Princess Stéphanie of Monaco’s son Louis Ducruet and his wife, Marie Chevallier
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Congratulations are in order for Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, who has become a grandmother for the first time. Her son Louis Ducruet welcomed a daughter with his wife, Marie Chevallier, on 4 April.
New parents Louis and Marie revealed their daughter’s name in and Instagram co-post, writing: ‘Our little family has grown with the arrival of our little Victoire.’ The photo shows the hospital tag on baby Victoire’s leg.
It comes days after news of the baby’s arrival was announced by Princess Stéphanie’s brother, Prince Albert II, at an engagement. Presenting diplomas at the Monegasque Red Cross graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Albert shared: ‘My nephew Louis Ducruet and his wife Marie have the joy of being parents of a little girl,’ according to Monaco-Matin.
Princess Stephanie of Monaco
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Louis, the eldest of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco’s three children, met Marie at a Cannes nightclub while they were both classmates at a nearby business college. They described the meeting as ‘love at first sight’. The lovebirds wed in July 2019 in Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate, where Louis’ grandparents, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and the American actress Grace Kelly, famously exchanged vows in a star-studded service in 1956.
The couple shared the news of the pregnancy in November 2022 by posting a sweet photo of them with their dog, who was wearing a bandana emblazoned with ‘soon to big big brother’. ‘An adventure is about to begin,’ the couple added in the caption.
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – JUNE 21: Louis Ducruet and Marie Chevallier attend the closing ceremony during the 61st Monte Carlo TV Festival on June 21, 2022 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Getty Images
Louis is the product of Princess Stéphanie’s first marriage. In 1995, the royal married her bodyguard, Daniel Ducruet, in a union that raised eyebrows in royal circles and prompted endless tabloid columns. The couple also welcomed a daughter, Pauline, but divorced in 1996. Two years later, Stéphanie gave birth to her youngest child, Camille Gottlieb, whose father is former palace bodyguard Jean Raymond Gottlieb.
This week, Camille was honoured with a starring role at a service paying tribute to her grandfather Rainier III. Together with her Charlotte Casiraghi, Camille was asked to speak at a mass commemorating the 18th anniversary of his death. Also in attendance was Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, Princess Stéphanie, Princess Caroline and her sons Pierre, Andrea. It marks one of the first public outings by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene since they had to dismiss rumours that their marriage is in turmoil.
Louis Ducruet, Camille Gottlieb, Marie Chevallier, Pauline Ducruet and Princess Stephanie of Monaco appear at the Palace balcony on Monaco National Day
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Photographs shared by the official Monaco royal family Instagram account shows the family members looking solemn in the cathedral. The caption, translated from French, reads: ‘Mass in memory of Prince Rainier III. On Wednesday April 5, the Princely Family gathered in the Cathedral of Monaco to attend a mass in memory of Prince Rainier III.
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco’s tumultuous relationship timeline
By Isaac Bickerstaff
‘During this ceremony celebrated by Mgr Dominique-Marie David, the granddaughters of Prince Rainier III made a point of paying him a personal tribute: Mrs Charlotte Casiraghi made the first reading then Miss Camille Gottlieb said the universal prayer. At the end of the mass, the whole family gathered at the tomb of Prince Rainier III.’
It has been a busy few weeks for the Monaco royals. Last month, the Monaco royals including Princess Caroline gathered for the glittering Rose Ball.
The Monaco royal family at the Rose Ball
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