Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco

On 30 May 2014, it was announced that Princess Charlene was pregnant. After much speculation it was confirmed, on 9 October 2014, that the couple was expecting twins by the end of the year.[1]

On 21 November 2014, the palace announced that each twin would have the right to a salvo of 21 cannon shots at birth. In addition, the day would be declared a holiday.[2] On 10 December 2014, Jacques was born at Monaco's Princess Grace Hospital Centre,[3] two minutes after his sister Gabriella.[3]

The Prince's Palace of Monaco released a statement describing how the birth was to be celebrated in the principality. Forty-two cannon shots (twenty-one for each child) were to be fired from the Fort Antoine and church bells were to ring for fifteen minutes, followed by boat horns. The twins were presented on 7 January 2015 which was declared a public holiday in Monaco.[4]

Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella have an older half-sister, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, and an older half-brother, Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, from their father's previous romances.[5]

The newborn prince was baptised Jacques Honoré Rainier. Princess Charlene revealed that she chose the name Jacques, a name that is common in her homeland. The names Honoré and Rainier are common among previous rulers of Monaco.[6] He received the title Marquis of Baux from his father.[3]

The twins were baptised at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco on 10 May 2015.[7] At this occasion, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Grimaldi. A certified copy of this legal document is safeguarded in the Monaco cathedral, while another is at Bank of Monaco—Credit Suisse. [8]

•  Monaco:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Grimaldi (10 May 2015).[8]

His full name and title is His Serene Highness Jacques Honoré Rainier Grimaldi, Hereditary Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux.

When referring to Jacques in French, the palace has used the term Prince Héréditaire to refer to the prince.[9] However, when mentioning the prince in English, the palace has referred to Jacques as "Crown Prince" instead of "Hereditary Prince."[10][11]