An upbringing like any other? Not for Monegasque prince Jaqcues. The life of the very young heir to the throne is already full of royal appointments, which will (hopefully) prepare him for his role as future head of state.
Many royals try to raise their children as normally as possible, but for Monegasque Albert and Charlene, that is actually not possible. Their life in the microstate is simply full of glitz and glam, and that also seeps into the upbringing of Prince Jacques and twin sister Gabrielle.
Youngest child
Prince Jacques is in a special position. Although he is the youngest child of the current Prince of Monaco, Albert II, he is first in line to the throne. His older half-sister Jazmin and half-brother Alexandre are left out because Prince Albert was not married to their mothers, and his slightly older twin sister Princess Gabriella comes after Jacques, simply because she is a girl. Old-fashioned royal rule? You could say that, yes, but Monegasque law still prescribes it.
Royals in training
While elsewhere in Europe the trend is to keep your royal offspring out of the spotlight as much as possible and to raise them as normally as possible, they seem to think differently in Monaco. Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella have been accompanying them to events for years, and lately they have been allowed to get their hands dirty more and more often. Planting trees, presenting prizes, handing out gifts – the mini-Monacos already have more work experience than our adult Crown Princess Amalia.
Prince Albert does not see these royal duties as boring obligations, but as entertaining outings for his children. “It comes down to explaining to them as simply as possible what [koninklijke verplichtingen] “They are not drilled or given step-by-step instructions on what exactly is expected of them,” Prince Albert told People. “We don’t want to put them in the spotlight too much. We look at it on a case-by-case basis, so that it remains special for them.”
Full agenda
Yet the very young future head of state already has a full agenda. Sports competitions, car races, official holidays where he already appears in full regalia…
Prince Jacques often comes across as a bit shy, a world of difference from his twin sister Gabriella. “Jacques is a bit more shy and quiet, Gabriella is more extroverted and not shy,” Prince Albert told People last year. In addition, according to his father, the prince is “someone who observes well and assesses the situation” while his sister “has no shame in the presence of other people.” Good complementary qualities, right? We can see this duo ruling the principality together in the future…
Source: People, Glamial archive | Image: NL Beeld
