Stéphane Bern has booked a nice surprise for fans of Secrets of History on France 3 this Monday, June 13: the presenter opened the doors of a secret castle belonging to the family of Prince Albert II for centuries. He is fidgeting of the castle of Marchaislocated in the Aisne“the most private residence of the Grimaldi family“, according to the explanations of the specialist. “No television camera has ever filmed this castle, explained the 58-year-old journalist. It is therefore both an immense privilege and an exclusivity that we grant the main family by allowing the Secrets d’Histoire teams to enter it.”

She is the mother of young Albert I (then 6 years old) Princess Antoinette de Merode who acquired this vast property in 1854. “Coming from the Belgian aristocracy, she is thus closer to her native land since we are here only about sixty kilometers from the border with Belgium”, retraced Stéphane Bern. For the great-great-grandfather of Prince Albert II, this castle and its park are “an enchantment. He will even say that it is here that he spent the most pleasant days of his childhood”, continued the presenter. Very involved with his mother in the community of Marchais, Albert I established a strong bond with the inhabitants of the region. “A relationship that continues elsewhere”, specified the author of numerous historical works.

Indeed, when Prince Albert II went to the Château de Marchais with his wife Charlène and the twins Jacques and Gabriellathey do not hesitate to mingle with the population of the village, made up of 430 inhabitants, as Jean Pestel, a local resident, had confirmed with The voice of the North in 2019: “We leave him alone but we must not believe that he is withdrawn. He speaks to everyone. Sometimes he goes to the bar at Liesse. One day, he came across a man in the middle of a conversation who was bitching at him. “Do you know the prince? he asked her. “No? Well it’s me”, and they had a drink together.” And to add in particular: “When he is there, we give him a royal peace. The sovereign comes here to be a little quiet. Being able to relax and move freely.”

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“A real plague”: Prince Rainer forced to close the castle

If the castle of Marchais has preserved its secrecy for the Grimaldi family, it’s because Prince Rainer has put devices in place to guard against press cameras. “Prince Rainier was forced to close everything at the time where the paparazzi began photographing her two daughters. They were everywhere, perched in the trees to better take their picture. A real scourge”, said Jacques Pestel. Previously, however, the domain of 1,500 hectares was open to villagers who provided play boules in the summer, in the alley of the castle.

The Grimaldi family used to put down their suitcases in Marchais one or two weekends in summer, or in September or February, hunting seasons. “Prince Albert is not a real hunter, said Jacques Pestel. He loves nature too much. When he has the animal at the end of his gun, he finds it difficult to shoot. On the other hand, his sister, Princess Caroline, is a bitch. She is the one who takes care of the bloodhounds. This consisted of finding the injured animals so as not to let them suffer. As for Princess Stephanie, we never see her here. It’s not his thing, the campaign.”

Photo credits: Claudia Albuquerque / Bestimage