Princess Hermine de Clermont-Tonnerre has died at the age of 54-years-old following a motorcycle accident, which occurred on the 1st of June. The Fench socialite, who was a member of the House of Clermont-Tonnerre, was subsequently placed into a medically induced coma but did not wake up.
"All her family and friends will keep from Hermine the memory of a great lady with a big heart who always had time for others," her family wrote in a statement to the French magazine, Point de Vue, per Tatler.
"It was enough that she entered a party to change the atmosphere and energise all the assistance. She will remain as a reference for the end of the XXth century of an art of living. She transported you with a joy and a kindness that one that we are not going to forget just like her smile even if she confused more than one by her frankness and her enthusiasm."
She passed away on the 3rd of July.
Princess Hermine was the only daughter of Charles Henri, 11th Duke de Clermont-Tonnerre and Anne Moranvillé.
Known for her iconoclastic tendencies, the publication details that she was a rebellious child, and was "evicted" from nine schools in her youth. In an interview, cited by Tatler, she clarified, however, that she was never expelled: "Instead the schools would advise my mother that another establishment might be more suitable for my character and temperament."
She became a stylist for Dior while cementing her reputation as a socialite, and even appeared on the reality television show, Stars and Crowns.
She went onto feature on two more reality shows, La Ferme Célébrités and Fear Factor[/i]).
Princess Hermine left the house of Dior to set up her own party planning company for the international jet set. However, motorsports remained a passion of hers, and over the course of several years, she took part in the Rallye des Princesses, a women-only motor racing event in classic cars that runs from Paris to Monaco.
She was also a successful author, having penned six novels, which included guides to good manners.
One of her books was titled One day my Prince will come – but where, when and how? Speaking about it in a 2001 interview with The Telegraph, she described it as "like a guidebook" on "the lost art of romance".
Princess Hermine is survived by her ex-husband, French businessman, Alastair Cuddeford, and two children, Allegra and Calixte.
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