Monaco Grand Prix: why Beatrice Borromeo should be top of your royal style radar

(L-R) Pierre Casiraghi and wife Beatrice Borromeo attend the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage)

Pierre Casiraghi (C) and his wife Countess Beatrice Borromeo speak with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Monaco street circuit on May 26, 2019 in Monaco. (Photo by Yann COATSALIOU / AFP)

Andrea Casiraghi, his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo and their children Alexandre Andrea Stefano Casiraghi and India Casiraghi walk in the Pitlane before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Pierre Casiraghi and wife Beatrice Casiraghi attends the Alberta Ferretti Cruise 2020 Collection At Monaco Yacht Club on May 18, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)

Andrea Casiraghi, his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo and their children Alexandre Andrea Stefano Casiraghi and India Casiraghi walk in the Pitlane before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Andrea Casiraghi and his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo arrive with their children ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Monaco street circuit on May 26, 2019 in Monaco. (Photo by Yann COATSALIOU / AFP)

Model Josephine Skriver poses for a photo in the paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

(L-R) Models Josephine Skriver, Madison Headrick, and Olivia Culpo pose for a photo in the paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

(L-R) Models Madison Headrick, Josephine Skriver and Olivia Culpo pose for a photo in the paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

TV personality Kris Jenner walks in the Paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

TV personality Kris Jenner and her partner Corey Gamble walk in the Paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

thumbnail: (L-R) Pierre Casiraghi and wife Beatrice Borromeo attend the  F1 Grand Prix of Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage)
thumbnail: Pierre Casiraghi (C) and his wife Countess Beatrice Borromeo speak with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Monaco street circuit on May 26, 2019 in Monaco. (Photo by Yann COATSALIOU / AFP)
thumbnail: Andrea Casiraghi, his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo and their children Alexandre Andrea Stefano Casiraghi and India Casiraghi walk in the Pitlane before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
thumbnail: Pierre Casiraghi and wife Beatrice Casiraghi attends the Alberta Ferretti Cruise 2020 Collection At Monaco Yacht Club on May 18, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)
thumbnail: Andrea Casiraghi, his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo and their children Alexandre Andrea Stefano Casiraghi and India Casiraghi walk in the Pitlane before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
thumbnail: Andrea Casiraghi and his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo arrive with their children ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Monaco street circuit on May 26, 2019 in Monaco. (Photo by Yann COATSALIOU / AFP)
thumbnail: Model Josephine Skriver poses for a photo in the paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
thumbnail: (L-R) Models Josephine Skriver, Madison Headrick, and Olivia Culpo pose for a photo in the paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
thumbnail: (L-R) Models Madison Headrick, Josephine Skriver and Olivia Culpo pose for a photo in the paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
thumbnail: TV personality Kris Jenner walks in the Paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
thumbnail: TV personality Kris Jenner and her partner Corey Gamble walk in the Paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Caitlin McBride

The Monaco Grand Prix has become a haven of understated summer style.

Monaco's oft-underappreciated royals descended in their droves to the Circuit de Monaco (this year observing Lewis Hamilton take home the winner's title for the third time) and display a sense of effortless elegance that so few seem to possess. And the jewel in the crown in the upper echelons of the best dressed is Beatrice Casiraghi (née Borromeo), the aristocratic Italian journalist who wed husband Pierre - the grandson of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier - in 2015.

The 33-year-old mother-of-two has long been a fashion leader, both in her work with the Fashion 4 Development (F4D), an organisation which teamed up with the United Nations to tackle poverty in the developing world, and in her personal dress. For Sunday's festivities, she upgraded her signature waspy style with a polka dot midi dress paired with a black leather tote by Armani and a pair of Loulou heart-shaped sunglasses by Saint Laurent.

She finished off her look with a pair of double strap, open toe heels. Both Beatrice and Pierre, who have been together for 11 years, have always preferred a lower profile and both work full-time jobs, but have become more selective about public appearances now that they are parents to two children under three to Stefano (two) and Francesco (one).

Beatrice Borromeo attends the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco on May 26, 2019 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage)

Yesterday's event attracted a host of celebrity supporters in the form of Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble, Matt Damon, Christian Bale and supermodels Josephine Skriver and Olivia Culpo. Pierre's brother Andrea Casiraghi and his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo were also in attendance alongside their children.

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Pierre is the eighth in line for the Monegasque throne and as such, isn't confined to the same royal responsibilities as Prince Albert and his wife Princess Charlene, both of whom made their annual appearance at the event; but is required to show up at certain occasions.

Beatrice has maintained the same attitude as she did before her wedding, which is reflected in her wardrobe choices which range from high fashion gowns to practical daywear, admitting that she prefers borrowing couture dresses over buying them because it's just not practical with her salary, saying she "couldn't afford to buy as many dresses as I need for public functions."

"I'm a reporter, and I have the salary of a reporter. I'm not going to put half of my salary into a pair of shoes. I did it a few times in my life, and it doesn't feel right. You can wear Zara and nothing bad is going to happen to you," she told Glamour.

Prince Albert II of Monaco (L) and his wife Princess Charlene of Monaco wave to photographers after meeting members of the Red Cross of Monaco and Italy during a visit ahead of the third practice session at the Monaco street circuit on May 25, 2019 in Monaco, ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP)

It helps that her late uncle, the Count Matteo Marzotto worked as president of Valentino for years and European fashion houses are surely clamouring to have their work endorsed by one of the best dressed women.

"If I'm interviewing someone in the government, I'm going to be more formal: a jacket, a shirt, pants. But if I go see refugees in the field, I'm not going to care what I wear," she added.