Masked royal family turn out in force for Monaco’s National Day

A playful Prince Jacques of Monaco was kept in line by his aunt as he pulled faces during the National Day festivities today – as Prince Albert attended without Charlene while she ‘recovers from fatigue’ in a secret location. 

Prince Albert, 63,  lead members of the Monegasque royal family at today’s festivities, after confirming earlier this week that his wife Princess Charlene, 43, would not be attending the event. 

Instead, Princess Caroline of Hanover, 63, and Princess Stephanie, 56, joined the monarch for the mass and outdoor ceremony at the palace.

The trio could be seen chaperoning Prince Albert’s children Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques, six, who appeared in a particularly playful mood and at one point could be seen being disciplined by his aunt. 

The little boy could be seen blowing raspberries at the crowd, playing with his uniform and pouting before Princess Caroline bent down to speak to him.  

The royal family of Monaco put on a glamorous display as they celebrated the country’s National Day at the Monaco Palace today (pictured Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Caroline of Hanover, Princess Stephanie, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella)

Princess Caroline could be seen chaperoning Prince Albert's children Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques, six, who appeared in a particularly playful mood and at one point could be seen being disciplined by his aunt

Princess Caroline could be seen chaperoning Prince Albert's children Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques, six, who appeared in a particularly playful mood and at one point could be seen being disciplined by his aunt

Princess Caroline could be seen chaperoning Prince Albert’s children Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques, six, who appeared in a particularly playful mood and at one point could be seen being disciplined by his aunt 

At one stage, Princess Caroline could be seen appearing to wag her finger at the little boy (pictured)

At one stage, Princess Caroline could be seen appearing to wag her finger at the little boy (pictured) 

The six-year-old, who wore a miniature military uniform for the occasion as he has on other years he has attended, could be seen pouting and scowling at the crowd

The six-year-old, who wore a miniature military uniform for the occasion as he has on other years he has attended, could be seen pouting and scowling at the crowd

The six-year-old, who wore a miniature military uniform for the occasion as he has on other years he has attended, could be seen pouting and scowling at the crowd 

Princess Charlene last night shared an Instagram post from the ‘secret location’ where she is recovering from a ‘fatigue that’s not just physical’, after Prince Albert revealed she had left the principality. 

The royal marked Monaco’s National Day – one of the biggest events in the royal calendar – with a video of the Monaco flag set to the national anthem.

Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of Princess Charlene after Albert his wife, who has appeared increasingly frail, had left Monaco less than two weeks after her return from a 10-month stay in South Africa. 

‘She is better but she still needs rest and peace,’ he said in an interview in Monaco-Matin, translated from French. ‘She is not in the Principality but we will be able to visit her very soon. 

Carabiniers of Prince Albert II of Monaco, wearing protective face masks, arrive at Monaco Cathedral during the celebrations marking Monaco's National Day

Carabiniers of Prince Albert II of Monaco, wearing protective face masks, arrive at Monaco Cathedral during the celebrations marking Monaco’s National Day

Prince Albert II was joined by Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella to stand on the palace balcony during the celebrations marking Monaco's National Day (pictured)

Prince Albert II was joined by Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella to stand on the palace balcony during the celebrations marking Monaco’s National Day (pictured) 

Prince Albert could be seen whispering to his children as they joined him on the balcony to wave to crowds during the National Day celebrations today

Prince Albert could be seen whispering to his children as they joined him on the balcony to wave to crowds during the National Day celebrations today

Prince Albert could be seen whispering to his children as they joined him on the balcony to wave to crowds during the National Day celebrations today (left and right) 

And it wasn't just Prince Jacques having all the fun! During the outing today, Princess Gabriella couldn't keep her hands off her brother's military style hat

And it wasn’t just Prince Jacques having all the fun! During the outing today, Princess Gabriella couldn’t keep her hands off her brother’s military style hat 

The six-year-old, who wore a pink coat with a white dress and matching accessories, including a white beret, for the outing could be seen fiddling with her father's uniform

The six-year-old, who wore a pink coat with a white dress and matching accessories, including a white beret, for the outing could be seen fiddling with her father’s uniform

‘I cannot tell you more out of discretion. There is tiredness, not just physical, which can only be treated with a period of rest and monitoring.’ 

Yesterday, Albert said their children, Jacques and Gabriella, had ‘suffered from the absence of their mother’ but that he had compensated by stepping up to take a more active role in their lives.  

‘For me, it’s pretty simple – my priority is my family,’ the prince said, when asked about juggling the role of being a head of state and a father. 

He continued: ‘This is an extremely important time in [the children’s] life – the way they grow up helps them see the world. 

Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Caroline of Hanover attended a thanksgiving mass at the Cathedral of Monaco this morning

Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Caroline of Hanover attended a thanksgiving mass at the Cathedral of Monaco this morning

Meanwhile Princess Stephanie cut an elegant figure in a grey coat, which she paired with a tonal top and shorts, as well as a black mask and leather gloves

Meanwhile Princess Stephanie cut an elegant figure in a grey coat, which she paired with a tonal top and shorts, as well as a black mask and leather gloves 

Instead, Princess Caroline of Hanover, 63, and Princess Stephanie, 56, joined the monarch for the mass and outdoor ceremony at the palace

Instead, Princess Caroline of Hanover, 63, and Princess Stephanie, 56, joined the monarch for the mass and outdoor ceremony at the palace

Meanwhile, Princess Caroline of Hanover, 63, and Princess Stephanie, 56, joined the monarch for the mass and outdoor ceremony at the palace (left and right) 

‘And if one of the parents is away for medical reasons, the other parent has to be there. I have heard too many friends and acquaintances telling me that they wish they had been there for their children, at a certain age, taken up by their work or their professional life. I don’t want to have these regrets.’ 

Asked if the children had been ‘more protected’ during their mother’s absence, Albert added: ‘They should be protected in general, but of course they suffered from the absence of their mother. But they had enough distractions and a family circle that made sure they were not lacking in affection.’ 

The prince also said rumours around the state of his marriage ‘don’t bother him too much’.

It comes after the House of Grimaldi confirmed Charlene will not attend Monaco’s National Day celebrations – one of the biggest events in the royal calendar.

Princess Charlene shared a video of Monaco's national anthem and flag on her Instagram last night, hours after Prince Albert confessed his wife is no longer in the country (pictured together, earlier this month)

Princess Charlene shared a video of Monaco’s national anthem and flag on her Instagram last night, hours after Prince Albert confessed his wife is no longer in the country (pictured together, earlier this month) 

Charlene returned to her husband and twins Jacques and Gabriella in Monaco last Monday following a 10-month absence while she recovered from surgery following a sinus infection she contracted during a solo charity trip to her native South Africa earlier this year.

Prince Albert looked dashing in his formal military dress.

Meanwhile Princess Gabriella wore a pretty pink coat dress for the occasion, with a matching pink beret and white wool tights to keep warm. 

Also expected at the event are Princess Alexandra of Hanover, 20, Pierre Casiraghi, 32, his wife Beatrice Borromeo, and their children Stefano, 2, and Francesco, 1. 

Prince Albert of Monaco cut a dashing figure in military dress in his first public appearance since he revealed Princess Charlene is no longer in the principality

Prince Albert of Monaco cut a dashing figure in military dress in his first public appearance since he revealed Princess Charlene is no longer in the principality

Prince Albert of Monaco cut a dashing figure in military dress in his first public appearance since he revealed Princess Charlene is no longer in the principality 

The royal donned a black facemask as he arrived for the celebration at Monaco Cathedral during the celebrations marking Monaco's National Day

The royal donned a black facemask as he arrived for the celebration at Monaco Cathedral during the celebrations marking Monaco’s National Day

They are likely to be joined by Caroline’s elder son Andrea Casiraghi, 35, and his American-born wife Tatiana Santo Domingo, 35.

Meanwhile Princess Stéphanie of Monaco’s son Louis Ducruet, 26, his wife Marie Chevallier, 26, are also likely to be present. 

The National Day of Monaco, also known as the Sovereign Prince’s Day, is celebrated every year on November 19. 

The annual holiday takes place on the same day as Prince Albert of Monaco ascended to the throne. The date of the National Day was traditionally determined by the reigning Prince. The previous Princes often chose the day of the saint they were named after. 

The National Day of Monaco, also known as the Sovereign Prince's Day, is celebrated every year on November 19 (pictured)

The National Day of Monaco, also known as the Sovereign Prince’s Day, is celebrated every year on November 19 (pictured)

The annual holiday takes place on the same day as Prince Albert of Monaco ascended to the throne. The date of the National Day was traditionally determined by the reigning Prince. The previous Princes often chose the day of the saint they were named after.

The annual holiday takes place on the same day as Prince Albert of Monaco ascended to the throne. The date of the National Day was traditionally determined by the reigning Prince. The previous Princes often chose the day of the saint they were named after.

However, when Prince Albert II ascended the throne he ended this tradition by choosing the same day as his father Prince Rainier III.

National day is typically celebrated with fireworks over the harbour the evening before and a mass in the St. Nicholas Cathedral the next morning.

The people of Monaco may celebrate by waving the Monegasque flag.

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