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Monaco

Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques get their first taste of Africa

The four-year-old twins of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco, Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques, have had their first taste of Africa – their mother’s homeland.

In an Instagram video, Princess Charlene shared an array of different images of her children in Africa stating simply, “First African Experience.”

Their Serene Highnesses looked bewildered at the animals while on a safari in South Africa.

Two years ago, Princess Charlene promised that her children would experience and be exposed to their African heritage.

Little Gabriella and Jacques accompanied their mother to her home country where she was there for an event with her namesake foundation – The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.

The Princess of Monaco was in South Africa to attend the “aQuellé Midmar Mile.” She previously participated in the event – dubbed “one of the largest open water swimming events in the world” – in 2011.

The 2019 event saw over 17,000 swimmers from across the globe participate.

Her Serene Highness was able also to meet up with her former swimming coach, Mr Graham Hill, who is also the South African national coach.

According to the Princess’s foundation, “She also encouraged the Ambassador of Her Foundation, Terence Parkin, who is currently conducting a sporting challenge to raise funds for Her Foundation.”

The organisation shared several images from the event on their official Facebook and website.

Princess Charlene is a former Olympic swimmer who represented South Africa in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. She retired in 2007.

This was not the first trip of 2019 for the twins and their mother. In January, the family was in New York City, and Charlene said on Instagram, “Great adventure and a wonderful experience! Thank You, America.

They also took in the sombre experience of visiting Ground Zero – the site of the former World Trade Centers which were destroyed and thousands killed on 11 September 2001 in a terrorist attack.

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.