In Nice, France we are preparing for the carnival and that means another royal visit.  Every year in February, a different king comes to town to celebrate the carnival with us and participate in the parade on his own special float.  But it wasn’t always this way…

Kings and parades

In the beginning, the carnival resembled a big unorganized street party – there wasn’t a parade in sight.  But in 1830, when the King and Queen of Sardinia (Charles-Félix and Marie-Christine) were in Nice, the city wanted to do something special, so the first carnival parade was organised in their honour.  The royal couple sat on their palace balcony and waved the royal wave as prominent Niçois ladies and gentlemen, dressed in elegant costumes filed past in decorated carriages.

That parade was such a success that in succeeding years, when…