First look at Monaco Royal Charlotte Casiraghi as the new face of Gucci

  As the granddaughter of Grace Kelly, Charlotte Casiraghi was always going to be blessed in the looks department. So it comes as little surprise that designer labels are desperate to dress her.
Gucci last week landed a major coup though, when it announced that the young Monaco Royal had been signed as the label's newest face.
Now the first image from the 25-year-old's campaign for the Italian fashion powerhouse has been released.
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By Royal appointment: The first image showing Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco as the face of Gucci

Paying tribute to her equestrian talents, the shoot, by photographer Peter Lindbergh, took place at a snowy stable.

 

Miss Casiraghi is seen leaning against a hay bale in the final shot with her hair loose and tousled and a scarf tied around the forehead. Her make-up is minimal and her riding boots can be glimpsed in the bottom of the frame.
She also wears a red riding jacket, high-necked black shirt and johdpurs, all most likely part of the riding kit that Gucci exclusively created for her to compete in.

Behind-the-scenes: Footage from the Gucci shoot shows Miss Casiraghi posing with a horse as well

The natural look: Though the young Royal is clearly wearing make-up, it appears to have been kept to a minimum, and her long dark hair is windswept rather than perfectly coiffed

Behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot obtained by Grazia shows Miss Casiraghi posing with a horse as well. Clearly at ease with the animals, she seems in control as she guides its head in order that it is at the best angle for the photographer, and unfazed by the freezing conditions.
Of course the equestrian theme is an important one for Gucci too. Mr Gucci was inspired to use that now-signature red-and-green stripe after seeing it on a horse's saddle in the Fifties.
Though Royals will rarely front fashion campaigns - certainly the Duchess of Cambridge and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie would be unlikely to do so - Miss Casiraghi and Gucci's creative director share a special bond.

Winning shot: Despite wearing just a riding jacket, Miss Casiraghi seemed unfazed by the snowy conditions

Equestrian theme: Though Royals will rarely front fashion campaigns, Miss Casiraghi and Gucci's creative director, Frida Giannini, share a passion for horses

Frida Giannini explained: 'Over the last two years I have had the pleasure and privilege to get to know Charlotte through our shared passion for horses.
'She not only embodies the beauty and the grace of the equestrian, but is also a wonderful ambassador for the sport.'
Miss Casiraghi was equally full of praise for Ms Giannini, adding: 'I admire Frida’s talent as a designer and she has really managed to reinvent the codes of Gucci by giving them a modern twist and a timeless elegance.'
The young Royal follows in the footsteps of the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, who fronted a campaign for a range of equestrian clothing for British firm Musto in 2010.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: CHARLOTTE CASIRAGHI ON HER GUCCI SHOOT