Monaco Royal Family is First to Release 2024 Christmas Card

Royal Family: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene Christmas card
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco at the 2017 Princess Grace Awards Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Image by Jean_Nelson/Depositphotos

On December 2, the Monaco royal family unveiled their 2024 Christmas card on their official Instagram page, becoming the first royal family to release their holiday card this festive season. The post was captioned, “The Princier Palace is pleased to share with you the photo of the greeting card of the Princier family.”

The Christmas card features a warm family portrait of Prince Albert II, Princess Charlène, and their nine-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. The family posed in a cozy living room scene adorned in warm, earthy tones, showcasing a simple yet elegant aesthetic.

In the photograph, the family is seen smiling in neutral-colored sweaters, with Prince Albert standing behind Princess Charlène and their children, creating a homely atmosphere. This arrangement conveys a sense of family unity and closeness. As reported by El Economista, “Prince Albert II, repeating the standing position as head of the House, is wearing a white crew neck sweater and underneath it a shirt that matches the gray-brown sweater of his wife, Princess Charlene.”

The Monaco royal family chose autumnal styles for their attire, with brown, beige, and gray as the main colors. This choice aims to convey warmth and family unity in a splendid rustic setting. The family’s coordinated outfits harmonize with the warm tones surrounding them, giving the impression of a cozy cabin holiday.

Princess Charlène is dressed in a monochrome chocolate brown outfit that complements the overall aesthetic. She is wearing a Ralph Lauren knitted jumper and jeans, complemented by slim-cut, chocolate-brown pants, and a light brown knit sweater. She accessorized her look with diamond earrings and a bracelet, adding a touch of elegance to the ensemble.

The twins are also dressed in coordinated outfits. Princess Gabriella’s attire adds a touch of glamour to the scene, as she is dressed entirely in beige and shines in a white sweater. Her brown sweater features metallic threads from Ralph Lauren. Prince Jacques sits next to Princess Charlène, wearing a taupe sweater and black pants. Femme Actuelle highlighted that “Her brother Jacques is comfortably settled on a seat covered with a fluffy blanket, wearing black pants and a natural-colored sweater.”

The living room is beautifully decorated, complete with a Christmas tree adorned with beige and brown ornaments, candles, and rustic-style decorations, including pine cones and gifts. This setting evokes the traditional and the natural, adding to the familial warmth. Kronen Zeitung described the decoration as “a catalog of Christmas decor that evokes the traditional and the natural, with the Christmas tree standing in a rustic basket full of pine cones.”

The photo was captured by trusted family photographer Eric Mathon, who also took last year’s Christmas photo for the Grimaldis. Compared to last year’s formal snapshot, which featured the royals in gala attire, this year’s photo adopts a more casual and intimate approach. La Razón noted that “The Monaco royal family has posed for the Christmas card without great luxuries, breaking away from the gala aesthetic seen in last year’s snapshot.”

The family is seated on a bench covered with a fluffy blanket, further emphasizing the cozy and intimate atmosphere. The photo avoids excessive pomp and conveys an earthy and unpretentious impression, adding a pleasantly unglamorous note that underscores the natural charm of the image. This styling has been key to transmitting a sense of unity and getting closer to the people. La Razón stated that “The styling in the Christmas card has been key to transmit a sense of unity in order to get closer to the people.”

Social media users reacted positively to the Christmas card. One Instagram user commented on the picture: “🤍🤍Beautiful family photo 🤍🤍 the choice of clothes 😍 the kids are so big 💫💫 and beautiful! Beautiful festive to you all.

The release of the Christmas card comes as the family is getting into the holiday spirit. On November 30, Prince Albert, Princess Charlène, and their twins launched the Christmas illuminations at the Place du Casino. ¡HOLA! reported that “On November 30, Prince Albert II, Princess Charlène, and their twins launched the Christmas illuminations at the Place du Casino.”

Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella will celebrate their 10th birthday on December 10. The anticipation of this milestone is evident in the family’s joyful expressions. Kurier observed that “The anticipation of the festive season is clearly written on the faces of the nine-year-olds Jacques and Gabriella.”

Princess Charlène recently opened up about her twins in an interview with French magazine Gala. She described her daughter Princess Gabriella as “very curious” and said: “She is very intrigued by the world and life in general. She asks lots of questions and demands a lot of attention,” as reported by People. Regarding her son, she shared: “As for Jacques, he is curious and observant. More reserved, he is naturally very calm.”

The Christmas card emphasizes the closeness, warmth, and security that the Princely Couple provides to their children. La Razón remarked that “The Princely Couple has clearly aimed to symbolize and emphasize the closeness, warmth, and security they give their children in the image, similar to the majority of European royal houses during these significant dates.”

By choosing a simple yet elegant presentation for their Christmas card, the Monaco royal family offers a glimpse into their intimate family life, highlighting the values of unity and warmth. The casual attire and rustic setting mark a departure from previous years’ more formal representations, resonating with many during this festive season.