Prince Albert II and His Family in Les Baux-de-Provence: The Grimaldi Family’s Historic Ties Renewed on September 5, 2026

LES BAUX-DE-PROVENCE – A centuries-old connection will once again take centre stage. On Saturday, September 5, 2026, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella will make a public visit to Les Baux-de-Provence, France, to celebrate the historic relationship between the Provençal village and the Grimaldi Family.

The occasion holds particular significance for Prince Jacques, who was granted the title of Marquis of Les Baux at birth in 2014, a title traditionally reserved for the heir to the Monegasque throne.

The visit will therefore provide an opportunity to publicly renew a historic and dynastic connection that has linked the House of Grimaldi with the Provençal town for almost four centuries.

From the Grimaldi Dynasty to the Marquisate of Les Baux

The origins of this special relationship date back to the Treaty of Péronne, concluded in the 17th century between King Louis XIII of France and Prince Honoré II of Monaco.

In 1642, the lordship of Les Baux was elevated to a marquisate and granted to Hercule Grimaldi, son of the Monegasque sovereign. From that moment onwards, the title of Marquis of Les Baux became part of the dynastic tradition of Monaco’s princely family.

Today, the title is associated with the heir to the throne. In 2014, it was bestowed upon Prince Jacques at his birth, reinforcing a tradition that directly connects Monaco’s succession to the history of Les Baux.

Prince Jacques to Receive the Keys to the Village

One of the most symbolic moments of Saturday’s visit will be the official ceremony at the historic Castle of Les Baux.

The Princely Family will be welcomed by Mayor Anne Poniatowski, who will take part in the ceremony dedicated to the renewed relationship between the village and the House of Grimaldi.

During the event, Hereditary Prince Jacques will symbolically receive the keys to Les Baux, in a gesture recalling a previous visit by the Princely Family.

The same honour was bestowed upon his father, Prince Albert II, during a visit in 1982, which was also attended by Princess Grace.

Today, the gesture takes on particular significance: almost half a century later, the tradition will be renewed through the younger generation of the Princely Family.

Saint-Vincent Church and the Stained-Glass Windows Donated by Prince Rainier III

The programme will also include a visit to Saint-Vincent Church, one of the most important historic and artistic landmarks of Les Baux-de-Provence.

The church houses spectacular stained-glass windows created by Max Ingrand, which were donated by Prince Rainier III to mark the birth of the future Prince Albert II.

The Princely Family’s visit will therefore also highlight a personal and artistic connection that complements the long-standing institutional relationship between Monaco and Les Baux.

Monaco Postage Stamp to Mark the Visit

The relationship between the Principality and Les Baux will also be commemorated through philately.

A Monaco postage stamp depicting one of the stained-glass windows in Saint-Vincent Church will be issued to coincide with the visit. The initiative will provide a lasting way of preserving and promoting the memory of this unique historic connection.

Monaco’s philatelic tradition had already paid tribute to Les Baux in 2025, when the Marquisate was featured on a Monaco commemorative €2 coin.

Les Baux and Monaco: A History That Continues

The visit on September 5, 2026, will therefore be more than an institutional engagement. It will be a moment devoted to memory, heritage and dynastic continuity.

The relationship between Les Baux and the Grimaldi family, which emerged within the context of Franco-Monegasque relations in the 17th century, continues today through the title of Marquis of Les Baux, traditionally held by the heir to the Monegasque throne.

The presence of Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene and their children, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, will highlight precisely this continuity: a history that began almost four centuries ago and remains an integral part of the identity of the Princely Family and of the relationship between Monaco and Provence.

In Les Baux-de-Provence, the past and present of the Grimaldi dynasty will once again meet, in a day set to celebrate not only a title, but a shared history shaped by memory, tradition and enduring ties between territories.