess Grace gave a particular international dimension to this event. Assisted, in particular, by decorator André Levasseur, she had the idea of connecting the event each year with a Rose, a Show and a Country and then mirroring this theme in the décor, the colours and symbols.

When the Princess Grace Foundation was created in 1964, the Princess decided to also make Le Bal de la Rose a charity event, of which the profits would be donated to the Foundation bearing her name.

Hosted by Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, this Spring Spectacular has become a not-to-be-missed event over the years. Since 1983, appointed by Prince Rainier III, H.S.H., the Princess of Hanover has presided over the Princess Grace Foundation and Le Bal de la Rose. Under her leadership, the Foundation has developed in new sectors.