Stefano Casiraghi ( 8 September 1960 – 3 October 1990) was an Italian offshore powerboat racer, socialite, and businessman. He was the second husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco; he died during a racing accident defending his 1990 Class 1 World Powerboat Championship title.
Early life and education
The son of Giancarlo Casiraghi (1925–1998), a wealthy businessman, and Fernanda Biffi (1925-2024), Stefano Casiraghi grew up in the Casiraghi family's estate, Villa Cigogne, in Fino Mornasco. He had two brothers, Marco and Daniele (1956–2016), and one sister, Rosalba. He followed in the footsteps of his brothers by enrolling at Milan's Bocconi University, but left without obtaining a degree. He began to work for his father and his oldest brother, Marco. They were not able to have a Catholic ceremony because Caroline had been divorced from Philippe Junot, and an annulment had not yet been obtained. However, as Caroline was over three months pregnant, the couple did not want to wait any longer.
The couple had three children: Andrea (born 8 June 1984), Charlotte (born 3 August 1986), and Pierre (born 5 September 1987). The children were born at Princess Grace Hospital Centre in Monaco, respectively, fourth, eleventh and eighth in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne, after their twin cousins and their mother. Although their parents had not married in the Church, as required for legitimacy under church law, they were legitimized by Pope John Paul II in February 1993, eight months after their mother's marriage to Junot was annulled in June 1992.
Death
Casiraghi was killed in an offshore powerboat racing accident off the coast of Monaco near Cap Ferrat on 3 October 1990 while defending his world offshore title.
There were three to four-foot wave conditions on the race course, which caused Casiraghi's 42-foot catamaran, Pinot di Pinot, to flip. Innocenti survived the accident. He was pulled from the water and taken to Monaco's Princess Grace Hospital. Casiraghi is buried in the Chapelle de la Paix in Monaco, which is also the resting place of his wife's paternal grandfather, Prince Pierre of Monaco.