Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco hold hands as they attend Olympic flame lighting ceremony – while adorable twins Gabriella and Jacques are too cool for school in dark shades

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco joined four Monegasque tourchbearers at a relay ceremony in Monaco today ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, marking the second time in history the Monaco has welcomed the Olympic Flame.

Dressed in white from head to toe in the offical Relais De La Flamme (which means Olympic Torch Relay) uniform, Albert, 66, and Charlene, 46, proudly held up the historic torch, smiling at crowds alongside the other chosen torchbearers.

The couple, who held hands as they arrived, were joined by their twin children Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès, and Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco for the special event, who watched on as their parents proudly held up the Olympic Flame.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco hold hands as they attend Olympic flame lighting ceremony – while adorable twins Gabriella and Jacques are too cool for school in dark shades

Joining the Prince and Princess of Monaco for the ceremony was Charles Leclerc, a Formula 1 driver and recent winner of the Monaco Grand Prix, Alexandra Coletti, an alpine skier and specialist in speed events, Xiaoxin Yang a table tennis player who has qualified for the Paris games and Rudy Rinaldi, an Olympic bobsleigh pilot.

The tourchbearers gathered in front of the statue of Juan Manuel Fangio at Port Hercule in Monte Carol, beginning with Charles Leclerc will be the first torchbearer.

The Flame was then passed on to Alexandra Coletti on a tour around the harbour, followed by Xiaoxin Yang and Rudy Rinaldi, who then handed it to H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene in front of the statue of Malizia at the Palace Square.

Prince Albert II has strong links with the Olympic Games, as president of the Monegasque Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1985.

Joining the Prince and Princess of Monaco for the ceremony was Charles Leclerc, a Formula 1 driver and recent winner of the Monaco Grand Prix, Alexandra Coletti, an alpine skier and specialist in speed events, Xiaoxin Yang a table tennis player who has qualified for the Paris games and Rudy Rinaldi, an Olympic bobsleigh pilot.

The tourchbearers gathered in front of the statue of Juan Manuel Fangio at Port Hercule in Monte Carol, beginning with Charles Leclerc will be the first torchbearer.

The Flame was then passed on to Alexandra Coletti on a tour around the harbour, followed by Xiaoxin Yang and Rudy Rinaldi, who then handed it to H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene in front of the statue of Malizia at the Palace Square.

Prince Albert II has strong links with the Olympic Games, as president of the Monegasque Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1985.