With the Easter holidays in full swing, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella have joined their parents, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlène, on a family trip to northern France. The two-day visit will encompass stops in several towns in Brittany and Normandy as the Grimaldis celebrate the centuries-old family ties between Monaco and this part of France.
Prince Albert regularly embarks on trips across Europe to visit the many places of historical significance that have ties to the Grimaldi family. He usually goes it alone, but on this latest round of travels, he has been joined by Princess Charlène, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, making this Brittany-Normandy trip a real family affair.
The excursion began on Wednesday 9th April in the Côtes-d’Armor town of Matignon, the historic hometown of the Matignon family. In the early 18th century, Jacques IV of Matignon, a prominent figure from the region, married Princess Louise-Hippolyte Grimaldi, the daughter of Prince Antoine I of Monaco. Their wedding in 1715 saw Jacques abandon his family name and embrace his future as Prince Jacques I of Monaco. He ruled between 1731 and 1733, when he abdicated in favour of their son, Prince Honoré III.
Their union created a bond between the Principality and northern France, with the Hôtel de Matignon in Paris becoming an official residence of Monaco’s Princes until the late 18th century.
During this 2025 revisiting of their roots, the Princely Family were welcomed warmly by the townsfolk, with François de Keréver, Prefect of Côtes-d’Armor, and Jean-René Carfantan, Mayor of Matignon, leading the way in the tributes. The young Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella looked incredibly at ease in their roles, taking to their official tasks and responsibility with aplomb and confidence, while Prince Albert and Princess Charlène mingled with the crowds.
After a stroll through the traditional village market, a commemorative plaque was unveiled symbolising Matignon’s historic connections to the Grimaldi family. The Prince then attended a formal ceremony at the Rainier III Sports Hall, where local authorities and residents had gathered as part of the celebrations.
The Princely Family later moved on to the nearby Fort La Latte in Plévenon, a 14th-century castle once owned by Étienne III de Goyon, Lord of Matignon. The castle has long been a symbol of the region’s historical links to the Grimaldi family. Here, the foursome also unveiled a plaque recognising the municipality’s inclusion in the Grimaldi Historic Sites Network (Sites historiques Grimaldi de Monaco) alongside the town’s Mayor, Hervé Van Praag.
In the afternoon, the entourage continued their journey to Moyon Villages in Manche, where Prince Albert inaugurated the Grimaldi Media Library, a cultural initiative invoking the family’s heritage. He was joined by Xavier Brunetière, Prefect of Manche, and Jean-Pierre Louise, Mayor of Moyon Villages.
In the evening, the Prince met with Jean Morin, President of the Manche Departmental Council, at the Departmental House in Saint-Lô, where they announced the digitisation of the Matignon collection from the Prince’s Palace archives. This initiative will allow the public to access these valuable historical records online through the Manche Departmental Archives website.
To see more photographs from the first day of the Princely Family’s visit to northern France, click on the images below:
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Photos credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco / Olivier Huitel