On January 26, 2026, in the early evening, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, accompanied by their children, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, participated in the festivities honoring Sainte Dévote. This annual observance perpetuates the memory of a young Christian woman from Corsica who was martyred in the 4th century. According to tradition, her body, placed in a boat, washed ashore on January 27 in the valley of Gaumates near the Port of Monaco. Sainte Dévote was proclaimed patroness of Monaco in the 17th century under the reign of Prince Honoré II.
The evening began with the procession of the saint's relics across Port Hercule. The Princely Family, joined by numerous faithful, then attended the Solemn Vespers at the Church of Sainte-Dévote. Following the ceremony, the family greeted the large crowd assembled on the parvis in front of the church.
The celebrations concluded with the traditional burning (embrasement) of a symbolic boat on Quai Albert Ier - lit by the Princely Family, including the young twins who took part in the ritual - followed by a drone show retracing key episodes from the life of Sainte Dévote.
This annual observance, blending religious solemnity, historical commemoration, and community participation, underscores Monaco's enduring devotion to its patron saint and the continuity of its cultural traditions within the Princely Family.
Photo credits: Michaël Alesi / Sarah Steck / Palais Princier