Prince Albert II Congratulates Pope Leo XIV
Prince Albert II officially extended his congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on May 9.
“On the occasion of Your Holiness’s elevation to the Pontifical Throne,” stated Prince Albert II, “my family and I assure You of our fervent prayers for the greatness of Your Pontificate and humbly offer our respectful congratulations. Together with the people of the Principality, we express our deepest hope that the fulfillment of this eminent and weighty spiritual mission of universal scope will be marked by many satisfactions. I ask Your Holiness to kindly accept the respectful homage of my deep and filial devotion.”
Prince Albert II inaugurates 20th Top Marques show
Prince Albert II inaugurated the much-anticipated motor show, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, at the Grimaldi Forum on May 8. The Sovereign got into the driver’s seat of one of two Laffite LM1 Monaco Edition cars. The model is a very limited series of only two cars. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the pair of cars will go to the Princess Charlene Foundation and the Fight Aids association. The four-day Top Marques saw thirteen world premieres of supercars and other formidable vehicles.
Prince Albert II and Princess Caroline celebrate the return of Marcel Duchamp’s Artwork to Monaco
Prince Albert II and the Princess of Hanover presided over an evening which celebrated the 100th anniversary of Marcel Duchamp’s “Obligation for the Roulette of Monte-Carlo” on May 8, in the Salle Blanche of the Monte-Carlo Casino. The event opened with a performance of “CasinOpéra” by Luciano Chessa.
Created in 1924, Duchamp’s piece sold for 500 francs with the promise of 20% interest, intended to finance a foolproof system for winning at roulette. On display from 1-8 May, the piece was exhibited in the Atrium of the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Bringing the piece back to the location which inspired it was collaborative effort between the SBM, the Princely Palace and the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM).
Look Back: 10 years since the Princely Twins were Baptized
One decade ago, on May 10, 2015, the baptism of Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella was celebrated at the Monaco Cathedral. When the twins were 5 months old, they were welcomed into the Catholic Church during a ceremony presided over by Archbishop Bernard Barsi. The cathedral was decorated with 6,000 white flowers, and outside, a 21-gun salute was fired. A message from Pope Francis was read at the close of the mass.
Prince Jacques’ godparents are Christopher Le Vine Jr. (Prince Albert II’s American cousin) and Diane de Polignac Nigra (Prince Rainier III’s cousin). Princess Gabriella’s godparents are Gareth Wittstock (Princess Charlene’s brother) and Nerine Pienaar (wife of François Pienaar, a close friend of Princess Charlene).
Prince Albert II inaugurates International Ocean Symposium
On the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Monaco organized an international symposium at the Méridien Beach Plaza on May 8 and 9. The event was launched under the high patronage and presence of Prince Albert II. The Prince reaffirmed Monaco’s commitment to the ocean, continuing the work initiated by Prince Rainier III, founder of Indemer in 1985.
In a time of an unprecedented biodiversity crisis, the symposium’s first day focused on discussing international legal frameworks and the need to strengthen ocean safeguard mechanisms, led by Ida Caracciolo, judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and Lorenzo Schiano di Pepe, Professor at the University of Genoa. The event also provided an opportunity to discuss the Academy of the Sea, an initiative led by Prince Albert II.
Princess Caroline attends Scouts of Monaco charity Dinner
The Princess of Hanover attended a charity dinner organized by the Guides and Scouts Association of Monaco at the Méridien Beach Plaza Hotel on April 30. Proceeds of the dinner will help fund the renovation of a school in Argentina.
Princess Caroline joined the Girl Guides when she was 10 years old and is the honorary president of the Guides and Scouts of Monaco. She wore the association’s red and white scarf to the event, which featured a menu prepared by Chef Laurent Colin. The association, made up of approximately 150 children and adolescents, celebrated its centenary in 2023.
