This year, the military parade for Monaco’s national day welcomed a detachment of the French Republican Guard. The guard of the President of the Republic had the honor of parading under the attentive gaze of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, who followed the parade from one of the balconies of the princely palace with their children, hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.
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Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene with their twins on the balcony to conclude the National Day events
The military parade is the third and final sequence of the public celebrations of the Monegasque national day. Every year, on November 19, the day of Blessed Rainier of Arezzo, which was also the date of enthronement of Prince Rainier III in 1949, Monegasques celebrate their sovereign and his family during the national holiday. The day begins with a solemn mass of thanksgiving and a Te Deum at Notre-Dame Cathedral. The mass is followed by a medal ceremony in the main courtyard of the princely palace.
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Once the awards ceremony is over, the princely family leaves the main courtyard and returns to the princely palace. A few minutes later, the members of the family reappeared on the balconies and windows of the palace. From up there, Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, hereditary Prince Jacques, Princess Gabriella, Princess Caroline, Princess Stéphanie and the other members of the princely family watch the military parade which takes place at the foot of the palace.
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Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella applaud the riders of the Republican Guard
This year, the exceptional guests of this parade were the Republican Guard detachment. The Prince’s Carabineers invited their French counterparts to underline the friendship between these two protection units for the Head of State. The presence of French soldiers especially marked the recent agreement signed between the carabinieri and the guards.
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The Republican Guard, which today numbers more than 3,500 men and women, has never been to Monaco. 128 years ago, the only French unit that was invited to Monaco was that of the 250 French armored horsemen who accompanied President Félix Faure during a visit to Monaco, at the invitation of Charles III. This Tuesday, twelve horse guards paraded, a particular configuration since there are usually at least twenty-four of them taking turns playing the trumpet.
Hereditary Prince Jacques and his twin sister, Princess Gabriella, didn’t miss anything of the spectacle. Since they were little, their parents have given them a place on the balcony, from where they watch the parade, henceforth adopting a much more serious attitude. The princely couple’s twins will celebrate their 10th birthday in less than a month. The military parade is also an opportunity for the population to see other young members of the princely family who appear on the balcony. On the other balconies of the princely palace were the children and step-children of Princess Caroline of Hanover and Princess Stephanie, some accompanied by their own children.
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The Prince’s Carabiniers Company, which has a little over a hundred officers and non-commissioned officers, as well as the Republican Guard, created by Napoleon Bonaparte as consul, have similar missions. Their main missions are to protect, defend, and serve the highest dignitaries of their respective nations, i.e. the sovereign prince for one and the President of the Republic for the other. A technical agreement was signed between the two units. The carabinieri and guards will now carry out joint training and share their experiences, allowing them to increase their level of competence.
During this parade, the Republican Guard marched on foot, then it was joined by a section of motorcycles, then another made up of twelve horsemen. In all, around sixty Republican Guards were gathered around the Prince’s carabineers and other protection forces participating in the parade.
The Republican Guard also contributes to the cultural influence of France, particularly during trips like this, abroad, and thanks to its musical detachment. The Republican Guard, belonging to the National Gendarmerie, has an orchestra of 150 musicians and also has the choirs of the French Army. Since 1978, the carabiniers have also had their own musical formation, called the Fanfare of the Company of the Prince’s Carabiniers, which has more than twenty musicians.
The parade concluded with a burst of “Hooray!” Hooray! » chanted by the population gathered at the foot of the princely palace, towards the sovereign family who salutes from the balcony. Public celebrations will take place all day and it is in the evening that the princely family will make their reappearance. The gala evening will take place in the Salle des Princes of the Grimaldi Forum with a performance of “La Bohême” by Giacomo Puccini.
Nicolas Fontaine
Editor-in-chief
Nicolas Fontaine has been a designer-editor and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in royal family news, Nicolas founded the site Histoires royales of which he is the editor-in-chief. [email protected]
