Just a day after their evening of movies, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella have once again taken centre stage in the Monaco royal agenda.
The twins were the protagonists of the annual Christmas gifts handing out event, a tradition that, up until now, neither Prince Albert nor Princess Charlene had missed.
And so, to the surprise of many, it was that the two little royals made their appearance in the Princely Palace’s Court of Honour accompanied only by Princess Stéphanie and two of her children, Louis Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb.
The royals welcomed children aged 5 to 12 to the Palace to hand out Christmas presents to the younger members of the Principality and celebrate the holidays with everyone.
Because of the fast spread of a new variant, everyone, regardless of age or vaccination status, had to wear a face mask, respect interpersonal distance and had to have their temperature taken before being allowed inside the Princely Palace.
Even the royals wore face coverings at all times, with Princess Stéphanie sporting a face-covering decorated with Christmas motives, and her son Louis in a tie with snowman and a black mask with a holly sprig on the side.
The Palace did not reveal the reasons behind Prince Albert’s absence.
On the contrary, Princess Charlene not being present was to be expected. After spending roughly six months in South Africa, stranded by an ear, nose and throat infection that made it impossible for her to fly, she finally made her way back to Monaco on 8 November, only to leave Monaco again just one week later to check herself in a treatment facility.
This is an absence that is undoubtedly tinging the holiday season with sadness for the entire family.
