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She wasn’t able to be with them last year, but this year Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco (44) was right by her twins’ sides as they celebrated their birthday. The twins turned eight on 10 December.
The former SA Olympic swimmer shared a montage of her children on her Instagram account that included some never-before-seen pictures including family trips in and outside of the principality.
“Happy Birthday my loves,” she captioned the clip, which was set to the tune of country singer Tim McGraw’s Humble and Kind.
Last year this time she was convalescing in a private clinic in Switzerland after suffering emotional and physical exhaustion following a year of health problems.
READ MORE | Princess Charlene of Monaco throws herself into helping animals in the principality
Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella kicked off their special day by helping some of the principality’s sea life.
The youngsters, accompanied by their mom, attended an ecological event at the principality's Oceanographic Institute where they were seen helping to prepare a consignment of juvenile turtles which will leave the museum to join the Turtle Village of No Flay, Senegal.
In photos shared by the palace, the twins could be seen excitedly holding onto the sea mammals, while also helping to decorate the crates the animals will be shipped in.
READ MORE | SEE THE ROYAL PICS: Princess Charlene and Prince Albert’s twins steal the show on Monaco Day
Later things took a more conventional turn when Charlene and Prince Albert (64) threw them a party featuring various cartoon characters that included Kung Fu Panda, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario.
Gabriella, who has been described by her parents as the more outgoing of the two, was dressed in a costume, while her brother opted for more formal attire.
Albert recently told local newspaper Monaco Matin that his twins are “very close” and “very much accomplices”.
“They will be eight years old, they are still young but progressing a lot in terms of maturity and awakening to the world. It is amazing for any parent to see their children grow up.”
The monarch also has two older children from previous relationships – Jazmin Grimaldi (30) and Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste (19) - and last month he posed for the first time with both in a photo.
In the sweet snapshot, taken by Alexandre’s mom, Nicole Coste, the royal can be seen seated behind a small coffee table looking relaxed and happy as Jazmin wraps her arms around both men.
READ MORE | SEE THE PHOTO: Prince Albert reunites with his two love children
The former Air France hostess, who Albert met on a flight in 1997 and dated on and off until 2003, captioned it, “New York, paternally king.”
Jazmin was the result of a fling Albert had in 1991 with American Tamara Rotolo (61), who was working in the south of France at the time as a waitress. Jazmin met Albert for the first time when she was 11 after he underwent a DNA test, and they've had a close relationship ever since.
“It’s wonderful that it happened when it did, and we’ve been enjoying a great relationship,” she’s said.
After a rocky start, Albert and Nicole have resolved their issues regarding their son, and last year she and Alexandre attended Monaco’s glittering Rose Ball alongside Albert and other members of the royal family, and marked the teenager's 18th birthday with a lavish bash thrown by Albert.
Sources: people.com, Instagram, hellomagazine.com
