After two years away from Monaco’s National Day celebrations, Princess Charlene made her return to the palace balcony on Saturday, joined by her husband Prince Albert and their 8-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. According to People, other members of the extended Grimaldi clan, including Albert’s sisters Princess Stephanie and Princess Caroline and their children, were present for a 90-minute Te Deum mass before they drove through the streets of Monte Carlo.
Charlene wore a long, white coat by Akris and a hat by milliner Stephen Jones. Afterward, she shared a picture of the children inside the palace on her Instagram account. For the first time, Jacques wore the traditional police uniform and cap along and Gabriella wore a red coat and black hat. (The uneven fringe from the haircut she gave herself before school started in September looks to be growing back in.) When the children went outside for the ceremony, they also donned Order of Grimaldi medals for the first time.
This weekend’s activities mark the first time that Charlene has celebrated Monaco’s annual holiday since 2019. In 2020, the festivities were canceled due to COVID-19, and in 2021, Charlene canceled her appearance due to her extended recovery from an ear, nose, and throat infection. She returned to Monaco in early November 2021 after spending at least five months grounded in her native South Africa due to her illness. When she arrived in Monaco, she was still recovering and later traveled to a clinic in Switzerland to continue her convalescence. In May 2022, she returned to her royal duties.
Later that night, the adults of the family attended a gala at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo. Charlene wore a navy gown by Terence Bray, one of her longtime favorites, and accessorized it with a sash with the colors of the Monaco flag and an Order of Grimaldi starburst. Albert’s niece Charlotte Casiraghi also attended, wearing a tweed Chanel gown.
Two weeks ago, Albert and Charlene traveled to New York City to the Princess Grace Awards Annual Gala honoring a selection of winners in theater, dance, and film. While there, Charlene became the first to wear the Grace diamond, a 1.79-carat pink diamond set into a necklace by jeweler Lorenz Bäumer and haute jewelry brand Maison Mazerea.
Listen to Vanity Fair’s DYNASTY podcast now.
