Prince Albert’s First Visit to Moldova
On the 4th and 5th of May, HSH Prince Albert II made his first official visit to the Republic of Moldova. In the capital Kishinev, the Prince was received on the 4th of May by HE Filip Pavel, Prime Minister of Moldova. On this occasion, a bilateral framework agreement for cooperation was signed between the governments of the two countries as well as a memorandum of understanding between the Moldovan Ministry of the Environment and the Prince Albert II Foundation.
Then, the Sovereign Prince closed the Economic Forum organized by the “Business People Association of Moldova” and attended by a delegation of Monegasque entrepreneurs from the Monaco Economic Board (MEB). Two economic agreements were signed on this occasion by the SEM. An official dinner, hosted by the Moldovan Prime Minister, was held in the cellars of Cricova, the famous Moldovan vineyard.
On the 5th of May, the Prince also met with HE Igor Dodon, President of the Republic of Moldova. The Sovereign Prince then received an Insignia of Doctor Honoris Causa, presented by Mr. Gheorghe Ciocanu, Rector of the State University of Moldova, and met the Moldovan student youth with whom he shared his commitment to the environment. Finally, HSH Prince Albert II met the athletes from the football team FC Zimbru and the U14 team at the Zimbru Stadium in Kishinev.
Prince Albert II laid the first stone for the diocesan house
With seven levels, the building will bring together the services of the diocese and the Christian community. “This beautiful achievement receives my full support. It will allow the Catholic community of Monaco to gather in a spirit of brotherhood and sharing,” said Prince Albert II about the diocesan house project in 2015. Two years later, the Sovereign laid the first stone of the building in the location of the future multi-purpose hall. Designed in a style that respects the rules recommended by the Principality’s urban planning, this house will “bring together all the services of the diocese, which are currently fragmented, and it will also allow a pooling of resources,” said the Diocese. There will also be also a library, meeting rooms and a chapel.
Prince Albert attends the 150th Anniversary of the Hanbury Botanical Gardens
The Hanbury Botanical Gardens, a lush and calming place, located close to the Franco-Italian border, is linked closely to the Principality, notably by its location, Corso Montecarlo. Prince Albert II was particularly pleased to be associated with the 150th anniversary of the Hanbury Botanical Gardens.
“Absolutely, not only because it’s a unique and well-preserved place, but also because my mother came here a lot and brought us here when we were children. I have memories of this place, it’s a beautiful example, I believe, of this whole region and what can be accomplished if we have a vision, like the vision of Thomas Hanbury who,150 years ago, created a place to preserve species from the entire world, which you can find here, nourished in their ideal climate,” said HSH Prince Albert II. Surrounded several personalities from Monaco and Italy, the Prince planted a new tree in the gardens. “To create a place which isn’t only habitable for the plants, but which can be shared with a great number of people is what these gardens have been doing for 150 years. Accumulating, perhaps less visitors than in certain times, but it’s worth a visit, and certainly must be preserved.”
Literary Prize and Discovery Bursary Nominees
The Literary Prize and the Discovery Bursary will be awarded on the 5th of October in Monaco. All the books will be part of the Reading Marathon, which will be launched on Wednesday the 21st of June at the Monaco Media Library. The members of the Literary Council of the Prince Pierre Foundation of Monaco met on Wednesday, the 10th of May, to select the nominees of the Prince Pierre of Monaco Literary Prize and the Discovery Bursary. Caroline, Princess of Hanover, also joined the meeting.
Three authors were selected for the €15,000 Literary Prize, which rewards “a renowned Francophone writer for their entire work,” while five first novels are in the running for the €12,000 bursary, awarded to a Francophone author for a work of fiction:
- Annie Ernaux
- Michel Tremblay
- Maurizio Serra
The five titles in the running for the Discovery Award:
–Pierre Adrian, Les âmes simples (Equateurs)
–Cédric Gras, Anthracite (Stock)
–Frédéric Gros, Possédées (Albin Michel)
–Néhémy Pierre-Dahomey, Rapatriés (Seuil)
–Blandine Rinkel, L’abandon des prétentions (Fayard)
Prince Albert II attends the Commission for the Monegasque Language Meeting
The Commission for the Monegasque Language has met regularly since 1982 to work for the protection of the Monegasque language and to formulate proposals to improve its knowledge and to promote its teaching. Along with Prince Albert II, the Commission takes stock of actions which contribute to the continued existence and endurance of the Monegasque language. “We have been working on creating a Monegasque dictionary. We are currently on the letter ‘L’,” said Laurent Anselmi, President of the Commission.
It was the wish of Prince Rainier III, and is currently the wish of Prince Albert II, to help this language live on and for the preservation of Monegasque culture and identity.
‘Monaco, Back to the Future’ on Ushuaïa TV
The Sovereign attended the premiere of a documentary that highlights, throughout the 20th century, the Principality’s taste for new technologies. How does Monaco reconcile money and environmental virtue? This is the first line of the documentary entitled ‘Monaco, Back to the Future’. A 60-minute film directed by Christine Oberdorff for Ushuaïa TV. The documentary describes particular events, like the launching of a blimp from Monaco’s shore in 1902…and that in the Great Hall of the Oceanographic Museum at the beginning of the 20th century, a prototype helicopter lifted off the ground for the first time, the Solar Impulse adventure, the development of Venturi electric vehicles and the hydrogen ship ‘Energy Observer’, which will complete its tour of France in Monaco.
“I think we need a long-term vision,” said Prince Albert II. “This is done by example, but I am convinced that evolution depends on personal mobility. Even more since becoming a father. I am also fighting for the future of my children. This accentuates my desire to participate in this evolution towards a more sustainable world”.
The documentary will be shown on Tuesday the 16th of May at 8:40 pm on Ushuaïa TV.
Prince Albert II attends King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway’s 80th birthdays
On Tuesday, the 9th of May 2017, HSH Prince Albert II attended celebrations for the 80th birthdays of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway.The gala dinner, which took place at the Royal Palace in Oslo, was an opportunity to bring together members of the Royal and Princess Families of Europe for a photograph.
Awards Ceremony of eFormula in Monaco
Prince Albert of Monaco, Louis Ducruet, Charlotte Casiraghi and her son Raphael Elmaleh Casiraghi attended the Monaco Formula E Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco on May 13, 2017 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.
Sources: www.newmyroyals.com
