Monaco’s Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have been visiting Spain this week. It’s technically a state visit, since Albert is the “head of state” of the principality of Monaco, and King Felipe is Spain’s head of state. The photos in this post are from Monday, where the two royal couples visited the Royal Botanical Garden in Madrid, and highlighted the Artists of Monaco exhibitions. This happened soon after Albert and Charlene arrived. Upon their arrival, Charlene tried to navigate the tricky curtsy protocols for greeting a king/head of state. Charlene’s navigation led her to performing a deep curtsy for both King Felipe and Queen Letizia:
Again, technically speaking, no one has to curtsy to anyone. Felipe and Albert are both heads of state and their wives/consorts are given the same rank, meaning they ALL have the same “rank.” But as I was trying to find this video, I ran into other videos of Charlene curtsying to basically every royal she meets. Years ago, when she greeted then-Prince Charles, she curtsied to him too. When she met Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, she curtsied to both of them as well. It’s possible that she doesn’t know the protocol so she just does it to everyone. Or maybe it’s her sign of respect for other royals, given that she’s just a married-in. Albert tends to greet kings as equals (no bowing), and you’d think that maybe he would encourage her to treat these people as equals?
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- King Felipe and Queen Letizia, together with the Princes of Monaco, Albert II and Charléne at the Royal Botanical Garden to visit the exhibitions “8th Forum of the Artists of Monaco” and “Monaco and Spain: five centuries of shared history”, on 1 June 2026, in Madrid (Spain). Don Felipe and Doña Letizia visit, together with Prince Albert II and Charlène of Monaco, the exhibitions commemorating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the first diplomatic mission between Spain and Monaco, “8th Forum of the Artists of Monaco” and “Monaco and Spain: five centuries of shared history”, coinciding with the celebration of the 270th anniversary of the creation of the Royal Botanical Garden in 1755. 01 JUNE 2026 06/01/2026,Image: 1107172645, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Credit line: José Oliva/Europa Press/Avalon
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- King Felipe and Queen Letizia, together with the Princes of Monaco, Albert II and Charléne at the Royal Botanical Garden to visit the exhibitions “8th Forum of the Artists of Monaco” and “Monaco and Spain: five centuries of shared history”, on 1 June 2026, in Madrid (Spain). Don Felipe and Doña Letizia visit, together with Prince Albert II and Charlène of Monaco, the exhibitions commemorating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the first diplomatic mission between Spain and Monaco, “8th Forum of the Artists of Monaco” and “Monaco and Spain: five centuries of shared history”, coinciding with the celebration of the 270th anniversary of the creation of the Royal Botanical Garden in 1755. 01 JUNE 2026 06/01/2026,Image: 1107172880, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Credit line: José Oliva/Europa Press/Avalon
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- King Felipe and Queen Letizia, together with the Princes of Monaco, Albert II and Charléne at the Royal Botanical Garden to visit the exhibitions “8th Forum of the Artists of Monaco” and “Monaco and Spain: five centuries of shared history”, on 1 June 2026, in Madrid (Spain). Don Felipe and Doña Letizia visit, together with Prince Albert II and Charlène of Monaco, the exhibitions commemorating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the first diplomatic mission between Spain and Monaco, “8th Forum of the Artists of Monaco” and “Monaco and Spain: five centuries of shared history”, coinciding with the celebration of the 270th anniversary of the creation of the Royal Botanical Garden in 1755. 01 JUNE 2026 06/01/2026,Image: 1107173240, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Credit line: José Oliva/Europa Press/Avalon
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- King Felipe and Queen Letizia, together with the Princes of Monaco, Albert II and Charléne at the Royal Botanical Garden to visit the exhibitions “8th Forum of the Artists of Monaco” and “Monaco and Spain: five centuries of shared history”, on 1 June 2026, in Madrid (Spain). Don Felipe and Doña Letizia visit, together with Prince Albert II and Charlène of Monaco, the exhibitions commemorating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the first diplomatic mission between Spain and Monaco, “8th Forum of the Artists of Monaco” and “Monaco and Spain: five centuries of shared history”, coinciding with the celebration of the 270th anniversary of the creation of the Royal Botanical Garden in 1755. 01 JUNE 2026 06/01/2026,Image: 1107173704, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no , Credit line: José Oliva/Europa Press/Avalon
I am no expert, however, Charlene is a ‘Her Serene Highness’ rather than ‘Her Royal Highness’ – I think that means she is technically a rung below, hence all the curtseying.
This is often given as the reason Princess Caroline won’t divorce her husband; they hate each other, have been separated for years, but through marriage to him, she’s an HRH, not an HSH.
The King and Queen of Spain are ‘Majesty’ status which is a higher rank than a Prince and Princess. Monaco is a Principality not a Monarchy.
Wrong. Monaco is a constitutional Monarchy. Albert, as reigning Monarch of Monaco wields much greater political power than Charles. I wrote a long comment explaining this that didn’t get posted but, basically, the Styles and titles that one monarch’s ancestor made up do not denote status of the Monarch in relation to others. Charlene doesn’t have to courtesy to anyone.
Nope, @anotherlily is correct. From Albert’s own website: https://www.palais.mc/en/princely-family/h-s-h-prince-albert-ii/biography-1-5.html
I don’t see from that source @beanie how I’m wrong.. it confirms that Prince Albert is The sovereign Prince of Monaco. Monaco is a constitutional monarchy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Monaco
Albert is the Monarch of Monaco just as the Grand Duke is of Luxembourg and the Prince is of Lichtenstein. You don’t have to be a Queen or King to be a constitutional Monarch.
If the site you linked to evinces otherwise, please cite the language because I did not see it.
Article 2, Chapter 1 of the Monégasque Constitution establishes:
“The principle of government is a hereditary and constitutional monarchy.”
Prior to that, Monaco was an Absolute Monarchy.
MAYP:
I think the status thing is mainly because Monaco doesn’t have complete and full sovereignty as opposed to say Luxembourg, and not because Monaco isn’t a monarchy. France retains some vassalage link with Monaco. I believe foreign diplomatic power being one of the retained powers France still has over Monaco. Therefore perhaps that’s why the sovereigns of Monaco and Spain are not equal, and Charlene curtsies.
That ended in 2002 by treaty.
https://www.google.com/search?q=does+Monaco+have+complete+and+full+sovereignty&oq=does+Monaco+have+complete+and+full+sovereignty&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDMzODFqMGo0qAIBsAIB&client=ms-android-att-us-rvc3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
Mayp:
Check out Monaco’s wikipedia page. France does still retain some constitutional political powers over Monaco. For example, the monarch must consult with the government of France to appoint his prime minister. Key members of legal officers are French magistrates. And France is responsible for Monaco’s defence. Then there is about both the titles of Prince and Princess of Monaco which are HSH, not HRH. Even the grand duke of Luxembourg is HRH, though the prince of Liechtenstein is HSH too. It would be interesting if we can find out if the princess of Liechtenstein also curtsies to kings and queens of the European monarchies. If she also curtsies, perhaps that is the practice: the spouse of HSH still needs to curtsy, though the sovereign HSH themselves are not required because they are the body of their country.
Charlene looks so much better! Letezia seems protective of her, or very welcoming.
Yes she does look like she has recovered from whatever illness or crisis she had a few years ago, she looked so frail then.
I agree, she looks so much better. I like her dress and styling here, she is very pretty. I’m not a fan of Laetizia’s dress though.
Letizia’s dress reminds me of the ones Diana used to wear; which, naturally, I can’t find on the internet right now. The blue & black one in South Korea is one such example, but she had a sleeveless white one, or maybe white & red?
OK, they were Bruce Oldfield dresses: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/diana-princess-of-wales-wearing-a-bruce-oldfield-dress-news-photo/467554599
If one believes in such things, Charlene curtsies to anyone who is an HRH, because she is “only” an HSH (serene highness). I believe that technically King Charles would be expected to bow to Emperor Naruhito in Japan as well, which is why they don’t get together, but I could be misremembering.
That would be correct.
No, that is incorrect. UK and Japan have equal standing internationally, therefore the British king and the Japanese emperor are equal. Monaco is different. It isn’t a fully independent, sovereign nation. France still retains some constitutional vasallage over the small principality.
Why is Prince Albert not a King at this point?
It’s a technicality because Monaco is a principality, not a kingdom
Just as Wales is a principality.
But Albert is a reigning constitutional Monarch, just as Charles is.
There’s a photo of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip bowing to the emperor of Ethiopia
Smiles, that’s a fake photo. The King or Queen of England does not bow to anyone.
How about the King of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Are you serious?? Of course they do. Royals take totalling very seriously lol! They would and should definitely bow to Emperors and Empresses if they are visiting them. Luckily for them, these personages are very few.
Charlene is a married-in princess and only an HSH, while Letizia and Felipe are HRH and the King and Queen of Spain.
Letizia is married in and queen consort, not the reigning monarch.
One Style is not better than another. Each country made up their own and as a constitutional monarch Albert has a lot more political power than charyles.
I don’t know all the ins and outs of the rules, but I do remember that when Princess Caroline of Monaco got married to Ernst August of Hanover, he had to get permission from QEII to marry “below” him. Royalty is weird.
Per the Royal Marriage Act in effect at the time, any descendant of George III in line for the throne needs to get the sovereign’s permission to marry. George III son’s had a penchant for living with/marrying women who at the time weren’t considered suitable (not royal, not of their class, Catholic) so the Act was an attempt to stop this. I think the Act has been modified to limit who needs permission because the Hanovers are way down the line of succession.
Technically, they did not need the King or Queen of the UK’s permission to marry but previously if they married without that permission then they (or their he) were removed from the line of succession. Big whoop, being 1500th in the line of succession. 🙄. That requirement has since been removed and the degree of heir required to get permission has been reduced to the single digits.
She’s had the job for 15 years; there’s no chance she doesn’t “know” the protocol.
She has her reasons, and it doesn’t look like anyone is offended by it.
At most gatherings, they treat Albert and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg as equal to reigning monarch. As Albert has been in his position longer than Felipe, I’d think the Spaniards would be considered lower rank. That might be friendly convention for things like weddings vs official visits.
It isn’t only your role/title or HRH vs SH that determines rank, but how long you’ve been in that role. Billy the basher ranks below several younger heirs to thrones, because QEII lived so long. Those heirs were at the same level as Charles until QEII passed.
IDK if Monaco gives Charlene that much guidance. She wore white to meet the pope, big scandal in royal watching circles the first time it happened.
Vatican stated after, oh of course she has the privilege du blanc (right to wear all white when meeting the pope). Iirc Grace didn’t have that privilege. It may have been an accident on Monaco’s part and the Vatican smoothed it over.
No, the privilege du blanc has been extended to the Princess of Monaco. She was correctly wearing white.
It was extended to her, but after she showed up wearing it. Ongoing question of whether it was done beforehand and strangely not announced. Or if it was extended after the fact.
Women from certain royal Roman Catholic families get the privilege to wear white when meeting the pope. Albert is a reigning Catholic prince and Charlene is his wife and they were married in a religious Catholic ceremony after the civil one hence she was allowed the privilege of wearing white. The Vatican has relaxed the rules in regard to the “privilege du blanc”
Even Gabriella wore white to meet the pope.
Grace was catholic and never given the privilege. That’s why so many questioned Charlene wearing it the first time.
Gabriella is a child. She won’t have that privilege once shes an adult, may not technically have it now. It is reserved for wives of certain catholic monarchs, not for all females in roman catholic monarchies.
And what color are men ‘privileged’ to wear?
Princess Charlene looks healthier but, sadly, she seems to have lost the sparkle she had in her eyes.. 😞😞
She is South African isnt she ? There is a custom in lots of African countries to give a slight cursty to anyone older or of a certain respectability. Its just reflex.
The reason for the curtsy is that the Spanish King and Queen are of higher rank. Spain is a Monarchy and Monaco is a Principality. The Spanish King and Queen are of Majesty status which ranks higher than a Prince and Princess. There are photos of Princess Anne greeting the King and Queen of Spain with deep curtseys.
Anne isn’t a monarch. Of course she curtseys to them. She curtseys to her own brother.
Monaco has a constitutional monarchy as well. Styles that royals make up for themselves has nothing to do with their status as between Monarchies.
Monaco is a Principality. Spain is a Kingdom. The King of Spain outranks the Prince of Monaco even though they are both heads of state.
Monaco is a Monarchy, the longest reigning hereditary Monarchy in Europe. Just because lowly Georgie from Hanover decided to call his sons HRHs does not mean they are better or rank higher than HSHs. A self-made Style or title does not the Monarch’s rank, in relation to other Monarchs, make.
Has Letizia had to give up wearing high heels?
Yes, I don’t remember what they said about it, if it was foot issues or back issues, but she’s been wearing sneakers & low heels for a while now.
Didn’t she try to escape before the wedding? And, didn’t the Prince have to drag her back with, then, years of fussing?
I imagine Albert beats her. He looks the type. The curtesy thing could just be a passive slap at Albert knowing it isn’t really required.
Going off the headline alone: Yes, because she & Albert are Serene Highnesses and Felipe & Letizia are Royal Highnesses. There’s a hierarchy even amongst royals. HRHs are higher than HSHs. His/Her Royal Highness > His/Her Serene Highness.
OK, now back up to read the article & other comments.
Nobody should have to curtsy to anyone in this day and age. One should be embarrassed to be curtsied
to, don’t you think? A a nod or a simple bow of the head is always a respectful gesture, and should be available to both men and women to show their respect and probably should be reserved for our elders. I also think the curtsy very patriarchal. Certainly men have never been required to curtsy.
💯
I couldn’t agree more. These rules are so stupid and people discuss them like the outcome actually matters.