Royal Profile: Donatella Knecht de Massy

Donatella Knecht de Massy is the wife of K. Sébastien Knecht de Massy, who is the grandson of Princess Antoinette of Monaco, Baroness of Massy and she was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 10 May 1972{Source}. She grew up mostly in Switzerland, where she attended L'Institut Le Rosey{Source}. She also attended Northeastern University, where she earned a BA in Journalism{Source}.

Upon receiving her BA, she returned to Switzerland to pursue a career in the media{Source}. While in Switzerland, she worked for The Geneva Post{Source}. She moved to Monaco to work for the Formula 1 Magazine called Focus One, which is based out of Monaco{Source}. She currently works for Transport and Commodities with her husband in Monaco and South Africa{Source}.

She holds Italian citizenship, but is a permanent resident of Monaco{Source}. She married K. Sébastien Knecht de Massy, the eldest grandson of Princess Antoinette of Monaco, Baroness of Massy, in 1999{Source}. Together, they have four daughters:

• Christine (presumably named for his mother who died in 1989, 12 June 2000)
• Alexia (21 September 2001)
• Vittoria (18 April 2007)
• Andrea (16 October 2008)

Like the rest of the Grimaldi clan, she plays an active part in charities in Monaco when she is there. She has been a part of:

• MOM; Mothers of Monaco who provided funding for children from under-developed countries to be able to come to the Principality for heart surgeries, as well as supplying an orphanage in Tunisia with much-needed supplies.
• Ladies Lunch Monaco; who raise funds to support other charitable institutions in the Principality.
• Conservation Guardians (President of the Board); who's mission is to Protect and conserve Wildlife and bring support to the communities.

Because her husband and daughters *technically* lost their place in succession with the death of Prince Rainier in 2005, she and her family are known to keep out of the main limelight. However, in more recent years, they have come to a few family events. In 2008, she, her husband and their two older daughters (who were 6 years old and 7 years old at the time) attended the 32nd annual International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo, and they sat in the royal box with the rest of the Grimaldis. They also attended the event in 2011 (Seen here between Princess Stephanie and Pauline Ducruet). In July 2011, she acted as maid-of-honor to now Princess Charlene at her wedding to Prince Albert, where she acted as a witness during both ceremonies (religious), and appeared on the balcony after the civil ceremony. She also attended the Eagles and JM Jarre concerts (sitting in front of Princess Caroline). That November, she and her husband appeared with the family during the National Day festivities, at the church service, during the honor guard ceremony (across and behind Princess Stephanie) and of course, on the balcony.