It was a busy National Day weekend for the Princely family.
On Friday, November 17, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene distributed gift baskets to beneficiaries of the Monaco Red Cross on the occasion of the national holiday. Parcels were also offered to town halls of neighbouring municipalities.
The next day, Princess Charlene and her soon-to-be 3-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, had a traditional tea with Monsignor Barsi.
The Princely Couple were the centre of attention on Sunday, November 19. Monaco’s Fête Nationale.
The tradition of National Day dates back to the reign of Prince Charles III, who in 1857 decided that November 4, the Sovereign’s Patron Saint Day, would be declared “Celebration of the Sovereign”.
Prince Rainier III first changed the holiday to April 11 and then moved it to November 19.
Although November 15 is the day of Saint Albert the Great, Prince Albert II kept the November 19 to celebrate National Day as a tribute to his father.
Sunday’s celebration’s started at 9:30 am with the Presentation of Arms and distribution of rank badges and medals in the Court of Honour of the Prince’s Palace.
The Thanksgiving Mass took place from 10:15 am until 11:15 am with a Te Deum at the Cathedral of Monaco.
This was followed at 11:35 am with a military parade in the presence of a detachment of France’s 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment on Palace Square.
The Princely Family made their traditional visit from the Palace windows.
Shortly before 4 pm, Prince Albert made his way over to Fontvieille to participate in the last lap of No Finish Line, which after 194 consecutive hours officially closed its 18th edition raising €436,963 for Children & Future. (More details Monday on MonacoLife.net.)
