Albert & Charlene’s joy at twins: The Principality of Monaco had long awaited the news that Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene’s first children had arrived. That Charlene was pregnant with twins had been known for some time and, on 10 December 2014, the official announcement of the birth of twins was made.
Gabriella Thérèse Marie was born at 5:04 p.m. (1604 GMT) and her brother Jacques Honoré Rainier two minutes later, according to a palace statement. Under the Monegasque rules of succession Jacques is heir to the throne. 42 cannon shots were fired to announce the births, instead of the 21 that would boom for a single baby. It is the first time since Monaco was founded in the 13th century that the princely family has celebrated the birth of twins.
