1. Overview
Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès (full name: Gabriella Thérèse Marie Grimaldi; born 10 December 2014) is the daughter of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. She holds the title of Countess of Carladès and is currently second in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne, following her twin brother, Hereditary Prince Jacques.
2. Early Life
Princess Gabriella's early life was marked by significant public interest surrounding her birth as a royal twin and subsequent official ceremonies.
2.1. Birth and Childhood
The public announcement of Princess Charlene's pregnancy was made on 30 May 2014. Initially, there was speculation regarding the number of children, but on 9 October 2014, it was officially confirmed that the princely couple was expecting twins by the end of the year. In anticipation of their arrival, the palace announced on 21 November 2014 that a special celebration would take place: each twin would be honored with a salvo of 21 cannon shots upon birth, totaling 42 shots. These cannon shots were to be fired from Fort Antoine, and church bells across the principality would ring for fifteen minutes. Furthermore, the day of their birth was declared a public holiday in Monaco to allow the populace to celebrate the royal arrivals.
Princess Gabriella Thérèse Marie Grimaldi was born on 10 December 2014 at 5:04 PM at Princess Grace Hospital Centre in Monaco-Ville, Monaco. She was the first of the twins to be born, followed two minutes later by her brother, Hereditary Prince Jacques Honoré Rainier. Following her birth, her father, Prince Albert II, bestowed upon her the title of Countess of Carladès (Comtesse de CarladèsFrench). On 7 January 2015, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques were officially presented to the Monegasque people during a public ceremony, marking their formal introduction to the principality they would one day serve.
2.2. Christening
Princess Gabriella and her brother, Prince Jacques, were christened together on 10 May 2015 at the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (also known as Saint Nicholas Cathedral) in Monaco-Ville. During the ceremony, Princess Gabriella's godparents were identified as her maternal uncle, Gareth Wittstock, and Nerine Pienaar, the wife of former South African rugby player Francois Pienaar. On this significant occasion, Princess Gabriella was honored with the distinction of Grand Officer of the Order of Grimaldi, an honor reflective of her status within the Monegasque royal family.
3. Education
Princess Gabriella's formal education began when she, alongside her twin brother Prince Jacques, started attending the François d'Assise-Nicolas Barré School in 2021. This institution provides their primary schooling within the principality of Monaco.
4. Titles and Honours
Princess Gabriella holds a specific set of titles and has received a notable honour since her birth, reflecting her position within the Monegasque princely family and her role in public life.
4.1. Titles
Upon her birth, due to the two-minute difference in her and her brother's arrival, and given Monaco's male-preference primogeniture, Princess Gabriella's initial designation was brief before her brother's birth solidified his position as heir.
- 10 December 2014 - 11 December 2014: Her Serene Highness Princess Gabriella of Monaco.
- 11 December 2014 - present: Her Serene Highness Princess Gabriella of Monaco, Countess of Carladès (Comtesse de CarladèsFrench).
4.2. Honours
- Monaco: Grand Officer of the Order of Grimaldi (10 May 2015).
5. Family and Ancestry
Princess Gabriella is the daughter of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. She shares a close bond with her twin brother, Hereditary Prince Jacques. Beyond her immediate family, Princess Gabriella also has two older half-siblings from her father's previous relationships: an older half-sister, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, and an older half-brother, Alexandre Grimaldi Coste. These individuals represent the broader family structure of the Princely House of Monaco.
Her ancestry connects her to a diverse European lineage, integrating royal and common origins. Her paternal grandparents were Prince Rainier III of Monaco and the American actress Grace Kelly. Her maternal grandparents are Michael Kenneth Wittstock and Lynette Humberstone.
| Generation | Ancestor | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Generation | Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès | |||||||
| 2nd Generation | Prince Albert II of Monaco | Princess Charlene of Monaco | ||||||
| 3rd Generation | Rainier III, Prince of Monaco | Grace Kelly | Michael Kenneth Wittstock | Lynette Humberstone | ||||
| 4th Generation | Prince Pierre, Duke of Valentinois | Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois | John B. Kelly Sr. | Margaret Katherine Majer | ||||
| 5th Generation | Maxence Melchior de Polignac | Susana de la Torre y Mier | Louis II, Prince of Monaco | Marie Juliette Louvet | John Henry Kelly | Mary Ann Costello | Carl Majer | Margaretha Berg |