Princess Maria Carolina and Jordan Bardella go public at the Monaco Grand Prix

Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and French far-right politician Jordan Bardella have confirmed their relationship after they were photographed together at the Monaco Grand Prix over the weekend.

The couple were present throughout the racing events and were spotted together in the VIP area. Onlookers saw them posing for photographs and holding each other close, making no effort to conceal their romance.

A public debut in style

The 22-year-old Italian socialite and the 30-year-old politician — widely considered Marine Le Pen's successor and a potential future presidential candidate — drew considerable attention at one of motorsport's most prestigious gatherings.

For the occasion, Maria Carolina chose a white dress complemented by a scarf bearing the Grimaldi family crest.

The couple were not without company at the circuit. Maria Carolina's younger sister, Princess Maria Chiara, was also in attendance and took on the role of unofficial photographer, capturing moments from the day's races. Their mother, Camilla, was equally present to witness the couple's first significant public appearance together.

How the romance began

The relationship first came to wider public attention in early April, when Paris Match photographed the pair on a romantic break in Corsica.

Their connection is understood to have begun approximately a year ago, following a first meeting in Monaco in May 2025. Bardella had been visiting the principality with his father Olivier, a devoted motorsport enthusiast, when he encountered the princess. Speaking to Paris Match, Bardella described the moment as "love at first sight."

Who is Princess Maria Carolina?

Maria Carolina holds the title of Duchess of Palermo and Calabria as the daughter of Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, who claims the leadership of the royal house of Bourbon-Two Sicilies — titles that are not officially recognised under Italian law.

Among her godparents is Prince Jean-Christophe Napoleon Bonaparte, the current heir to France's imperial legacy, and her lineage can be traced back to King Louis XIV. A graduate of Harvard University, where she studied social sciences, marketing and management, she is fluent in six languages and commands a social media following of more than 350,000.

Bardella, meanwhile, has served as president of the nationalist National Rally party for a decade.