Prince Honors the Legion

Recently, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco was in Aubagne as guest of honor for the commemoration of the battle of Camerone, the official holiday of the French Foreign Legion. This marks a battle fought in Mexico in which a small band of less than a hundred legionnaires fought to the death against a Mexican republican army that numbered in the thousands. This was during the intervention of Emperor Napoleon III, just prior to the establishment of the Second Mexican Empire. The Sovereign Prince was very honored to participate and recalled the proud stories of his great-grandfather, HSH Prince Louis II, who served in the Foreign Legion in North Africa. Members of the Prince's carabinieri still train with the Legion from time to time as part of the military cooperation between France and Monaco. Andrea and Pierre Casiraghi have both participated in such exercises in the past.

Monaco and Mexico

Today, 16 September, is the national holiday of Mexico and although not often considered there are several connections between Mexico and Monaco. Hereditary Prince Albert (later Sovereign Prince Albert I) served in the Spanish Royal Navy during the Anglo-Spanish-French intervention in Mexico in 1862 which paved the way for the foundation of the Second Mexican Empire. Mexican blood was introduced to the Grimaldi family via Prince Pierre, Duke of Valentinois, the father of HSH Prince Rainier III. Prince Pierre, born Count Pierre Marie Xavier Raphael Antoine Melchior de Polignac, was of French and Mexican descent. His mother, Suzanne Marie de la Torre y Mier was a Mexican, born there in 1858. As seen above, his grandson Prince Albert II (before taking the throne) had a cameo role in the Mexican-American War film "One Man's Hero" wherein he played an Irish volunteer of the famous San Patricio Battalion, even using the last name Kelly in homage to the heritage of his Irish-American mother.