The military ceremony for the presentation of the Foreign Legion's white kepis

©Direction de la Communication / Stéphane Danna

A military ceremony was held in the Place du Palais on Thursday, 4 April 2024, to present white kepis to volunteers, in the presence of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince and General Cyrille Youchtchenko, Commander of the French Foreign Legion.

The Foreign Legion's presence reflects the historical links that have united the legion with the Principality of Monaco since Prince Louis II's reign.

After marching sixty kilometres in combat uniform, the 59 volunteers who had joined the 2nd Company of the 4th Foreign Regiment, based in Castelnaudary, 30 days beforehand, took part in the traditional ceremony at which they received the famous white kepi and recited the legionnaire's code of honour. 

The ceremony was attended by more than 180 Legionnaires, including members of the Music of the Foreign Legion band, a platoon of Pioneers, a delegation from the Legion's general staff and the flags of the Legion's associations.

Links between the Principality and the Foreign Legion

After Saint-Cyr (1891-1893), Hereditary Prince Louis was posted to the 1st Foreign Regiment and seconded to the 2nd Chasseurs d'Afrique, then the 3rd, until 1899. He volunteered for service in the 1914-1918 war and was assigned to the staff of the Fifth Army. In 1919, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 1st Foreign Regiment, then colonel in 1921.

On 29 and 30 April 1931, Prince Louis II took part in the centenary celebrations of the Foreign Legion in Sidi Bel Abbès. He was appointed honorary corporal of the 1st Foreign Regiment in May.

By Sovereign Ordinance of 15 May 1934, Prince Louis II conferred the Knight Cross of the Order of Saint Charles upon the pennant of the 1st Battalion (formerly the 6th) of the 1st Regiment of the Foreign Legion.

In 1936, the French Minister of War awarded Prince Louis II the Volunteer Combatant's Cross for the Foreign Legion. 

In November 1937, Prince Louis II was made Honorary Sergeant of the 1st Foreign Regiment.

From 25 to 30 June 1947, the music and the honour section of the Foreign Legion participated in the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the reign of Prince Louis II in Monaco. The city of Monaco was then made an honorary 1st class legionnaire, and the Prince was promoted to honorary chief sergeant of the 1st Foreign Regiment.

The flag of the Foreign Legion and its guard of honour were included in the cortege at the funeral of Prince Louis II in 1949.  A legionnaire wore the prince’s military medal.

In 1974, The Music of the Foreign Legion band performed in the Place du Palais to mark the 25th anniversary of the reign of Prince Rainier III.

* List of authorities in attendance:

➢  H.S.H. the Prince's family members:

-     Mrs Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy

-     Mr Andrea Casiraghi

-     Mr Pierre Casiraghi

➢  French authorities:

-     H.E. Mr. Jean d'Haussonville, Ambassador of France to Monaco

-     Mr Xavier Ronsin, Justice Advisor to President Emmanuel Macron

➢  Monegasque authorities:

-     Mr Pierre Dartout, Minister of State

-     Mr Michel Boeri, President of the Crown Council

-     Her Excellency Mrs Yvette Lambin-Berti, Secretary of State

-     Mr Christophe Steiner, Chief of Staff to H.S.H. the Prince

-     Mr Patrice Cellario, Government Advisor to the Minister of Interior

-     Mrs Camille Svara, acting Mayor

-     Colonel Bruno Philiponnat, Chargé de Mission of H.S.H. the Prince

➢ Guests of the Foreign Legion:

-     Mr Patrick Maugard, Mayor of Castelnaudary (1st Class of Honour)

-     Mrs Buisson, Patron of the ^4th Foreign Regiment (1st Class of Honour)

-     Mr Bouchard, photographer (1st Class of Honour)

-     Lieutenant-Colonel Stevenazzi of the 3rd DIV

-     Mr Bourgeron, patron of the French Foreign Legion

-     The wives of General Yushchenko and Colonel Mesmay

-     Delegations from the Foreign Legion associations with their flags