Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco Continue Tradition with Children’s Christmas Party at the Palace

This year, the annual children’s Christmas party in Monaco in the palace courtyard featured giant elves and acrobats!

In fact, the elves were palace volunteers dressed in costume, assisting Prince Albert, Princess Charlene and Santa Claus in handing out gifts to the monastic children.

Started by Princess Grace as a way of welcoming children to meet the royal family, Prince Albert has maintained and expanded the holiday tradition. What was once an indoor event with card tables, punch and cartoons, has become one of the most sought-after invitations in the principality. And with Princess Charlene, who this year is wearing a Christmas red Emory sweater with matching gloves, an elegant black redingote from Akris and red Manolo knee-high boots, one of the most elegant.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco on December 20.

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While 9-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella were missing in action (reportedly suffering from a childhood illness), the Prince and Princess were assisted by Princess Stephanie’s son Louis Ducruet (who is about to celebrate his first Christmas as a dad) and her daughter Camille Gottlieb.

The royal twins Prince Albert and Princess Charlene are all grown up in a new Christmas card photo

Camille Gottlieb, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco on December 20.

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The tradition was started by Albert’s parents Princess Grace and Prince Rainier in the early 1960s as a way to introduce the American princess to the children of Monaco. The annual children’s party is a special event that culminates with each child receiving a gift directly from a member of the ruling family.

Each child has a unique opportunity — if only for a few moments — to speak directly to the reigning sovereign.

While the first party featured borrowed reels of Disney cartoons, the annual event now held in an open-air courtyard with booths and booths set up around a giant Christmas tree truly resembles a Christmas market. Children between the ages of 5 and 12 (this year 680!) and several accompanying adults line up in front of the palace gates, entering the clock tower.

Ceremony at the children’s party at the princely palace in Monaco on December 20.

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There are acrobats, magicians and entertainers, but the highlight is undoubtedly when each child, in turn, is performed in front of a member of the royal family. Each is called before receiving a custom gift, something that is researched or sought after when the child is invited to attend. The biggest demand this year was a lot of Playmobil Novelmore and Spiderman racing sets — but that’s not all!

Continuing the festivities, the huts in the courtyard offer many treats including ginger cookies, cakes and the legendary hot chocolate from the palace itself.

Prince Albert greets Santa Claus at the palace in Monaco on December 20.

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The story goes that when Princess Caroline and Prince Albert were children, Prince Rainier was dissatisfied with the milk of a local farmer. The prince then brought dairy cows to his farm on top of Roc Agel mountain. The same herd continues to supply the palace, and many years ago, the palace chef Christian Garcia came up with a recipe for hot chocolate that is thicker than one might imagine. One returnee says it tastes like melted candy and cinnamon. “I start dreaming in May. Right after Easter,” he swears.

Sharing his recipe with PEOPLE a few years ago, Garcia admitted that “the secret to the palace’s famous Christmas hot chocolate is certainly the quality of the whole milk produced by the Roc Agel dairy cows. And a good mix of dark chocolate.” Garcia uses a 70% chocolate blend from the Dominican Republic to get the recipe just right.

The next step for the royal family is a planned vacation, which will take Prince Albert, Princess Charlene and their twins on a trip to Antarctica. Parents described the trip as part of a learning experience when revealing their vacation plans Monaco Matin in November.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco on December 20.

VALERY HACHE/POOL/AFP via Getty

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“I don’t know if many children their age have ever visited so many countries,” Prince Albert told the newspaper. “But it is part of their education. We will also go to Antarctica at the end of the year, on a trip organized by the Oceanographic Museum and Roberto Calcagno, which, I believe, will be a wonderful adventure for all of us, but especially for them.”

It will also be the second time Crown Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella have visited polar climates. The twins accompanied their father sailing across the Arctic Circle during their trip to Norway last June.

Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques, Princess Gabriella and Prince Albert at Monaco’s National Day celebrations on November 19.

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Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education