For many, Carlota Casiraghi is known primarily as a style icon, socialite, and member of Monaco’s illustrious royal family. Yet behind the glossy magazine covers lies a serious intellectual, and this week Madrid will have the chance to see that side of her firsthand. The daughter of Princess Caroline will take part in a literary symposium to showcase her deep commitment to philosophy—a passion that is more than a fleeting interest, but a lifelong calling.
Her intellectual journey did not begin overnight. In 2007, Casiraghi earned a degree in philosophy from the prestigious Sorbonne, followed by a master’s at the Catholic Institute of Paris—the same alma mater as Simone de Beauvoir. This education laid the groundwork for her future endeavors. She doesn’t just read philosophical treatises; she lives by them, constantly engaging in dialogue with leading contemporary thinkers. Her mentor and co-author, Robert Maggiori—a former professor—has repeatedly called Carlota his best student in thirty years of teaching.
The upcoming event at the French Institute in the capital is dedicated to the release of the book ‘Childhood and Violence’ by neuropsychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik. Kaziragi is not just attending as a celebrity guest, but as the author of the foreword to this important work. The discussion will focus on resilience and people’s ability—especially children’s—to recover after severe trauma. This highlights once again that Carlota is drawn not to superficial topics, but to profound and sometimes painful questions of human existence.
Kaziragi’s work is not limited to occasional appearances. In 2015, she co-founded the project ‘Philosophical Encounters in Monaco’ (PhiloMonaco), which has become a respected platform for intellectual debate. The annual colloquiums bring together thinkers from around the world in what might seem an unlikely place—the very heart of luxury and glamour. Together with Majori, she wrote the book ‘Archipelago of Passions,’ which they presented in Spain a few years ago at the Hay Festival in Segovia, filling the hall to capacity.
In her creative work and public appearances, Casiraghi often draws on the legacy of figures such as philosopher and psychoanalyst Anne Dufourmantelle, who was both a close friend and mentor. It was Dufourmantelle who inspired Charlotta to believe in herself and not be afraid to combine different passions—from philosophy to poetry and horseback riding. Casiraghi is currently working on her first solo book, intriguingly titled “La Fisura” (“The Crack”), which is set for release in early 2026. In it, she plans to explore the theme of inner fracture through the lives and work of remarkable women like Anna Akhmatova and Marguerite Duras.
Even Spanish philosopher Fernando Savater has spoken approvingly of her work, noting that philosophy as practiced by Grace Kelly’s granddaughter helps restore faith in the world. Carlota Casiraghi consistently proves that it’s possible to be part of high society while remaining a deep, thoughtful person, for whom the pursuit of truth matters more than the flash of cameras.
