Prince Albert II attends Mediterranean Games in Taranto
The Sovereign travelled to Southern Italy for the 20th Mediterranean Games, in support of Monaco’s athletes. On 25 August, Prince Albert II had lunch with the Monegasque delegation and shared words of encouragement with the participating athletes before attending several events. He cheered for Monaco during boules (pétanque), sailing, padel, and swimming competitions. The Prince’s visit concluded with a reception with the board of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG).
Prince Albert II inaugurates Restored Saint Devote Chapel in Faucon-du-Caire
The Sovereign visited the village of Faucon-du-Caire to attend the consecration ceremony of the restored Saint Devote – Saint John of Matha Chapel. Welcomed by Isabelle Tomatis, Prefect of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Sovereign first met with volunteers who worked on the renovation of the building. The Prince then participated in the presentation of the relics and attended a mass in the chapel, which was broadcast on a big screen in the village for a large crowd. After lightning struck its bell tower in 1930, the chapel collapsed and was abandoned. Its revival was driven by a local association and a team of volunteers, who spent two years rebuilding the historic chapel.
Prince Albert II signals start of La Vuelta in Monaco
Monaco hosted the Grand Départ and second stage of the 81st La Vuelta professional road cycling race on 22-23 August. An avid cycling fan, Prince Albert II cut the event’s red ribbon, officially launching La Vuelta alongside Javier Guillén, the race director, at 4:10 pm on 22 August.
The Sovereign then headed to the terrace of the Salle Empire of the Hôtel de Paris to view the first race, a 9.6-kilometre individual time trial which wound its way through Monaco. Slovenian cyclist and five-time Tour de France winner, Tadej Pogačar, emerged victorious on home roads, completing the stage in 10 minutes and 57 seconds, only 0.09 seconds ahead of Ethan Hayter! The Prince congratulated the winner on the podium and later presented Tadej Pogacar with an AS Monaco jersey.
Before Stage Two began, the Sovereign attended “Ride for Peace” a cycling event from the Palace Square to the Jardin Exotique on Sunday 23 August. Organized by La Vuelta and Peace and Sport, the event brought together fifty participants, including professional cyclists and athletes. The start of the second stage, a 214.3-kilometre race from Monaco to Manosque, was given by Prince Albert II from the Jardin Exotique. James Matthew Brennan won Stage Two, with Pau Miquel Delgado in second-place and Tadej Pogačar in third.
Charlotte Casiraghi receives Musanostra Literary Prize for La Fêlure
Charlotte Casiraghi received the 2026 Musanostra Prize for La Fêlure (Flaws) on 22 August in Lumio, Corsica, during the E Statinate literary festival. The Musanostra Prize honours works written in French or Corsican.
Charlotte’s first solo book, La Fêlure was published by Éditions Julliard earlier this year. The deeply personal and philosophical work was initially inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story The Crack-Up. The novel expands into a rich tapestry of literary, poetic, and existential reflections. The book explores the idea of “brokenness” not as a flaw to be hidden, but as a fundamental part of being alive and something that opens us to beauty, vulnerability, and understanding.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene send Official Dispatch after Devastating Himalayan Floods
Hundreds of people have died and thousands of people are still missing after a glacier collapse caused a mudslide and flash flood across the Himalayas on 26 August. The Princely couple expressed their sadness and solidarity in an official dispatch:
“Princess Charlene and I wish to express our profound sorrow at the terrible disaster currently affecting the border between Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet.
In these painful hours, my family and the people of Monaco join me in extending our sincere condolences to the bereaved families and expressing our full solidarity with the Nepalese people and all those affected.
We commend the dedication of the rescue teams mobilized in particularly difficult conditions and hope that the search operations will lead to the swift recovery of those still missing. – Prince Albert II.”
Princely Palace’s Head Chef retires after 40 Years
Christian Garcia is retiring after almost four decades at the helm of Princely Palace’s kitchens. His career as Head Chef at the Palace was supposed to be a temporary, seven-month kitchen position that began in 1987 and continued for 39 years. He quickly became a central part of everyday life and official events at the Palace, working closely with the late Prince Rainier III for 17 years before continuing his service under Prince Albert II. Throughout the years, he cooked for many famous world figures and leaders, including Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, and Barack Obama.
