Seventy years of the Bal de la Rose: the evening that opens Monaco's season
Monte Carlo, March 2026. No social occasion in the Principality carries more weight. For decades the Bal de la Rose has opened the Monegasque season, and on 21 March 2026 it celebrated its 70th edition in the Salle des Étoiles of the Sporting Monte-Carlo, under the high patronage of Prince Albert II and the presidency of Princess Caroline of Hanover, in aid of the Princess Grace Foundation. Marvin Schertl and Dr Sina Schertl attended for Casa Padrino.
Occasion: 70th Bal de la Rose, 21 March 2026
Venue: Salle des Étoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo
Patronage: Prince Albert II, presided over by Princess Caroline of Hanover
Theme and scenography: "Galaxy Rose Ball", designed by Christian Louboutin
Casa Padrino: Marvin Schertl, founder and artistic director, and Dr Sina Schertl
A tradition that goes back to Princess Grace
The Bal de la Rose was created in 1954 and remains the first great society evening of the year in the Principality. Since 1964 all proceeds have gone to the Princess Grace Foundation, which supports humanitarian and charitable projects for people and children in need. The ball therefore combines what belongs together in Monaco: the highest social standing and a purpose that outlasts the evening. The dress code remains strict, evening gown or black tie, without exception.
"Galaxy Rose Ball": Christian Louboutin designs the room
For the anniversary edition, Princess Caroline of Hanover chose the theme "Galaxy Rose Ball" and gave shoe designer Christian Louboutin carte blanche for the scenography. The Sporting Monte-Carlo was transformed into a monochrome spacecraft, and the Salle des Étoiles was fitted with portholes whose colour changed during the evening according to the planet being visited. A design that deliberately dissolves the line between stage set and interior.
The ensemble Rondò Veneziano opened the ball, and among the performers over the course of the evening were the dancers of the Crazy Horse and the Ballet Kalinka. For a house such as Casa Padrino a room like this is instruction in its purest form: the same discipline as furnishing a villa, only built for a single night.
The guests
The ball traditionally brings together the princely family and European aristocracy. In 2026 those present included Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène, Princess Caroline of Hanover as hostess, Pierre Casiraghi with Beatrice Borromeo, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Princess Akiko of Mikasa of the Japanese imperial family, Lady Amelia Spencer and the Duke and Duchess of Castro.
This is precisely the circle Casa Padrino works for: people who maintain residences on this coast, keep yachts and have their rooms furnished not by price but by signature. Commissions in this segment are not won through advertising, but through trust and personal recommendation.
"Monaco is not an appointment in the calendar for us, it is a market. Anyone furnished here expects craftsmanship that still holds up when you look at it from half a metre away."
Marvin Schertl, founder and artistic director of Casa Padrino
Casa Padrino and the Principality
Monaco and the adjoining Côte d'Azur are among the core markets of the house. Residences, yachts, grand hotels and boutiques between Saint-Tropez and the Italian border are among the spaces Casa Padrino works for, frequently as a complete furnishing from the first design to installation on site. Production is largely by hand: furniture in Italy, ceramics by Spanish artisans, brass in Indian workshops, together with solid marble, gold leaf and hand upholstery. Dimensions, materials and finishes can be chosen freely for every project, up to unique one-off pieces.
The brand's presence in the Principality has grown over the years. Dr Sina Schertl is a member of the Women of Monaco Club, the house has attended the Bal de Noël in Monaco, and during the Cannes Film Festival it was honoured at the Beach Ball Gala Dinner & Awards for outstanding design quality and international brand positioning. ELLE Decoration, Paris Match, Marie Claire and Forbes France, among others, have reported on the brand.
"An evening like this shows how closely society, culture and charity are tied together in the Principality. That same spirit shapes what our clients expect."
Dr Sina Schertl, Casa Padrino
About Casa Padrino
Casa Padrino is an international luxury furniture and interior brand from Essen, Germany, founded in 2007 by Marvin Schertl and run together with Dr Sina Schertl. The brand stands for handcrafted furniture and decorative pieces in the baroque, art deco, neoclassical and art nouveau styles. Casa Padrino furnishes luxury hotels, villas, yachts, restaurants and boutiques worldwide, takes on complete projects on request and produces individual one-off pieces.
