BREAKING: Elizabeth-Ann de Massy has died

Elizabeth-Ann Charlotte Mary Kathleen Dévote de Massy previously known as Elisabeth-Ann Charlotte Mary Kathleen Dévote Grimaldi at birth was born 3 July 1947 the daughter of Princess Antoinette of Monaco & Alexandre-Athenase Noghès{Source}. She has two younger siblings, a paternal half brother, a sister-in-law, several former sisters-in-law, two former brothers-in-law, three nephews, a niece, a niece and nephew in-law, five great nieces, two step-great nieces{Source}:

1. Christian Louis de Massy (1949)
1. María Marta Quintana y del Carril (1951, m. 1970-1978, div)
1. Jonkvrouw Leticia de Massy de Brouwer (1971)
1. Jonkheer Thomas de Brouwer (1973, m. 2006)
1. Jonkvrouw Hermine de Brouwer (2001, stepdaughter)
2. Jonkvrouw Liliah de Brouwer (2003, stepdaughter)
3. Jonkvrouw Rose de Brouwer (2008)
4. Jonkheer Sylvestre de Brouwer (2008)
2. Anne Michele Lütken (1982-1987, div)
3. Julia Lakschin (1992-1995, div)
4. Cécile Gelabale (1968, 1995-2019, separated 2009)
1. Brice Gelable-de Massy (1988, adopted by Christian, Cécile is his biological mother)
2. Antoine de Massy (1997)
2. Christine-Alix de Massy (1951-1989)
1. Charles Wayne Knecht(1972–1976, div)
1. Keith Sébastien Knecht de Massy (1972)
1. Donatella Knecht de Massy (1972, m. 1999)
1. Christine Knecht de Massy (2000)
2. Alexia Knecht de Massy (2001)
3. Vittoria Knecht de Massy (2007)
4. Andrea Knecht de Massy (2008)
2. Leon Leroy(1988–1989, her death)
3. Lionel Noghes
1. wife

At the time of her birth, her parents were not married; they subsequently married in 1951, legitimatizing her and her two younger siblings{Source}. However, this did not place her and her siblings in succession for Monaco's throne in line for the throne of Monaco{Source}. Due to when her uncle turned 21 years of age in 1944, her grandmother (Princess Charlotte) and and her mother, Princess Antoinette formally renounced their succession rights, however with the changes in the 2002 succession laws, Princess Antoinette and her line were briefly back in succession for the throne from 2002-2005.


She and her two siblings were originally given the surname Grimaldi, but when her mother received the Barony of Massy as a wedding present from her brother in December 1951, then Princess Antoinette changed her children's last name to de Massy to reflect her title. However, Elisabeth and her siblings are not entitled to use Baron or Baroness of Massy as it is not considered hereditary nor do they have the courtesy titles as the children of a baroness., like they would in the United Kingdom (UK child of baron titles: The Honourable First name last name. Example: Peter Trevor Maxwell, 28th Baron de Ros's children are The Hon. Finbar Maxwell, The Hon. Katherine Maxwell & The Hon. Jessye Maxwell){Source}. Elisabeth-Ann was a baroness via her first marriage, not through hereditary titles or titles from Monaco.

Elisabeth has been married twice, and has two children-one from each marriage, as well as a daughter-in-law and grandson:

1. Baron Bernard Alexandre Taubert-Natta (m. 1974-1983, he died in 1989)
1. Baron Jean-Leonard Taubert-Natta (1974)
1. Baroness Susanna Taubert-Natta (m. 2009)
1. Menilcor de Massy Taubert-Natta (sometime between 2010-2012)
2. Nicolai Vladimir Costello (m. October 1984-January 1985)
1. Melanie-Antoinette Costello de Massy (1985, professionally known as Melanie-Antoinette de Massy)

She was well known for her charitable works in Monaco. Elisabeth-Ann was President of the Monegasque Tennis Federation She was president of the Monte Carlo Country Club.
She and her daughter Melanie also appear with the family on the balcony annually at Monaco's National Day celebrations. In April 2015, she appeared with her daughter Melanie and cousin Prince Albert II, during the renaming of the Monte Carlo Tennis Courts {Photos}.In April 2016, she attended several days of the Monte Carlo ATP Masters and the Launch Party of the event {Photos}.In September 2016, she attended the Traditional Pique-nique Monegasque with her cousins Prince Albert II & Princess Caroline and Princess Charlene {Photos}. In November, she was a regular attendee for Monaco's National Day Celebrations {2016, 2017}. She was president of A.S.Co.T.. She was a regular at the Monaco Red Cross Ball with her two children (2006, 2011, 2012). Elisabeth-Ann de Massy has also attended the Rose Ball (2002, 2004, 2005).

Her efforts with her charities and within the principality did not go unnoticed by her uncle Rainier or her first cousin Albert. For the National Day celebrations in 1983, she was awarded Medal for Physical Education and Sports, Second Class {Source}. For 1999's National Day ceremonies, shewas upgraded to first class for the Medal of Physical Education and Sports {Source}. For 2009, she was awarded Commander of the Order of Grimaldi {Source}

In addition to her charity efforts, she was also trained as a nurse, and worked at the Hospitality of Lourdes {Source}.

With the death of her uncle in 2005, she lost her place in the line of succession for the Monégasque throne, however, her children, and her brother, his family and her youngest sister (who died in 1989)'s son and his family remain in the "pool" of familial persons eligible to be selected for the Crown in the event of the extinction of the descendants of Prince Rainier.


She was godmother to her cousin, Princess Stephanie Marie Elisabeth of Monaco, The Countess of Polignac. She was the oldest grandchild of Princess Charlotte of Monaco, The Duchess of Valentinos & Prince Pierre of Monaco, The Count of Polignac. She was of Mexican, French, Scottish, English, German, Italian descent on her mother's side (there might be more here as well).


She was related to the first official Monegasque ambassador to the US, Gilles Noghès, who was Monaco's first official ambassador from 2006-2009. Prior to Gilles appointment, Monaco was represented by France's ambassador. She was close to her uncle Rainier growing up.
She grew up in the little town of Èze, France, which is about a 20 minute car ride to Monte Carlo.

I've seen several different dates as her birthday (January or July 12th... or 13th), and usually celebrated it in January along side her daughter, brother and nephew. However, according to the Palace, her birthday was 3rd July 1947. I've also seen several different spellings of her name, mostly Elisabeth-Anne de Massy, when according to the Palace, it was Elizabeth-Ann.

Elizabeth-Ann died on 10 June 2010 in Monaco, and no cause of death was given. There will be a public viewing at Monaco's Palace Chapel on the 13 June *(This Sunday) and every other day thereafter, with a funeral at Monaco's Cathedral at a later date to be announced next week. Likely attendees will be Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, Princess Caroline, Princess Stephanie, their children and spouses, along side her children, daughter-in-law, grandson, brother, sister-in-law, niece, nephews, nephew-in-law, niece-in-law, and their families as well as representatives from National Council, and her various organizations.

UPDATE 17-6-2020: Her funeral took place on 17 June 2020, with members of Monaco's princely family-her three cousins, Princess Caroline, Prince Albert II & Princess Stephanie, Princess Charlene, several of their children: Andrea Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi, Charlotte Casiraghi-Rassam, Louis Ducruet, Marie Chevalier-Ducuret, Pauline Ducuret,  Camille Gottlieb & Princess Alexandra of Hanover, her brother and his sons, her half-brother and his wife, her children and grandson, her niece, her nephew, his wife, and their four daughters present {Photos}{Photos}