Order of Grimaldi


The Order of Grimaldi is an Order established in Monaco on 18 November 1954.

Award

It is awarded to people who have contributed to the prestige of the Principality with distinction. As the Order rewards personal service to the Sovereign Prince of Monaco, it is awarded on the sole discretion of the Grand Master, currently Albert II, Prince of Monaco.

Reception

According to the statutes, and except for Members of the Princely Family and foreigners, one can only receive the Order first with the rank of Knight. To be awarded the following higher ranks, one must keep the lower rank during the following times:
  • Officer: four years as a Knight
  • Commander: three years as an Officer
  • Grand Officer: four years as a Commander
  • Grand Cross: five years as a Grand Officer
Nominations belong to the Grand Master. The Chancellor proposes promotions. According to the Prince's orders, the Chancellor proposes the projects of nomination and promotion ordonnances. The grantees must be received in the Order before wearing the decorations. The Grand Master receives the Grand Crosses, Grand Officers and Commanders. The Chancellor receives the Officers and Knights; there is one exception: foreigners will be admitted in the Order, but not received.

Military honors

A member of the Order wearing the decorations will be honoured by the carabiniers as such:
  • Command "Right shoulder, ARMS" for Officers and Knights and
  • Command "Present, ARMS" for Grand Crosses, Grand Officers and Commanders.

    Grades

The Order has five classes:
  • Grand Cross, which wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
  • Grand Officer, which wears the badge on a necklet, plus the star on the right chest;
  • Commander, which wears the badge on a necklet;
  • Officer, which wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;
  • Knight, which wears the badge on a plain ribbon on the left chest.

    Insignia

  • The badge of the Order is a white-enamelled Maltese Cross, in silver for Knight class, in gilt for higher classes. The obverse central disc is in gilt, bearing a mounted knight carrying the coat-of-arms of Monaco, surrounded by the legend "Rainer Grimaldi, Prince de Monaco". The reverse central disc, also in gilt, bears the year "1950" and the legend "Principauté de Monaco". The badge is topped by a crown.
  • The star of the Order is a modern design in silver, formed by 16 rhombs arranged in a circle. The gilt central disc is the same as that on the obverse of the badge.
  • The ribbon of the Order is white, with a thin red stripe near the edge of the ribbon.

    Legal basis

  • Ordonnance n° 1.028 of 18/11/1954 instituting the Order of Grimaldi:
  • The statutes of the Order of Saint-Charles are used for the Order of Grimaldi, with "Chancellor of the Order of Grimaldi" instead of "Chancellor of the Order of Saint-Charles" where needed.