Prince Albert Inaugurates Pro Tennis Courts in Beausoleil
Prince Albert II inaugurated two new indoor tennis courts at Padel Soleil Tennis Club, located at the Devens Sports Complex in Beausoleil. Monaco’s Mayor, Georges Marsan, France’s Football coach, Didier Deschamps, and Fabrice Pastor, CEO of Monte-Carlo International Sports, were also in attendance along with over one hundred personalities and guests who walked the red carpet during the event.
Prince Albert II and Fabrice Pastor cut the ribbon in front of the new courts, which are also fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. After a tour of the new premises, a cocktail dinner prepared by the Café de Paris closed the evening in a friendly atmosphere.
Prince Albert inaugurates First Electric Boat designed in Monaco
A 100% electric boat was inaugurated by Prince Albert II at the Yacht Club on Friday 26 April. For the last year and a half, startup incubator Monacotech has been helping the project, headed by François Richard. Back in 1938, batteries were put on a boat for the first time on the river ‘Néva’, which is how the electric boat’s company chose its name: Lanéva. Not only is the boat’s energy clean, the vessel itself is made out of linen, cork and organic epoxy resin (to replace plastic), as well as stainless steel, water-based paint, and birch wood from sustainable forests in Finland.
The electric boat is 7.9 m by 2.5 m and is powered by two 40 kilowatt engines, for a top speed of up to 25 knots. It can run for two hours at a speed of 18 knots on a single charge and, once it’s in full production, will probably come with a steep price tag: between 400,000 and 500,000 euros. The new boat will also be presented at the upcoming Ever Show.
Grace of Monaco, Princess in Dior Exhibition
On Thursday 25 April, Prince Albert was in Granville (also called Monaco of the North) for the inauguration of the ‘Grace of Monaco, Princess in Dior’ exhibition, which is being held at the Christian Dior Museum until 17 November 2019.
At the exhibition, the Sovereign was able to discover (and rediscover) a unique collection of Haute Couture dresses and accessories worn by Princess Grace. The exhibition, part of the 90th anniversary of Princess Grace’s birth, offers visitors an exceptional stroll through some of the Principality’s emblematic events attended by Princess Grace, as well as sharing some more intimate moments with the Princess.
10th World Circus Day celebrated in Monaco
The World Circus Federation, under the patronage of Princess Stephanie, celebrated the 10th World Circus Day on Saturday 20 April. This very special day was created by the World Circus Federation in 2009 and takes place on the third Saturday in April to promote the Circus, its different disciplines and culture.
The 10th edition broke all records with over 200 events around the world. The International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo paid tribute to the Circus by celebrating under the most famous marquee in the world.
Charity Gala: 15,000 Euros raised for Children and Education
A beautiful charity gala evening, organized by ‘Les Amis du Liban’ and ‘Amade’, under the patronage of the Princess of Hanover, was recently held at the Belle Époque Room in the Hotel Hermitage in Monaco. Prince Albert II of Monaco and many other personalities attended the charity event, which raised money for a common cause shared by the two associations: access to secondary education for girls. The 15,000 euros raised during the evening will help Amade continue to build colleges in Niger to promote secondary school access to girls; and a joint mission in Lebanon, promoting education for Lebanese girls and refugees.
During the Gala, renowned Lebanese pianist and composer, Guy Manoukian, performed an intimate concert which was followed by a fashion show, dance show, tennis-themed performance and a DJ. A raffle and an auction were also held during the event. Among the lots presented for auction: choosing a name for the new variety of rose created by the Meilland, a pennant flag from the 2018 World Cup France-Croatia final and an official French Football team jersey signed by the Champion team and coach Didier Deschamps.
Prince Albert inaugurates New Home for Sea Turtles
Prince Albert II inaugurated ‘The Odyssey of sea turtles’ during the first Oceanographic Museum Festival on Saturday. Two loggerhead turtles were inaugurated into their new temporary home during the festival: a 160 m3 outdoor rehabilitation aquarium overlooking the waterfront in the Saint-Martin Gardens. The two new residents will soon be sharing their home with other marine animals, before being rehabilitated back into the sea.
4,000 visitors attended the festival, especially eager to experience the new space dedicated to sea turtles, which took four years of work and five million euros of funding from the Princely Government.
The Monegasque Centre for the Care of Marine Species, in connection with specialized veterinarians, treats turtles found on the coasts of the Principality and its neighbouring municipalities.
