The Grimaldis release their baby-centric Christmas card too: lovely or try-hard?

charlene

I’m really enjoying the plethora of royal Christmas cards this year. Doesn’t it seem like we’re getting to see a lot of them this year? This might be the best one of all – this is the Christmas card from the Grimaldis, specifically Prince Albert, Princess Charlene and their children Gabriella and Jacques, who just turned 1 year old a few weeks ago.

Can I just say? I love everything about this Christmas card. I like that the image is Christmas-y with the tree and decorations, but it doesn’t feel silly or kitschy. It looks like two adults with extensive staff decorated for the holidays and no one wanted to have Santa bulls–t clogging up the works, but the image is Christmas-y enough (unlike the Cambriges’ Christmas card, which seemed more like an LL Bean-autumn-sweater advertisement). Yes, I also love this image because we get to creep on their palace. The photo was actually taken at Roc Agel, their retreat/country home. Word is, Charlene spends a lot of time at Roc Agel with Albert spending most of his time in Monte Carlo. Charlene seems very happy to just chill out and raise the babies.

As for the actual royals… Gabriella and Jacques are precious, and they really take after Charlene (thank God). Jacques’ little pout is KILLING ME. Gabriella with her apple, oblivious to the camera, is just fantastic. I also like that Charlene and the babies are in neutrals – once again, it seems like a sophisticated Christmas image, not cheeseball. As for Charlene… controversial opinion: I still really like her pixie cut. I actually think it makes her look younger.

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Photos courtesy of Palais Monaco, WENN.

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93 Responses to “The Grimaldis release their baby-centric Christmas card too: lovely or try-hard?”

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  1. Lora says:

    Shes one of the few woman, who looks amazing with a pixie

    • PennyLane says:

      If you watch the film ‘Dior and I’ (great movie, by the way) she appears at the end of it attending the fashion show. She looked very, very beautiful, surprisingly so – much more so than in photos. Some people just look much better in movement than in still photographs and she seems to be one of them. And the haircut looks fabulous.

      • Calcifer says:

        Charlene looks so good with the pixie cut, it’s amazing. It’s elegant and daring at the same time. A 100 % improvement upon the meek bob she used to sport!

        I probably should add that I love a bob cut on some others. Beyonce, for instance, in my opinion should never wear anything other than a bob, it does wonders for her.

    • sherry says:

      I wasn’t sold on the pixie when she first got it, but I think she looks really beautiful now. Love the card and those kids are just too cute!

    • Jordana says:

      She does wear the pixie cut extremely well! I wish I could pull off that look.

    • lisa says:

      is that a catering table-cloth, on her lap?

    • Suzanne says:

      I agree…she looks stunning in that haircut. Hope that she’s happier now than she was post babies.

  2. Paleokifaru says:

    I agree on every point Kaiser. Very sophisticated but cheerful decor, still love her hair and wish I had the face for it and I like that the kids aren’t looking at the camera so it’s not too perfect. Just lovely.

    • Sabrine says:

      The twins are adorable; Charlene looks pretty, cute card all around. People like to make all sorts of assumptions but on the face of it, they seem to be making a go of it with their precious little family.

    • minx says:

      I love everything about it, too.
      Albert and Charlene both look very happy. And those kids….

  3. Heidi says:

    I find these two incredibly creepy. Their kids are cute though. Merry Xmas!

  4. someone says:

    I feel like Charlene was going for a princess Grace vibe here with her pose. Also, why is the monogram letter an A on the card? I get that he’s Prince Albert, but why not G for Grimaldi or M for Monaco? Just wondering…..

  5. GiGi says:

    WTF is that eagle painting, though?

  6. Minxx says:

    Cute card! Of course it’s baby-centric. When you have a new baby everything is baby-centric, at least for a few years 🙂 . Jacques looks exactly like Charlene, Gabriellla looks more like the Grimaldis. I like Charlene’s pixie cut, she can pull it off.

  7. FLORC says:

    I don’t like it. I hate the picture above the fireplace. The blanket is too close to the fire. And that sparkly garland on the tree has always come off to me as tacky past age 8.
    The people look fine, but poorly staged.

    I just can’t find myself liking much of this.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      I love grumpy FLORC. The blanket is a little close to the fire. You made me laugh.

      • FLORC says:

        Lol GNAT!
        I have been so grumpy lately. Why must the holidays be so stressful!?
        I’m unleashing it all here. Glad it’s enjoyed 😀

        1 thing I forgot. The picture looks like a poster board. Where is the frame? That’s a marble fireplace. They didn’t spring for a frame? Ugh.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Hang in there, sister, it will be over soon. This year got to me, too.

    • ncboudicca says:

      LOL, My first thought was that the bench was too close to the fire!

      • Jwoolman says:

        Awww… Might not be a real fire. Or it could be safely enclosed. Or the bench and blanket could be there just for the picture with the Monaco Fire Department a few feet away….

      • lower-case deb says:

        @jwoolman suddenly i had the image of a gang of firefighters clutching their hoses in a tight corner of the royal drawing room just eyeballing the fireplace with suspicion.

      • Sabrine says:

        Definitely looks like simulated flames. The room was probably rearranged for the photos. The furniture will go back to its original spot after the photo shoot is over. The tree is traditionally decorated….amazing how complaints come up over the darndest things!

      • FLORC says:

        The flames look very real. Real flames can look like this. in photos this is how flames can appear. Depending on settings.

    • bluhare says:

      *throws a bunch of sparkly garland at FLORC*

      My tree is festooned — FESTOONED — with sparkly garland!!! And sparkly sticks!!! AND SPARKLES!!!

      *stomps off*

      • FLORC says:

        Ugh Bluhare! You’re only doing this since I lost the wet wiglet heading to the island for Liberty’s lovely stories! Now i’m covered in glitter. It never comes off!
        My revenge will be cold Bluhare! Ice Cold!

      • bluhare says:

        Oooh . . . . I’m really skeered now . . .

        Bring it FLORC! bluhares thrive in the ice cold darkness!! It matches our cold, dead hearts. 😀

      • FLORC says:

        Oh It’s ON!
        Time for a marathon of military strategy and Patton!
        *plots attack on sketch boards*

      • bluhare says:

        HO HO HO!!!

    • Olenna says:

      LOL, Florc! I like the photo, but I like your Grinchy comments, too. And, looking at the little boy’s wiseacre expression, I think he’s probably in agreement with you!

      • antipodean says:

        My very first thought when I saw this was, that sheepskin rug is far too close to the fire. The fire has no guard rail, and there are wobbly toddlers environs. Child safe fail. My next was, ooh lovely wobbly toddlers, swathes of tinselly sparkles, and a sweet family picture. I have to ask though, is that a cashmere blanket Charlene is sitting on? How the other half lives. Also, who puts up an unframed poster on a palace wall, and then throws a plasticy garland around it? I think this cold weather has seeped into my heart, and is rapidly shrinking it. Bah humbug.

      • FLORC says:

        Cold weather? It’s going to be near 70 degrees for my christmas. Makes me all gggrrrrrr…..

        Pet peeve. Shoes in the house on carpets and with blankets.

    • Bridget says:

      I hate to say it, but it’s a little Real Housewife-y to me.

      And shouldn’t we want the kids to look like Albert? He may be a little doughy but he has Grace Kelly’s genes for goodness sake!

  8. GoodNamesAllTaken says:

    I think it’s beautiful, and those children are precious. They’re going to be tall, right? Don’t they have long legs for their age, or is it just the picture?Anyway, I think the decorations are nice and understated, everything Kaiser said, though I do raise an eyebrow at the eagle pic mentioned by GiGi. Everything else is pretty. I love turtleneck sweater with long skirt. Too bad Albert had to be in the photo, but I suppose that was unavoidable…

    • GiGi says:

      Lol! I suppose he *did* have to be in it. And, yes, other than the eagle, it’s a lovely photo.

      • Belle Epoch says:

        They did a good job making him look like a happy family man instead of a perv who practically had to put his wife in a dungeon.

  9. Danielle says:

    I like the colour palette and pose…..but I’m a little surprised by the fake tree with faux snow.

  10. lisa2 says:

    The children are cute and she looks very beautiful. I love her haircut. She seems more relaxed and happy. She has great style to me. Very classic.

    • Paleokifaru says:

      I really like her style too. She looks great in very modern and structural pieces that keep all the neutrals from being too boring. I know some people don’t like her monochrome and neutral preference but I think she does it more fashionably than most

    • Jib says:

      I love her style too. I think she would love Victoria Beckham’s clothes.

      I don’t know, I think Charlene is gorgeous, but that boy baby looks so odd in pictures. I don’t mean unattractive, I mean, I wonder if something is wrong with him? The little baby girl looks normal, but he has a strange expression all of the time. Might just be that he’s contemplating life more than his sister. 🙂

      Regardless, I like this picture much more than the jovial Cambridges.

  11. astrid says:

    This feels like one of those “happy” facebook posts when you know the family really is dysfunctional.

  12. Eleonor says:

    She looks really good here. I like the lipstick, it suits her !

  13. HollyG says:

    This is a helluva lot more sophisticated than some of the other holiday cards, and I award bonus points for some good Photoshopping that highlights the bright red apple, lipstick, ornaments, and gifts under the tree while Jacques’ boot stays a darker red. It’s cohesive without being screamy.

    The eagle looks like something they stuck over the mantel because it’s entirely neutral colors.

  14. Jayna says:

    I love the photo. I also loved the Cambridges’ Christmas card.

  15. wow says:

    I love the decor and the kids but can do without Charlene mean-mugging the camera with that pout Maybe she was trying to go with a coy smile but it failed.

    Their twins are adorable so it is always nice to see them. Thrir little prince looks like he came from one of those old vintage Santa Claus/Christmas cards. So cute!

    • Pondering thoughts says:

      Charlene has had too many fillers / plastic surgery. She can hardly smile properly any more. It is a pity. She was always a stunner. But she apparently wanted “a more sophisticated” look. She looks a bit more like Grace Kelly now.
      I find it scary that Albert married a woman looking quite like his own mother.

      • Ollie says:

        She always had a ‘sad smile’ even in her swimmer days with original face and not that good teeth. Now she has a ‘sad botox smile’.
        She definitely transformed herself into a Grace lookalike and carries herself the way. She plays a role

  16. Jag says:

    I love it, with the exceptions of her not smiling and that awful painting above the fireplace.

    Why do so many people not smile anymore? It’s unnerving and saddens me.

  17. Citresse says:

    It could have been worse ie Albert in a flannel shirt, holding a banjo (instead of baby) seated below a moose head.

    • Chrissy says:

      LOL! Citresse, you kill me. I would add the moonshine jug with the xxx engraved on it and Albert wearing a cowboy hat. Merry Christmas everyone.

    • Christin says:

      He just has a generic look, especially if he were dressed down. He could probably go incognito at most any Pennsylvania pub.

      That might actually make a good TV show. Undercover Pennsylvania Prince.

      • Citresse says:

        Christin
        Yes, you’re quite right, Albert could fit in anywhere. Flannel shirts (his collection) and all.

  18. Murphy says:

    I don’t think they’re trying too hard–at least they’re all physically in the same room together, its not a picture of 4 photoshopped images glued together like some other popular royal couple I know.

  19. mayamae says:

    Jacques has Charlene’s coloring, but I think he looks just like grandpa. He also looks like Toby Jones.

    • Chrissy says:

      You’re right, he does look like Toby Jones! WOW. Jacques also looks like a red head.
      Very cute babies.

  20. Tough Cookie says:

    Love the pic and everything about it. I think the tree is charming!! I love the way they are all dressed.

  21. anne_000 says:

    I like this card. Charlene looks pretty enough to be a professional model. Everybody else seems naturally posed, as if they weren’t photoshopped in in some way. Though I know there may be some slight filtering and airbrushing, it otherwise gives off a natural and comfortable feel. Very nice.

  22. Pants says:

    Those babies are stinking adorable!

  23. The Original Mia says:

    I like the card. The twins are adorable. Albert & Charlene look happy.

  24. vauvert says:

    Love everything about this card. It looks very real, you know. Not perfect, not super posed, not super expensive branded products. If they like the eagle, why not? It feels like they didn’t redecorate to take the photo except as us normals do – put on the fire (real or not) and remove the plastic baby proofing stuff. Move the toys out of the frame. Done.

  25. notasugarhere says:

    Masako sighting for the Emperor’s birthday (cannot post link to Hello magazine gallery).

    • anne_000 says:

      I’m glad she’s getting better and that she was allowed to go to Tonga (?). Nice to get out of the country for some fresh, tropical sea air once in a while.

      I hope that once she and her husband become Empress and Emperor, they kick out all the men-in-suits and start their infrastructure fresh and full of people who aren’t so OCD and bullying. I know they cracked up the current Empress’ mental health too. They’re just too cruel and unrealistic.

    • FLORC says:

      I adore that woman. Such a character to aspire to.

  26. TessD says:

    That haircut is amazing on her! I think she and Charlize Theron must be the only women who can actually pull off the blond pixie.

  27. Sue Ellen says:

    She rocks a pixie like an Audrey Hepburn.

  28. Effie says:

    Pretty darn adorable and they all look fantastic, especially Char. She looks absolutely stunning. I do wish the grouping was tighter, they seem kind of physically separated into two groupings. Otherwise, absolutely charming and very festive.

  29. Jeanne says:

    Nice card, but, yeah, the tree is horrible. Why do so many people have such horrible trees? This tree looks like it was stolen from 1964, and not in a good way.

    I didn’t notice the eagle painting until others pointed it out. All I can think of is the beginning of Stephen Colbert’s old show, during the intro song and the eagle goes “BACAWWWW!” Hilarious.

  30. d says:

    The pic is fine, who really cares anyway, the kids are ADORABLE, just scrinchyschroochysmoochydarling adorable, and I love Charlene’s lipstick colour. Good enough for me!

  31. Tina says:

    Does anyone know what the third language on the card is? It seems to have too many umlauts to be Italian or Spanish. Romansch?

  32. Mollie says:

    I think that this is the prettiest she has ever looked.

  33. raincoaster says:

    Can I just say I am psyched about the return of the “hostess skirt” ie the floor-length simple skirt in a fancy material that you wear with a plain cashmere sweater to host parties at home. I have always loved that look, always wanted it to come back, and it finally, finally has. And this is a beautiful example. I know she’s rather beige herself, but this is lovely and she looks stunning in it. I don’t even mind the red lip; it keeps her from looking washed out, whereas she’s got a knack for choosing the wrong dark reds sometimes.

  34. notasugarhere says:

    They’ve released a Christmas interview with the twins running amok through the room. Very relaxed.