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.

Honoring the Prince's Firemen

Yesterday, HSH Prince Albert II opened the new Centre de Secours de Fontvieille in that ward alongside the Court Chamberlain and Senior Commander of the Public Force of Monaco Colonel Luc Fringant. The Sovereign Prince then decorated eleven Monegasque firefighters with the Medal of Courage and Dedication for their service in the aftermath of the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The Prince sent some of his expert forces to assist the victims of that disaster a year ago and it is very nice and appropriate that these brave individuals are being recognized. Accompanying the Prince was Monsieur Hugues Moret, French Ambassador to Monaco. The ceremony was held at the Fontvieille barracks. Finally, the Prince unveiled a special commemorate plaque for the occasion at the new Centre de Secours de Fontvieille.

MM Video: Grimaldis in Uniform

New Book on the Prince's Guard

For the first time (that I know of) a book has just been released on the Princely Carabiniers, the palace guard and primary military force of Monaco. HSH Prince Albert II was good enough to write a preface for the book which is a photo essay (I like anything with lots of pictures) on the 115 soldiers who serve as the elite guard of the House of Grimaldi. The book gives an overview of this downsized regiment who have a perfect record when it comes to protecting the palace and the Sovereign Prince. Photos cover some of the famous events the guard participates in such as the daily changing of the guard (always a must for tourists) which is done with a little more pomp and ceremony on National Day, the drills the guard goes through in their side-job as the reserve fire brigade and escorting the Prince when he is out and about. For more than a century this elite corps of soldiers has defended the Prince of Monaco and they will be on hand, of course, with their military band to provide the music for the upcoming princely wedding. It is about time that their service was recognized in such a way. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if there is an English version but there usually is, eventually, for books like this.

"Les Carabiniers du Prince" preface by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Jean-Pax Méfret, Sylvie D. Ruau Bernard Boucher, Editions du Rocher, 2011, 190 p.

Changing of the Guard

MM Video: The Prince's Soldiers

Memorial Day

Today holds a special significance in the Principality of Monaco and the United States of America. It was on this day in 1923 that HSH Prince Rainier III was born to Princess Charlotte and Prince Pierre of Monaco and across the US those who have died in military service are honored on Memorial Day. Thankfully, none of the recent relatives of the Princely Family (on either the Monegasque or American side) have died in war but a number have seen military service. John B. Kelly Sr. (better known as Jack Kelly), father of Princess Grace and grandfather of Prince Albert II of Monaco, enlisted as a private in the US Army during World War I and by the time the conflict had ended had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant. His son, John Kelly Jr, brother of Princess Grace and uncle of the current Princely Family, served in the US Navy during World War II but was stationed in Maryland. During the war, when he was given leave, his sister Grace would drive him to and from his base and the family home in Philadelphia. Prince Albert II himself also served for one month in the US Navy as was mentioned below.

Although not remembered as part of the American holiday of Memorial Day, readers will know that there is a long tradition of military service in the Grimaldi family of Monaco. Prince Rainier III served in the French army during World War II and his father, Prince Pierre, gave a great deal of covert assistance to the Free French forces during the dark days of the occupation. Prince Louis II served with great distinction in the French army during World War I. Even though he could not serve in World War II, Louis II donned his French uniform during the war years so there would be no doubt as to where his sympathies were among the warring powers.

Recent Grimaldi News

Nostalgia was in the air on the 27th in Brest where Prince Albert and Vice Admiral Jean-Pierre Labonne visited the French aircraft carrier "Joan of Arc" which put in to port for the last time. The warship, a training vessel in the French navy, holds a special significance for the Prince of Monaco as he served on the ship during his 'military hitch' from September 1981 to April 1982, carrying on the long Grimaldi family tradition of service in the armed forces. The ship was launched in 1964 and was the longest-serving vessel in the French fleet. In 1980 Prince Albert also served for 1 month on a ship in the US Navy.

On the same day HRH Princess Caroline was at the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco to visit all of the new mothers and their babies on the occasion of Mother's Day in Monaco. This has become a nice new tradition. Last year it was Princess Stephanie who visited the new mommies.

Charles Auguste de Matignon

Charles Auguste de Goyon de Matignon, Comte de Grace was the uncle of HSH Prince Jacques I of Monaco and one of the leading soldiers of France in his day. Born in 1647 he was the sixth son of Francois de Goyon, lord of Matignon and Anne de Malon of Bercy. He embarked on a military career at an early age and in 1669 took part in the campaign in Holland in which he distinguished himself and later served usefully in Flanders and Germany in 1684. When his brother Charles died in 1674 he was given the title of Comte d'Grace and in 1688 was made governor of the province of Aunis. In 1689 accompanied King James II of Great Britain and his Jacobites to Ireland where he commanded troops in the effort to restore James II to the throne that had been usurped by his son-in-law William of Orange. Of course, as well all know, the enterprise ended in defeat at the battle of the Boyne. One observer described him as a good and honest man but was less than impressed with his military abilities.

Matignon returned to France after the Jacobite defeat saw action at the sieges of Mons and Namur. In 1691 the King of France gave him the rank of brigadier general and in 1693 the rank of major general. In 1708 he was awarded the supreme military prize with the rank of Marshal of France with the name of Marshal of Mantignon. In 1715 he was dispatched with the nominal King James III of Great Britain (the Old Pretender) for another Jacobite uprising to restore the Stuarts to the British throne, however, this expedition gained even less traction than the first and was quickly suppressed by the government forces of the Hanoverian King George I. Marshal Matignon returned to France and served on the battlefield again in Flanders before his death in 1729 at the age of 83 having by that time also acquired the titles of Chevalier of Torigni and Baron of Bricquebec. In 1942 his portrait was featured on a 20+10 cent Monegasque stamp.