Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco Continue Tradition with Children's Christmas Party at the Palace

The celebration was complete with treats and a stop from Santa Claus

There were giant elves and acrobats in the palace courtyard this year at Monaco’s annual children’s Christmas party!

In truth, the elves were palace volunteers dressed in costumes, assisting Prince Albert, Princess Charlene and Santa Claus in handing out gifts to Monagasque children.

Begun by Princess Grace as a way of welcoming children to meet the royal family, Prince Albert has maintained and expanded the festive tradition. What was once an inside event with card tables, punch and cartoons has become one of the principality's most sought-after invitations. And with Princess Charlene wearing a Christmas red Emory sweater with matching gloves, a sleek black redingote from Akris and red knee Manolo boots this year, one of its most stylish.

While 9-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella were missing in action (they’ve reportedly had a children's illness) the Prince and Princess were assisted by Princess Stephanie's son Louis Ducruet (about to celebrate his own first Christmas as a dad) and her daughter Camille Gottlieb.

Related: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene's Royal Twins Are All Grown Up in New Christmas Card Photo

The tradition was initiated by Albert’s parents Princess Grace and Prince Rainier in the early 1960s as a way of introducing the American princess to Monaco’s children. The annual children’s party is a special event that culminates with each child receiving a gift directly from a member of the ruling family.

Each child uniquely has the opportunity — if only for a few moments — to speak directly with the reigning sovereign.

While the first party featured a borrowed reel of Disney cartoons, the annual event now held in the open-air courtyard with cabins and stalls set around a giant Christmas tree truly resembles a Christmas market. Children aged 5 to 12 (this year, 680!) and a number of chaperoning adults line up outside the palace gates, entering on the clocktower stroke.

There's acrobats, magicians and entertainers, but the highlight is unquestionably when each child, in turn, is ushered before a member of the royal family. Each then has their name called before receiving a bespoke gift, something which has been researched or requested when the child was invited to attend. In top demand this year were a lot of Playmobil Novelmore and Spiderman racing sets — but that’s not all!

Continuing the festivities, the courtyard cabins feature many treats including gingered cookies, cakes and the palace's own fabled hot chocolate.

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The story goes that when Princess Caroline and Prince Albert were children, Prince Rainier became dissatisfied with a local farmer's milk. The Prince then brought dairy cows to his farm at mountaintop Roc Agel. The same herd continues to supply the palace and years ago, palace chef Christian Garcia created a thicker-than-imaginable hot chocolate recipe. One returnee says it tastes like melted candy bars and cinnamon. "I begin dreaming of in May. Right after Easter," he swears.

Sharing his recipe with PEOPLE a few years ago, Garcia acknowledged that “the secret of the palace’s famous Christmas hot chocolate is certainly is the quality of the whole fat milk provided by the Roc Agel dairy cows. And a good dark chocolate mix.” Garcia uses a 70% chocolate blend from the Dominican Republic to get the recipe just right.

Next up for the royal family is a planned vacation, which will take Prince Albert, Princess Charlene and their twins on a voyage to Antarctica. The parents described the trip as part learning experience when disclosing holiday plans to Monaco Matin in November.

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"I don't know if many children their age have ever visited so many countries,” Prince Albert told the outlet. "But it's part of their education. We will also be going to Antarctica at the end of the year, for a trip organized by the Oceanographic Museum and Robert Calcagno, which, I believe, will be a wonderful adventure for all of us, but for them in particular."

It will also mark the second time that Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella have visited polar climates. The twins accompanied their father on a sail across the Arctic Circle during their trip to Norway last June.

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