Princess Gabriella stepped into a more public role on 9th July as she joined Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene and her twin brother Prince Jacques for a visit to Carladès, the region tied to her title as Countess. The day featured a series of tributes that quietly marked her growing presence within Monaco’s public life.
Princess Gabriella took centre stage during the official visit to Carladès, the rural region of southern France historically linked to the Grimaldi dynasty. Accompanied by her parents and brother, the 10-year-old Princess was at the heart of several dedications that acknowledged both her family’s legacy and her symbolic role in it.
Square Princess Gabriella unveiled in Vic-sur-Cère
The first stop was Vic-sur-Cère, once the capital of the County of Carladès and home to a former residence of the Princes of Monaco. Here, Square Princess Gabriella was officially inaugurated as part of a wider urban renewal project. In a formal gesture led by Mayor Annie Delrieu, Princess Gabriella was presented with the key to the town.
Prince Albert, addressing local officials and residents, described the visit as “a way for our children to connect with their history not just through books, but through the people and places that continue to give it meaning.” He was careful to situate the visit in the present, not as a return to outdated forms of ceremony, but as “a reciprocal acknowledgement of shared history”.
A new namesake library in Mur-de-Barrez
Later, in Mur-de-Barrez, the Princely Family were welcomed to a new media library, which will now carry the name Princess Gabriella Media Library, following a proposal by the Aubrac-Carladez-Viadène community. The Princess, still at ease despite the official setting, was introduced to local children and residents, as her father noted the importance of creating “living links” with communities historically connected to Monaco.
A stamp bearing the image of the town’s Tour de Monaco was also unveiled by Prince Albert, part of the Grimaldi Historic Sites initiative, which now spans over 80 towns across France with longstanding links to the Principality.
A quiet moment in Carlat rounds off the day
The day concluded in Carlat, where a small botanical garden was opened in Princess Gabriella’s name. A family photograph was taken beside a tree famously associated with Prince Albert’s grandmother, Princess Charlotte, linking three generations through a simple, personal gesture rather than formal tribute.
First granted to Monaco by King Louis XIII in 1643, Carladès is part of the rich web of historical ties that still shape Monaco’s cultural diplomacy. With the visit, Princess Gabriella begins to step into her role as Countess of Carladès—not as a ceremonial figure, but as part of a contemporary effort to sustain meaningful, cross-generational links with the French territories that share the Principality’s past.
See more in the gallery below. All photos credit: Eric Mathon/Palais princier
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