Royal Twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella of Monaco Join Family for Beloved Tradition at Monaco Circus

It was a weekend beneath the big top for Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella of Monaco.

Accompanied by their father, Prince Albert, and several other family members, the 9-year-old royal twins took in the afternoon performance of Monte Carlo's International Circus Festival on Sunday.

After sporting clown noses last weekend for the circus festival, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella joined others in sporting festive scarves — Jacques in a blue design and Gabriella in a wool accessory featuring the principality's red and white colors with a centennial image of Prince Rainier.

As the clown band played to their entrance, the children paused for photographers, with Gabriella smiling with a large bouquet that she received. One attendee noted that both Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella were also spotted clutching circus "geegaws," spinning souvenirs with battery-powered lights.

This year's edition of the circus festival marks the 50th anniversary of its founding by Prince Rainier, and the royal box facing the one-ring show was filled to capacity. The twins' aunt Princess Stephanie, the President of the Organizing Committee of the International Monte-Carlo Circus Festival, was accompanied by her son Louis Durcuet and daughter Camille Gottlieb. The twins had company close to their ages in cousins Kaia-Rose and Bodie Wittstock, who attended with their parents — Gareth (Princess Charlene's brother) and Roisin Wittstock. They opted for light-up magic wands as souvenirs.

The 46th edition of the circus festival (cancellations occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic) included a number of returning acts, favorites that the children have seen in previous show visits, including horsetrainer Alexis Gruss and legendary Fellini clown Enrico Fumagalli.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Prince Rainier created the festival to share his love of the circus with the children of Monaco, offering a tented show at Christmas time in 1974. The event, supported by Princess Grace, who enlisted her Hollywood contacts to serve as celebrity judges, awards prizes to the top circus acts and is considered the Oscars of the circus world.

Prince Rainier's last public appearance before he died was at the 2005 festival.