A Monaco Retrospective - Christmas at the Palace

[michelle]

...just wonderful...the affection they have for the kids....

(BdP)

 

[monaco70s]

Great job everyone I wonder if the Casiraghis or Stephanie's children will show up to help out this year?

 

[iceflower]

That would definetly be great, Monacos, but I fear we won't see any of them..

And Michelle, although some of your pics were not taken at the Palace, they are great!!

So nice to see so many happy children and such a proud Santa Claus :

And two pics from 2000:

(gettyimages)

 

[lady_windsor]

it is such a wonderful thing they are doing

 

[mw7060a]

I wonder who they will get to play Santa Claus at the Palace this Christmas.

 

[monaco70s]

I also think the same Iceflower

As for who will be playing Santa Claus this year, I think it might be one of the Palace's employees.

 

[sebastian]

Have you already asked yourself how the family will spend christmas! Where they will be!

Here's some desription of christmas 1995 ( ten years ago ) by Daniel Ducruet. It also gives you a little insight on how things go at the Palace:

...It was the first time i drove my presonnal car into the Palace court.....the carabiniers and the servants saluted us as they are supposed to do. They always do this showing a lot of respect toward the members of the princely family but also towards their guests....... For this traditional christmas lunch I was invited to the house of Rainier Grimaldi, father of the woman I loved. We arrived in a room immensley big which was especially arranged for that occasion. There was a gigantic christmas tree in this room with a great number of chistmas presents underneeth. There was long table with on top many different kinds of food , cold , 'salées et sucrés' ...it was some kind of buffet...You went of to find your father and to tell him the kids were waiting for him. On the rooms walls there were a lot of photos of your mother Grace... it was as if she was present.After a few muínutes your father arrived with your brother Albert, your sister Caroline, Andrea, Charlotte and Pierre... and your auntie Antoinette.... The children were running around and once they had opend all their presents they played together happily... and we, the adults, had a lot of time for conversation....

 

[monaco70s]

Thanks Sebastian for this tidbit I think this Christmas will be a sad one due to the loss of Prince Rainier, but I'm sure all the family will be together like during the enthronement ceremonies.

 

[Ianna]

Great photos Michelle and Iceflower! That one of Stephanie kissing hand of little girl is so, so sweet!
Idea of inviting children to Palace to give them Christmas presents, and having that tradition going on for years and years no matter on circumstances, is one reason more for loving Grimaldis!

Two more I found at Focus..(don't know the year )

 

[iceflower]

They are from 2000, Ianna, thanks for adding them!!

 

[CasiraghiTrio]

What is the exact day the Grimaldis do the Christmas present giving at the palace and who specifically are invited? Do they invite children from a specific school, charity, or other organization?
Will it be special this year, maybe with more family members attending (hoping the trio especially, of course!) because of Albert's accession year?

 

[towsend]

So here are the christmas pix of 1993 I have. I forgot to tell you, Iceflower that my collection is fixed on The Casi's and not the other members. I do have them but not as many I have on the Casi"s.
Source: Hola , Hello, Gente Weekend.

 

[towsend]

And two more... (1993) Source: Hola

 

[towsend]

And from 1995. Source: Hello, Gente, Gala Hello

 

[paca]

What is the exact day the Grimaldis do the Christmas present giving at the palace and who specifically are invited? Do they invite children from a specific school, charity, or other organization?
Will it be special this year, maybe with more family members attending (hoping the trio especially, of course!) because of Albert's accession year?

I think it will be next Wednesday afternoon, which is the last schoolafternoon off before the holidays. The children are the children of palace employees only ( so no poor children, those are being taken care of by the city hall) and there is a certain age limit as well. (I think they are all children in maternelle, but I will check that when it's in the paper) I suppose it will be just PA and Steph, who also did it last year ( Rainier was still suffering from his respiratory problems which kept him from attending last NH).

 

[Ianna]

Thanx for info, Iceflower! (Ahh, those years )

Townsend so many pics ..It's always nice to see you around!
Paca, thanks for sharing additional infos right from the center!

 

[Romy]

thank you for the great pics, iceflower, i always love the ones you post. together with the ones of michelle and towsend they are always the best!
maybe you can help me, i once saw a pic of the family sitting next to the christmas tree, do you have that?

 

[iceflower]

Thank you so much for the lovely pics, townsend! And it's very nice to see Antoinette there as well

And Romy thank you for your kind words, I'm always happy to share my pics with others here I'm not sure, but maybe this could be the pic you are searching for?! I also add one of Grace and Albert in 1970 and one of Grace preparing the Christmas presents

(Point de Vue)

 

[Ianna]

Iceflower, with those pics you really made Christmas atmosphere! Sound of "Jingle Bells" in the air..

First Christmas giving for cutie Caroline, 1957 (Ebay)

Family together with children enyojing Christmas play, 1966 (Newscom)

 

[purple_platinum]

it may not be from inside the palace.. but looks like christmas has hit monaco big time this year,.. it's so beautiful..

Polfoto 10-12-2005 The Place du Casino of Monte Carlo is decorated for Christmas and New Year, with a greenery carrousel reminiscent of the Big Top, in tribute to the 30th anniversary of the Monte Carlo Festival International du Cirque, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, in Monaco.

 

[rrinvan]

Monaco should be so thankful that Princess Grace started this very generous tradition. According to her biographies, this is one project she really cared for, and Prince Rainier approved of it exceptionally because it allowed the Princely Family to be in close contact with their subjects. Also, it gave him a better understanding that he married a woman who has an innate sense of charity, a perfect Princess inside and out.

 

[M|L]

Wow, those pictures are awesome.

Makes me want to spend my Christmas in Monaco instead of home.

 

[paca]

Wow, those pictures are awesome.

Makes me want to spend my Christmas in Monaco instead of home.

Funny you should say that, because a lot of people here do not think it is very xmassy here. ANd I must admit that a few years back, i thought they put a lot more afford into it then since the last 3 or 4 years. I remember, when we had huge Santa mailboxes all over MC where children could send their letters to Santa ( which all received an answer btw) and xmas carols playing in the streets. Now we just have the basic decoration, which is put up every year.

 

[Romy]

And Romy thank you for your kind words, I'm always happy to share my pics with others here I'm not sure, but maybe this could be the pic you are searching for?! I also add one of Grace and Albert in 1970 and one of Grace preparing the Christmas presents

great! thank you so much, iceflower, that's the pic i thought of! your are the best! thank you!

 

[towsend]

A christmas photo in the palais. Source: Own scan form Gente

And a old one giving presents.. Source: own scan from???

 

[iceflower]

The pics from ebay are so sweet Ianna, but please don't remind me of jingle bells, you know why...
Romy, you are welcome and thanks for the additional pics purple and Townsend!!

 

[michelle]

We would like to wish all of you a very merry christmas and a happy new year...

Love, Michelle and Sebastian

 

[iceflower]

Same for me...

(based on: frog art)

 

[tbhrc]

Also for me.....

(Made by myself)

 

[Piewi]

I sercond all of you

Merry Christmas and happy new year!
Have a good time, kisess