I knew it, she has a reputation for that. I was in for meeting a lady of a rare elegance. She looked so much younger than her age you might think she had forged her ID. But I was still in for a surprise. Louisette Lévy-Soussan dazzled me with her simplicity, refinement and her words, revealing a great liveliness of mind and a true intelligence of the heart. Grace Kelly’s private secretary, confidante, and in a way, friend, certainly had something in common with the sublime Princess of Monaco.
The president of the Club of Foreign Residents of Monaco (CREM) in the company of her faithful dog Joy settled in the Club’s opulent lounge for a candid interview. A cosy atmosphere, comfortable sofas, yacht-style woodwork and a welcoming bar. Chic and warm. In line with the lady who loves people, beautiful things, classical music, jazz, flowers… In a nutshell, life.
Hello Monaco: You have Italian roots… What was your first contact with the Principality?
Louisette Azzoaglio Lévy-Soussan: I was born in Monaco to an Italian father, a native of the Principality, and a mother from Piedmont. I was actually born in the Palace since my parents both lived and worked there. My father was a butler. Prince Louis II was my godfather. Before studying literature at the University of Nice, I attended the Collège Saint-Maur in Monaco. But I wasn’t very diligent…
HM: And what was your career path like after that?
Louisette: I fell in love with a medical student and just decided to become a nurse… (laughs) Prior to that, I had spent a year in the United Kingdom and a year in Sweden to become perfectly fluent in English.
HM: And how did you happen to meet Princess Grace?
Louisette: I was already present at the Palace. By that time, I had held a few positions, namely that of Colonel Ardant’s secretary (father of actress Fanny Ardant). One day, the Princess’ personal assistant just decided to return to her home country, Canada, for family reasons. I was asked to fill in before the new secretary was being appointed. And I stayed with her for 19 years, until she passed away!
HM: What memories do you have of your first encounter with the Princess?
Louisette: I was very impressed. In fact, I was scared to death… My English wasn’t necessarily that of an American either. So I was incredibly nervous. But I worked extra hard… in incredible conditions. For me, Princess Grace was a woman who changed my life. I still feel an extraordinary admiration, respect, and gratitude to her. She was a person of great intellectual curiosity and infinite kindness… Just like Prince Albert, by the way! She also had a great sense of humour, and I love that! She dedicated her entire life to the Principality.
HM: Do you have any memorable moments with the Princess?
Louisette: The year I lost my husband, the Princess was preparing to leave for Paris to accompany Princesses Caroline and Stéphanie in their studies. I was completely distraught, and so she decided to take me on for a change of scenery. And she didn’t stop at that. Some time later, I was still very traumatized so I asked her for unpaid leave. She granted me one… I was thus able to go to England where I did another job for three months. It took my mind off things. When I returned, she took me back immediately.
HM: You’re telling me she was a very humane person…
Louisette: She went far beyond the usual charitable actions a princess would take… On top of that, she received an absolutely enormous amount of mail. Letters from all over the world, people asking her for anything and everything. Even advice! People really pouring out their hearts…
HM: Talking about heart matters, you have created several charities. How did you come up with the idea of CREM?
Louisette: When I was working in Paris with the Princess, I did have a few friends. At the same time, I realized how difficult it was to truly integrate somewhere. It struck me what it was like to arrive in a place where you don’t know many people. Even though Paris is immense, here in Monaco, we’re in a microcosm. So I thought it would be nice to allow the new residents to meet and exchange ideas. I wanted to create a space for them, a house also open to the Monegasques, of course.
HM: I believe there are many different nationalities. Do people mix?
Louisette: Yes, absolutely so. Founded in 2010, the club has approximately 500 members representing 50 different nationalities enjoying a truly friendly atmosphere. We hold a variety of events. We welcome musicians, pianists, and violinists, regularly performing in our lounges.
We hold various lectures, from general topics and finance to those providing an in-depth knowledge of the Principality’s various institutions. All of this helps us better understand the system’s inner workings, which aren’t exactly the same as in France, for example. We also organize cultural, festive and sporting trips.
HM: Are you involved in any other charitable work?
Louisette: After the Princess’s passing away, I started working as a secretary for Prince Albert and Princess Stéphanie. That’s when I was contacted by the Founding President of “Action Innocence”, Valérie Wertheimer. Those were the early days of the internet, but we were already apprehending the dangers it may bring. I accepted to open this charity’s branch in Monaco with our motto: “Say yes to the internet, no to its dangers.” It’s all about protecting children. We work with psychologists in primary and middle schools in Monaco and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
I subsequently created “Stradivari” that lasted for a few years and focused on helping young artists, musicians in particular. And yes, I almost forgot! A friend suggested I start a women’s Lions Club which did not exist at the time. I chaired it for twelve years. And then came CREM. I had to knock on every door. Prince Albert helped me, and the premises were generously provided by the Barclay family. Even today, Sir Howard Barclay very graciously continues to lend us this magnificent venue.
HM: Ultimately, you might say that you’re a woman who loves bringing people together…
Louisette: Yes. I think we’re privileged to live in a wonderful place, we should share it as much as possible.
HM: I met you just before the Grand Prix. You mentioned you were fleeing the Principality that time of the year…
Louisette: Yes. When I was young, I was a huge fan. I loved the pilots, the noise, even the smell of burning castor oil! But now I avoid the Grand Prix like the plague. It must be said I live next to the heliport. So you can imagine! I prefer retreating to my house in Piedmont to see my pets (chickens, rabbits, turtles, birds…) and my flowers. You know, I have peasant origins and I was raised in the countryside during the war. I love gardening.
HM: Besides gardening, what are your hobbies?
Louisette: Classical music and jazz above all. I am a fan of the” Printemps des Arts” festival. I also like ballet and theatre, I think in this regard we are very privileged in the Principality. I also love collecting trinkets, souvenirs… I don’t much care for bare designs or interiors at all. And I have lots of plants at home.
HM: What do you think is most important in life?
Louisette: Love! Only love lets us truly understand each other, not intelligence. Love is the only language that works, even with animals. I like to see people around me happy. As we get older, we experience moments of loneliness. It’s important to have a gentle outlook on things. Also, if you don’t love yourself a little, it’s difficult to reach out to others.
HM: If you look back in time, are there things you regret?
Louisette: It’s difficult to say you have no regrets… But I believe we must learn to always look forward to the future, to the unknown we know nothing about. Christians entrust ourselves to God. Prayer, whatever it may be, is good. Praying takes us out of our own shell… The happiest people are those who accept a kind of balance between joy and pain.
HM: And how do you see the future of the world?
Louisette: I can’t say I’m very optimistic! The most serious thing is the lack of values. We no longer respect human beings. How could we, for example, torture people for political reasons? It’s appalling. Regardless of race or religion, we all come from the same place and are going to the same place. All blood is red.
HM.: Do you have a dream?
Louisette: Being able to still learn things that would interest me before I die. Astronomy, for instance, is a field that fascinates me. I’d like to quote Princess Grace who once gave an interview to “Playboy”. When asked how she wanted to be remembered, she replied: “As a decent human being.”
