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PHOTOS | Princess Charlene steps out with twins for boat burning tradition

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Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Jacques of Monaco and Princess Gabriella of Monaco attend the Ceremony Of The Sainte-Devote.
Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Jacques of Monaco and Princess Gabriella of Monaco attend the Ceremony Of The Sainte-Devote.
Photo: David Niviere/Corbis via Getty Images

Princess Charlene led the traditional boat-burning ritual commemorating Monaco's patron saint, St. Devote, with her children on Thursday.

Prince Albert missed the beginning of festivities celebrating Monaco's patron saint amid a third diagnosis of Covid-19 – but sported a mask for Friday's appearance on the palace balcony.

Per People, Princess Charlene greeted locals before leading 8-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella into a chapel. They attended a brief service before the traditional re-enactment and bonfire lighting.

The youngsters, under the watchful eye of their mother, lit the bonfire with red and white torches, which consumed a full-sized model of the boat that carried St. Devote to Monaco's shores. 

As the fire grew, the twins showed off their close bond, hugging each other and playing in front of the crowd.

SEE PHOTOS HERE:

Princess Charlene of Monaco, Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, Prince Jacques of Monaco and Princess Gabriella of Monaco attend the Ceremony Of The Sainte-Devote.
Princess Charlene of Monaco, Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, Prince Jacques of Monaco and Princess Gabriella of Monaco attend the Ceremony Of The Sainte-Devote.
Princess Charlene of Monaco, Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, Prince Jacques of Monaco and Princess Gabriella of Monaco attend the Ceremony Of The Sainte-Devote.
Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Jacques of Mon
Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Jacques of Monaco and Princess Gabriella of Monaco attend the Ceremony Of The Sainte-Devote.

The lighting of the boat has been a tradition maintained by Monaco's royal family since the 19th century.

It marks the beginning of a two-day celebration, which continued Friday with a cathedral mass and a palace courtyard ceremony.

Prince Albert wore a face mask as he made his first appearance after announcing his third coronavirus diagnosis, alongside his wife and their two children on the palace balcony.

SEE A PHOTO HERE:

Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Jacques of Mon
Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Jacques of Monaco, Princess Gabriella of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco appear at the Palace balcony during the Sainte Devote Celebration.


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