Creating a new life, witnessing their first steps, and seeing the world through their innocent eyes; being a first-time parent is a journey filled with countless emotions, sleepless nights, and endless love. In an exclusive interview, Louis and Marie Ducruet, the proud parents of adorable nine-month-old Victoire, open up about the joys and challenges of parenthood.
In April last year, Louis and Marie welcomed their precious daughter, Victoire, into the world. With a radiant smile, Marie shares, “Very well! Victoire is such a lovely child; she’s making us forget all the small annoyances. She’s sleeping well at night, so we can’t complain.”
Intrigued by her surroundings since an early age, Victoire has proven to be a curious and lively child. Louis fondly explains, “From two months old, she started observing her surroundings.” Marie adds, “She’s so interested in the world around her that she doesn’t want to go down for her afternoon nap.”
Reflecting their sentiments and aspirations, Victoire’s name holds a deeper meaning. Louis reveals, “We agreed on it pretty quickly. I wanted our daughter to have an old French name that’s not common these days.” Marie continues, “Victoire has two middle names. Maguy is a homage to Louis’s paternal grandmother, and Lam Huong is my grandmother’s Vietnamese name.”
Victoire holds a special place in the heart of her grandmother, Princess Stéphanie. Louis reminisces, “When the baby was born, my mother had an incredibly emotional reaction. She came to the maternity ward the day after Victoire’s birth, alongside my dad [Daniel Ducruet], my paternal grandmother, and Marie’s mom. It was a magical moment that I’ll never forget.”
Princess Stéphanie fills Victoire’s life with immense love and care despite her busy schedule. Louis proudly shares, “My mother asks to look after Victoire whenever her schedule allows. When she was born, my mother often asked us, ‘Do you want to go out to the cinema? I can look after the baby.'”
Since Victoire’s arrival, everything has changed for Louis and Marie. Their priorities have shifted, and they cherish every moment spent with their daughter. Louis explains, “We no longer have the same priorities. These days, we want to spend as much time as possible with her.”
Despite the joys, parenthood also comes with its challenges. Marie, who was involved in organizing the Centenary Ball in tribute to Prince Rainier last October, admits, “It certainly wasn’t a restful time! I came back from maternity leave a bit earlier than planned, part-time, so I could work on it.” Balancing their roles as parents while pursuing their individual aspirations requires sacrifice and careful time management.
Respecting Victoire’s privacy and protecting her from the public eye, Louis and Marie have chosen not to share photos showing their daughter’s face. Louis explains, “We want to keep a bit of privacy and not expose her to the public straight away. She has all the time in the world for that, given the family she’s been born into.”
Pancake, the beloved family dog, has joyfully embraced Victoire’s arrival. Marie shares, “Totally! At first, he was a bit stressed when he heard Victoire crying, but he adapted very quickly. He’s very protective and often watches over her. They’re both starting to play together, and their relationship is wonderful.”
As both Louis and Marie come from larger families, the idea of expanding their own family in the future is not off the table. Marie expresses, “We’re not opposed to the idea. Victoire is such an adorable child; she’s making us want another. Two children would be perfect for me.” Louis concludes, “We’d like our children not to have a big age gap.”
As the gurgling noises continue to fill Princess Stéphanie’s office, little Victoire grows happily surrounded by the love and support of her adoring parents, Louis and Marie Ducruet. They embark on the beautiful journey of parenthood, cherishing every milestone and embracing the joys and challenges that come their way.
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