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Principality of Monaco: Military unit flags

Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince

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Principality of Monaco

Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince

Flag of Carabiniers du Prince - Image by Zoltán Horváth, 17 July 2024

The Corps of Carabiniers was created on 8 December 1817 by the Prince of Valentinois, Honoré Grimaldi, Prince, Hereditary Prince of Monaco, Administrator of the Principality on behalf of his father, Prince Honoré IV. It was reorganized several times since then. On 26 January 1904, Prince Albert I decreed the disbanding of the Compagnie des Gardes, stating that the Compagnie des Carabiniers would be renamed Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince and commissioned to the guard of the Palace and of the Princely House. Today composed of 3 officers, 24 non-commissioned officers and 97 soldiers, the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is in charge of the guard of the Palace, with a changing of the guard scheduled every day at 11:55. The Company is also in charge of the maintenance of law and order.

The Garde d'Honneur de l'Étendard du Prince was created in 1997. Composed of one officer, two NCOs and 12 soldiers, its main duty is to guard the Princely colours.
The Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince keeps the old Guards' Standard, to which they swore loyalty. Its motto is "HONNEUR - FIDÉLITÉ - DÉVOUEMENT" (Honour - Loyalty - Devotion".

The barracks of the "Carabiniers" is decorated with the Princely standard and several national flags, as can be seen on a colour photograph.
The colours of the Carabiniers seem to be shown on a colour photograph, not showing any detail, available on the website of the French Consulate in Monaco.

Ivan Sache, 21 June 2008 & Zoltán Horváth, 17 July 2024

During Albert II's enthronement ceremony (19 November 2005), new pennants were given to the Carabiniers, the firemen, and the police force (sûreté publique). All were square with the arms of Monaco on one side, the motto of each corps, and a date above or under the arms. The Carabiniers have a red flag with a blue border, the firemen a plain red flag, and the police a white flag with the reverse in the national colors.

Olivier Touzeau, 20 November 2005

A short TV sequence of Rainier's inauguration in 1949 showed armed forces with their proper flags and standards, but only shortly and in black and white. One flag (rather a pennant) could be seen more clearly, showing on a white field the arms, all around a unicolored border (probably not only a golden fringe).

M. Schmöger, 7 April 2005

The flag is grey with black border around. The state coat of arms is placed in the center of the square flag. The inscription “COMPAGNIE DES CARABINIERS” and year number 1817 is placed above the arms, while year number 1904 and “DU PRINCE” is written under the arms. Images of flag: photo (2017), video (2022), photo.

Zoltán Horváth, 17 July 2024