Monaco celebrates its national day this Tuesday, also known as Prince's Day. As is customary every November 19, the Monegasque royal family takes part in a series of colorful official events that culminate in a group photo of all its members at the Palais Princier and a greeting from their balconies.
The events began this morning with a mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate of Monaco, offered by the country's Archbishop, Archbishop Dominique-Marie David. The religious service, attended only by the adult members of the Grimaldi family, was followed by a solemn medal ceremony at the Palais Princier, where Albert II decorated soldiers from the armed forces. Following this, the traditional military parade took place, during which Prince Jaime and Princess Gabriela, the twins (he is the heir) of Albert II and Charlene of Monaco, were seen. They will turn ten on December 10th.
Prince Albert II with Princesses Charlene, Caroline, and Stephanie of Monaco
At the official events this Tuesday, all the children of Princesses Caroline and Stephanie have also participated: Pierre Casiraghi, with his wife, Beatrice Borromeo; Andrea Casiraghi, with Tatiana Santo Domingo; Charlotte Casiraghi; Alexandra of Hanover; Louis Ducruet with his wife, Marie Chevallier; Pauline Ducruet; and Camille Gottlieb. Their children have joined them after the religious service and have all posed together on the balcony, once again offering a glimpse of the family.
After Charlene's absence in 2021 due to recovering from a mysterious illness, Carlota Casiraghi's absences in several events prior, and Dimitri Rassam's absence last year before his divorce from Carlota was confirmed, this year all the familiar faces of the Grimaldi family have appeared, as was the case in 2022.
Posing of some members of the Grimaldi and Wittstock families
Some members of the Wittstock family, brothers and nieces of Charlene, as well as other relatives of the Grimaldi family, have also posed for the family photo, as has been the custom for several years now.
When it comes to the highly anticipated looks of some family members, Carolina and Carlota always stand out. After a few years of the daughter flirting with the Gucci brand, both now exclusively wear Chanel. The mother wore a long black jacket that barely revealed the colorful floral-print dress underneath. Carlota, on the other hand, stood out in a buttoned-up cyan blue coat.
Carlota Casiraghi, dressed in Chanel
On the other hand, in these official celebrations in the principality, the children that Prince Albert II had before his marriage are left out. Last year, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, the eldest daughter of Prince Albert II of Monaco from a relationship with American waitress Tamara Rotolo, shared her desire to participate in the events on her now deactivated Instagram. “I hope to be able to celebrate it someday and be openly accepted with and by all of you!” she wrote. In the same message, Jazmin Grace recalled her American roots from her grandmother, Grace Kelly, and her Monegasque roots from her grandfather, Prince Rainier III, and justified that “we all have a unique and complex story when it comes to family.”
Acknowledged by her father in 2006, Jazmin Grace, like her half-brother Alexandre Grimaldi, does not have any official role in Monaco and is not included in the line of succession to the throne. At times, Jazmin Grace has taken part in some social, charitable, or sporting events in the principality alongside her father, with whom she maintains a close relationship. However, she never attends the national festivities or the Rose Ball, the two most prominent showcases of the Grimaldi family.
A moment from the military parade on Monaco's National Day in 2024
The situation of Jazmin Grace, daughter of American waitress Tamara Rotolo, and Alexandre, son of flight attendant Nicole Coste, is not exceptional in the Monegasque royal family. Their aunt, Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, had an extramarital daughter, Camille Marie Kelly Gottlieb, with her bodyguard, Jean Raymond Gottlieb. Camille is also not in line for succession, but she is invited to national events and even had a leading role in the Monaco Red Cross gala dance last July.
The national day of Monaco is currently celebrated on November 19th. In the past, the date of the Prince's Day was set on the feast day of the reigning prince's patron saint, and therefore changed from one reign to another. Prince Albert II kept the same date as his father in his honor, so the holiday corresponds to the day of Saint Rainier of Arezzo, a Franciscan monk.