Beatrice Borromeo is set to mark her first wedding anniversary in a couple of days, but the celebration will be bittersweet. The journalist, who is married to Princess Caroline of Monaco's son Pierre Casiraghi, is mourning the death of her grandmother Marta Marzotto.
Marta passed away on Friday morning in Milan at the age of 85.
Her family released a statement, announcing: "Marta Marzotto passed away in her sleep this morning after a brief illness. She was serene and surrounded by her children and grandchildren, who were always by her side in the past few months, witnessing her cheerfulness, irony and generosity that accompanied her until the last moment."
Beatrice Borromeo's grandmother Marta Marzotto passed away in her sleep
Beatrice, 30, also shared a photo of her maternal grandmother on Twitter, writing in Italian: "Goodbye my beloved grandmother."
Marta was a jewellery and fashion designer, who started off working as a seamstress before becoming a model. She married Count Umberto Marzotto, who she later divorced, in 1954 and the couple went on to have five children. Their eldest, daughter Paola, is Beatrice's mum.
Beatrice's uncle is Count Matteo Marzotto, the former president and director of Valentino fashion house.
Valentino the designer expressed his sadness on Instagram, sharing a photo of the pair and writing: "RIP dear friend... You will always be remembered for your smile and joy."
The fashion designer attended Beatrice's wedding in Italy last summer
Beatrice and her grandmother enjoyed a close relationship, and were often pictured sitting front row at fashion events or walking the red carpet in style. Marta also attended Beatrice's religious wedding ceremony in the family-owned Borromean Islands on 1 August 2015.
Beatrice and her husband Pierre had said "I do" a few days earlier in a civil ceremony in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Beatrice and Pierre Casiraghi tied the knot for a second time on 1 August 2015
The reporter recently opened up about her family life to Glamour, saying: "I come from a big family, and I want children of my own. But at the moment I'm thinking about putting my career in a place where it wouldn't get threatened by the presence of children."
She added of life in Monaco: "I don't live the fancy side of it; that's mostly in the summer. In the winter it's like a small village. I've got my market where I go buy food and fresh vegetables. I love to stay home and cook. I find it relaxing. It's a very local life."