Princely Couple signals the Start of the Calvi to Monaco Water Bike Challenge

Princely Couple signals the Start of the Calvi to Monaco Water Bike Challenge

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II signalled the start of the Crossing: Calvi – Monaco Water Bike Challenge, for the benefit of the Princess Charlene Foundation, on 6 September. Five teams of national and international athletes left Calvi at 10:30 am for the 24-hour-long race of 180 kilometres. After musical entertainment, Mayor Ange Santini spoke about the special links between the City of Calvi and the Principality of Monaco. Prince Albert II then thanked the many people present before a blessing by the Archpriest of Calvi. Princess Charlene signalled the start the race to much applause.

The challenge concluded on Saturday 7 September at around 9:30 am on Larvotto Beach. Team Lionheart won this edition, crossing the finish line at 9:08 am, followed by Team Rock to Rock at 9:12 am, Team Serenity at 9:15 am, Team Ferrari at 9:20 am, and Team U17 at 9:36 am.

After more than 22 hours, the teams were welcomed by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Rose des Vents.

“The Foundation warmly thanks and congratulates all the participants in this challenge. Your incredible performance, despite challenging weather conditions, is a source of inspiration to us all. Thank you for your determination, courage, and team spirit—you have shown that nothing can stop those who believe in themselves. Congratulations!” said the Princess Charlene Foundation.

Prince Albert II inaugurates “Monaco Liberated!” WWII Exhibition

Prince Albert II visited the Ministry of State to inaugurate a new exhibition on 3 September. In the company of Monaco’s new Minister of State, Didier Guillaume, the Sovereign took in the exceptional works pulled from the national archives, the Prince’s Palace, the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco, the Alpes-Maritimes, the Monaco Media Library and even the Consulate of Monaco in Nantes, which were all about the Principality’s liberation. The exhibition focuses on other significant events such as communism in Monaco, the return of France and Prince Rainier III.

At the end of the war, many homes in the Principality were without water, gas or electricity. And yet, as shown by the exhibition, the streets of Monaco were full of life. Maps point out where the bomb shelters were located and the exhibition ends with a video showing the retreat of the Nazis to the Place de Moulins.

The Prince then attended Didier Guillaume’s first public speech before signing a new stamp which pays tribute to General Robert Frederick who had received the order to liberate the south of France and Monaco. The exhibition is free, accessible to all and runs until 31 January 2025.

Prince Albert II commemorates 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Monaco

Commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Monaco took place on 3 September across the Principality. Prince Albert II visited a reenacted military camp on the Place du Palais which displayed WWII vehicles and equipment with people dressed in authentic army uniforms. The Sovereign was in the company of Bradford Hicks, grandson of Robert Frederick, the general commanding the First Airborne Task Force, who had parachuted into Var on 15 August 1944. The Prince was presented with a plan created by American troops for the liberation of Provence.

The Sovereign participated in the traditional ceremony at the Maison de France before speaking at the War Memorial, which was attended by the United States Ambassador to France and Monaco, Denise Campbell Bauer.

From 15 August to 3 September and then throughout September 1944, the Principality was in a state of war. Quoting Jean Drouhard, a surgeon at the hospital, the Prince said: “We were now fighting less than 80 kilometres away. The lack of supplies and even famine, air raids, bombings, power and gas cuts, gutted buildings and corpses on street corners, suddenly became, for a few weeks, the daily life of the Monegasques. In a few days, Allied bombings, mines left by the Germans and blunders of the purge would cause significant damage and many victims, wounded or killed.”

Swearing in of Monaco’s New Minister of State, Didier Guillaume

Didier Guillaume took an oath before Prince Albert II and was appointed Minister of State of the Principality on 2 September 2024. The ceremony took place at the Prince’s Palace in the presence of Princess Charlene, the Prince’s Children, the Secretary of State, Members of the Government and the Prince’s Cabinet.

The Sovereign presented the new Minister of State with a roadmap which is structured around the following objectives: Continue the energy transition and implement a “renaturalization” (restoring the natural environment) of the city; Rethinking urban planning and mobility; Adapting public security policies to future challenges; Strengthening Monaco’s international position on major issues; Adapting economic and budgetary policy to future challenges in public finances.

Prince Albert II unveils bust of Gabriel Hanotaux, politician and Saviour of a thousand-year-old Olive Tree

During Art-Bre in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Prince Albert II unveiled the bust of academic Gabriel Hanotaux, who was honoured for his attachment to the town and its thousand-year-old olive tree. The French statesman, academic and historian was France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs during the late 1800s.

The artist Romain Tiercin said that it was a great honour for him to pay tribute to the politician who was committed to the preservation of the local thousand-year-old olive tree. Twelve works by Romain Tiercin are on display alongside the bust of Gabriel Hanotaux. His sculptures use metal, wood and an inventive and beautiful use of negative space.