Monaco lives its big day this Friday with the celebration of your National Day. A party that has brought the entire Grimaldi family together again, but this year has been overshadowed by the absence, for the first time, of Princess Charlene. Prince Albert’s wife has temporarily withdrawn from public life to regain health, according to an official statement from the Palace issued this week. Although its institutional return was eagerly awaited, it will not be seen in the end. The Princess returned to the Principality on November 8, after having stayed for six months in South Africa, her native country, suffering from a serious otolaryngological infection that prevented her from flying because she could not equalize the pressure. In fact, Charlene is not even in the Principality as her husband confirmed in an interview on the eve of the great Monegasque festival. “It is not in the Principality, but we will be able to visit it very soon. I can not say more for discretion “, said the sovereign who also gave clues about the ailment of the Princess. “There is fatigue, not just physical, that can only be treated with a period of rest and follow-up ”, he claimed. As it is, and despite this notorious absence, the princely family has once again shone with the presence of Prince Albert, his sisters, the princesses Carolina and Estefanía, and his sons, Pierre Casiraghi, with his wife, Beatrice Borrmeo; Andrea Casiraghi, with Tatiana Santo Domingo; Carlota Casiraghi, Alejandra from Hannover and Louis Ducruet with his wife, Marie, Pauline Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb.
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The small Principality has dawned this Friday with 610 banners and 680 national flags that will remain until December 6. The day before, this Thursday night andhe Monegasque sky was covered with 196 drones that drew up to ten words in the sky, including the “A” and “C” for Alberto and Charlene. Hours later It has been the Princess who shared a significant message since her retirement posting a montage with the Monaco flag flying from the flagpoles, while listening to the national anthem. A short clip, but one that has a lot of meaning because expresses his feelings for his adopted land.
At 9:30 a.m., the princely family has gone to the cathedral to participate in a thanksgiving mass and a Te Deum that the archbishop of the country, Monsignor Dominique-Marie David, has officiated. The first to occupy their seats have been all the children of the princesses Estefanía and Carolina, accompanied by their wives. Has highlighted the presence of Carlota since 2017 I did not participate in this celebration. Has worn for the occasion a striking gold quilted design and has come to the cathedral without her husband, Dimitri Rassam, whom she married in 2019. The Prince arrived alone in a car and the princesses Carolina, in black, and Estefanía, in a gray coat and flat shoes, arrived in the other vehicle. The three together have entered the temple. During the religious ceremony, which has been markedly solemn, the archbishop has said that he hopes that the Princess will soon recover her health. Too they were among those present Charlene’s brothers, Gareth Wittstock, accompanied by his wife, Roisin Galvin, and Sean Wittstock.
After the ceremony, at 11:00 hours, there was a showy delivery of badges and medals in Palace that have given way to a military parade. It was at that moment when have appeared in the courtyard of the Grimaldi residence Jacques and Gabriella, the twins of Alberto and Charlene of six years. Very formal, Jacques has worn the suit of carabinieri, while his sister, who He has not let go of the hand of his aunt Estefanía, he has worn a boiler-colored cloth coat and a white beret. The brothers get along so well that in some moments they have held hands and despite the fact that at certain moments they showed fatigue, they have behaved very well, although they have also shown their most mischievous part Princess Carolina has also been very aware of her little nephew to whom he was explaining what was happening. The little ones have also participated in the kissing, putting a nice note to the day.
Accompanied by his family and by members of the Government, has conndecorated 49 soldiers of the Armed Forces who have been distinguished as knights of the Order of San Carlos. In addition, the medals of honor for work have been awarded to 17 employees of the Palace. A parade has closed the ceremony through the Door of Honor. A motorized detachment made up of nine motorcyclists from the Prince’s Carabinieris corps, four rescue and fire-fighting corps, has also participated, which have delighted the attending public and the little ones. royals.
Alberto de Monaco reappears after announcement that Charlene is temporarily retiring
This year, as a novelty, Alberto de Monaco has wanted to commemorate the National Day his ten years of marriage to Princess Charlene. The couple said ‘yes, I do’ on July 2, 2011 at a religious ceremony that took place in the courtyard of the princely residence. The body of Carabinieris has made the number “10” for this reason, while playing a military band, which has adapted the repertoire for the occasion. Charlene, the great absentee, has not been able to enjoy this tribute live, which her children and her husband have followed from one of the balconies and that the three have applauded with a big smile.
As is tradition, the Prince’s family has seen the military representations from the Palace. This year, the balconies have been especially full of the new generations, since in addition to Jacques and Gabriella, Alberto’s children, the grandchildren of Princess Carolina. The one who has not been seen is Balthazar, Carlota’s son and her husband, Dimitri Rassam, who is already three years old, but his brother has been Raphaël, the child that Carlota had with the French comedian Gad Elmaleh who will be eight years old in December. India, Sacha and Maximilian, children of Andrea and Tatiana Santo Domingo, and Stefano and Francesco, the little ones of Pierre and Beatrice Borromeo, have not missed the parade as is tradition.
Before retiring from the princely balcony and to the cheers of the crowd, Princes Jacques and Gabriella have taken some drawings made by them, where there were hearts, in which you could read: “We miss you mommy” and “I love you mommy”, that have been greeted with a standing ovation.
After the acts of the morning, for in the evening the Monte Carlo Opera will host the show Spanish night where the tenor Plácido Domingo He will perform works by Sorozábal, De Falla, Serrano or Fernández Caballero, among others. The Spanish artist will present the most famous pieces of the Zarzuela (The harbor tavern or The one with the bunch of roses) with sensual arabesques performed by the dancers of the Antonio Gades company, whose artistic direction falls to Stella Arauzo. Along with the Madrid baritone will perform the soprano Saioa Hernández, and the tenor Ismael Jordi. They will be accompanied by the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Within the celebrations with the National Day fair attractions have been installed in Puerto Hércules and a humorous and musical show in the Léo Ferré space. Since 1857 the great day of the Principality has been celebrated on November 19. At first it was commemorated on November 4. After several dances on the date, Prince Albert decided that it would be November 19.
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Alberto de Monaco celebrates National Day for the first time without Charlene, but accompanied by the rest of his family