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Monaco royals postpone glamorous Rose Ball because of coronavirus© Getty Images

The Monaco royal family’s glamorous Rose Ball won’t take place for the first time in over 50 years due to coronavirus

Princess Grace of Monaco founded the glamorous event in 1954


UPDATED MARCH 12, 2020 2:53 AM EDT

Every year, royal fans look forward to seeing  Princess Caroline  and her family gather at the annual Rose Ball. However, this year’s glamorous event will not go on as scheduled. The ball, which was set for March 21, has been postponed due to the coronavirus. A statement on the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer website read: “Due to the stricter precautionary measures related to COVID-19, we are forced to postpone this event. We will schedule a new date depending on how the situation develops.”

The Monaco royals' annual Rose Ball has been postponed because of the coronavirus© Getty Images
The Monaco royals' annual Rose Ball has been postponed because of the coronavirus

The Rose Ball was created by Princess Caroline and  Prince Albert  of Monaco’s mother  Grace Kelly  back in 1954. The black tie fundraiser takes place every year in March with a different theme, this year’s was Bollywood, at the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting Monte-Carlo. The ball benefits the Princess Grace Foundation, which helps people and children in need by developing humanitarian and philanthropic projects.

The annual glamorous fundraiser is attended by members of the Monaco royal family© Getty Images
The annual glamorous fundraiser is attended by members of the Monaco royal family

The Monaco royal family’s glitzy event isn’t the only royal affair to be affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier this month, the Swedish royal family postponed a dinner because “a number of cases of infection” had been detected in Sweden, so “out of consideration for the invited guests,” the Swedish Royal Court said that “Their Majesties, as hosts, choose to postpone the Official Dinner that was planned to be held at the Royal Palace on Wednesday, 4 March.”

Princess Grace of Monaco (pictured at the 1979 ball) created the event in 1954© Getty Images
Princess Grace of Monaco (pictured at the 1979 ball) created the event in 1954

The disease also led to the postponement of  King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium’s upcoming state visit to Italy . A student at both  Princess Estelle of Sweden’s school in Stockholm  and  Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia of Spain’s school in Madrid  tested positive for the coronavirus. According to  CNN , COVID-19 has infected more than 108,000 around the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.