Prince Albert II of Monaco returned to the Carlades region on Wednesday 9 July, accompanied by Princess Charlène and their children, Crown Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, for a symbolic visit underscoring the Grimaldi family’s historical ties to the area.
The Sovereign’s return comes eleven years after his last official trip to this region of central France, which has belonged to the House of Grimaldi since 1643, when King Louis XIII granted the County of Carlades to Prince Honoré II. Since then, the hereditary title of Count or Countess of Carlades has traditionally been held by the second in line to the Monegasque throne — a role now occupied by Princess Gabriella.
Fittingly, the young Princess was at the centre of a series of dedications throughout the day. In Vic-sur-Cère, the family’s first stop, Princess Gabriella was presented with the symbolic key to the city by Mayor Annie Delrieu during the inauguration of the newly named Square Princess Gabriella.
In Mur-de-Barrez, the delegation took part in a ceremony at Square de Monaco, before Princess Gabriella unveiled a media library that now bears her name, accompanied by her parents and twin brother.
The final stop was Carlat, where the imposing castle rock — still a symbolic property of the Grimaldi dynasty — served as the backdrop for the inauguration of a botanical garden named in honour of the Princess. A family photograph was taken beneath the same tree where Prince Albert’s grandmother, Princess Charlotte, had been photographed in 1912, reinforcing the deep generational connection between Monaco and Carlades.
The visit not only reaffirmed the historical bond between the Principality and the region but also placed a spotlight on Princess Gabriella’s symbolic role, highlighting the Grimaldi family’s continued legacy in this storied corner of France.
Image courtesy of Eric Mathon / Prince’s Palace
