Prince Albert II attends D-Day Commemorations
Prince Albert II commemorated D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in history which commenced the liberation of France at Normandy, on Thursday 6 June. The Sovereign was present during the official British ceremony and took part in the international celebration of 6 June 1944 at Omaha Beach, in the presence of more than twenty heads of State.
The day began at the Caen Memorial, where Prince Albert II visited “The Dawn of the American Century 1919-1944” exhibition. The Sovereign then took to the skies in a Piper Cub aircraft and flew over the region. Prince Albert II also met American veterans at the Sainte-Mère-Eglise, in one of the first village’s to be liberated on D-Day. A large crowd had gathered to watch the parade of American veterans. The Prince also visited Camp Geronimo, a reconstruction of a Second World War military camp, before attending a concert by Michael Fitzpatrick, a renowned American cellist, in the local church.
Prince Albert II is Europe’s First Person to drive the Tesla Cybertruck
To kick off the 19th Top Marques, Prince Albert II went behind the wheel of the Tesla Cybertruck. Although the vehicle is not yet approved in Europe, Elon Musk granted an exclusive first drive to Prince Albert II. The Sovereign was accompanied by Mathieu Lenglin, Director of Tesla France, Emeric Garcia, Director of Top Marques and Salim Zeghdar, Administrator of the Prince’s Estate. Prince Albert II drove the full-size, stainless steel pickup truck through the streets of Monaco.
Prince Albert II inaugurates “Albert I, the prince of prehistory” at the Cantabria Rock Art Centre
On 31 May, Prince Albert II visited the Cantabria Rock Art Centre to inaugurate the “Albert I, the prince of prehistory” exhibition. The Sovereign’s great-great-grandfather financed excavations in the region’s prehistoric caves.
It was the Prince’s first visit to the centre, because during his last visit to Cantabria two years ago, the Rock Art Centre was still being built. Prince Albert II signed a cooperation agreement between the Principality of Monaco and the centre. The exhibition brings together impressions and testimonies from the prince’s field visits to the caves of Cantabria.
Princess Charlene visits Monaco’s Maternity Ward for Mother’s Day
Princess Charlene made her annual visit to the Princess Grace Hospital Centre’s maternity ward, in collaboration with the Monaco Red Cross. The CHPG is where her twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella were born in December 2014. Looking pretty in pink, Princess Charlene congratulated the new moms and dads on 31 May. The Princess is the Vice President of the Monaco Red Cross.
Prince Albert II inaugurates the “Václav Havel Bench” at the Bosio Pavilion Gardens
Prince Albert II inaugurated the Václav Havel Bench at the Bosio Pavilion gardens on 29 May. Designed by architect Bořek Šípek, the new bench is a place of reflection inspired by the democratic ideals of Vaclav Havel, the first president of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic from 1989 to 1992 and president of the Czech Republic from 1993 to 2003.
The two metal garden chairs connected by a round table in the middle, out of which grows a linden, the Czech national tree, symbolize an openness to dialogue and democracy. Vaclav Havel’s motto “Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred,” is inscribed on the bench. This memorial bench is now present in 52 countries on three continents: in Europe, in the Middle East and in North America. The inauguration was attended by several members of Monaco’s government.
