Elizabeth-Ann de Massy

(Redirected from Mélanie de Lusignan)

Elizabeth-Ann (Noghès) de Massy (3 July 1947 – 10 June 2020) was the daughter of Princess Antoinette of Monaco and Alexandre-Athenase Noghès. She was a first cousin of the reigning Prince Albert II and niece of Prince Rainier III. She was the godmother of her first cousin, Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.

Elizabeth-Ann de Massy
Full name
Elizabeth-Ann Charlotte Mary Kathleen Dévote
Born(1947-07-03)3 July 1947
Monaco
Died10 June 2020(2020-06-10) (aged 73)
Princess Grace Hospital Centre, Monaco[1]
BuriedChapel of Peace, Monaco
Noble familyGrimaldi
Spouse(s)
Baron Bernard Alexandre Taubert-Natta
(m. 1974; div. 1980)
Nicolai Vladimir Costello
(m. 1984; div. 1985)
Issue
  • Jean-Léonard Taubert de Massy, Baron Taubert[2]
  • Mélanie-Antoinette Costello de Massy
FatherAlexandre-Athenase Noghès
MotherPrincess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy

Biography

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She was born in 1947 to Princess Antoinette of Monaco and her partner Alexandre-Athenase Noghès during the reign of her maternal great-grandfather Prince Louis II, Prince of Monaco, himself the father of Elizabeth-Ann‘s maternal grandmother Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois

Although Elizabeth-Ann was born out of wedlock, her parents married in 1951, thus legitimizing her, and placing her in line to the throne.[citation needed] Elizabeth-Ann could represent the Sovereign Prince of Monaco at official events.

She was the eldest of three siblings; the others were Christian Louis (born 1949) and Christine Alix (1951–1989). She was one of the four junior bridesmaids at the wedding of her uncle Rainier III with Grace Kelly.[3][4]

Elizabeth-Ann was married twice.

She married firstly in Monaco on 19 January 1974 and divorced on 30 October 1980[5] Baron Bernard Alexandre Taubert-Natta (Geneva, 2 July 1941 – Geneva, 13 April 1989), and had one son:

  • Jean-Léonard Taubert de Massy,[2] Baron Taubert[2] (b. Geneva, 3 June 1974). He is the godson of Prince Albert II. He married in Monaco on 25 April 2009 Suzanne Chrimes.[6] He has one son named Melchior.[7]

She married secondly in London on 18 October 1984 and divorced on 28 March 1985 choreographer[8] Nicolai Vladimir Costello a.k.a. de Lusignan (b. Lees, 24 December 1943). The bride was pregnant and together they had one daughter:

  • Mélanie-Antoinette Costello de Massy (b. Monaco, 18 January 1985).

She was well known for her charity work in Monaco. She was President of the Monegasque Tennis Federation[9] and of the Monte Carlo Country Club.[10]

She lost her place in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne upon the death of Rainier III, but remained a member of the Princely Family's "pool" of familial collaterals eligible to be selected for the Crown in the event of the extinction of the descendants of Prince Rainier.

Patronages

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  • Vice-president of the Society for the Protection of Animals and Refuge of Monaco (1984).
  • Vice-president of the Canine Society of Monaco (1985).
  • Vice-president of the “Monaco Interviews on Energy Medicines” (1988), which became, the “Monaco International Interviews” (1989).
  • President of the Monegasque Tennis Federation (1992).
  • President of the Monte Carlo Country Club (2008).

Honours

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  •   Monaco:
    •   Knight Commander of the Order of Grimaldi (17 November 2009).[5]
    •   Medal for Physical Education and Sports, Second Class (18 November 1983).[5]
    •   Medal for Physical Education and Sports, First Class (18 November 1999).[5]

References

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  1. ^ Death of Baroness Elisabeth-Anne de Massy
  2. ^ a b c "Ordonnance Souveraine n° 8.199 du 21 juillet 2020 autorisant le port d'un titre. / Journal 8496 / Année 2020 / Journaux / Accueil - Journal de Monaco". journaldemonaco.gouv.mc (in French). Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  3. ^ Las imágenes inéditas de la boda de Grace Kelly y Raniero de Monaco
  4. ^ The Royal Post[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b c d Biography
  6. ^ Geneall
  7. ^ "Son of Leonard". Pure People. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  8. ^ The Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company
  9. ^ The Monte Carlo Open gets underway Archived 2008-05-21 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Richard Evans, "Federer and Nadal into final", The Guardian (April 27, 2008).