There are indications that the romance of travelling with a circus may have paled for Princess Stephanie. According to reports in the German press, the Monegasque royal has split from her circus owner lover Franco Knie and returned to the principality with her three children. The couple met just over three years ago at Monaco’s International Circus Festival when the royal rebel presented the Swiss elephant trainer, who is married and has three children, with the award for Best Animal Trainer.
Stephanie later moved into Franco’s caravan, along with her own children, and spent two months touring Europe with the circus. Although there was never any official confirmation of their relationship – nor is there likely to be one of the rupture – Franco announced in February last year that he was divorcing his wife Claudine in order to be with the princess.
Stephanie’s return to the principality, and the enrolment of her children, nine-year-old Luis, Paulina, six, and Camila, three, in prestigious Monaco schools implies, however, that she has given up her nomadic circus lifestyle. The princess’ life to date has followed a path far removed from that of her fellow European royals and a marginal link to the gangland killing of a cocaine dealer two years ago led her father, Prince Rainier, to cut Stephanie off from his estimated £1.8 billion fortune. He also removed her offspring from the line off succession. Eventually, the monarch banished his wayward daughter to the ski resort of Auron, 80 miles from Monaco.
Stephanie is not alone in her love affair with the magic of the Big Top, however. The International Circus Festival is one of the highlights of the Monaco social calendar and Prince Rainer himself steps into the ring to act as honorary ringmaster.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Ensuring stability for her children, the princess has enrolled nine-year-old Luis, Paulina, six, and Camila, three, in prestigious Monaco schools
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Stephanie and Franco Knie met just over three years ago at the principality's International Circus Festival, and the Monegasque royal was soon sharing a caravan with her Swiss elephant trainer lover
