The 68th edition of the Rose Ball took place in the presence of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. HRH the Princess of Hanover and her children were also in attendance. The gala evening, orchestrated by designer Christian Louboutin, was held under the theme “Disco”. The springtime charity event has been organised every year since 1954 for the benefit of the Princess Grace Foundation.
Prince Albert II attends the 15th Monaco Blue Initiative
The 15th edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative took place in the presence of Prince Albert II, with ocean protection and the blue economy at the heart of the event. Minister Jean-François Ferrari, H.E. António Costa Silva, Charlina Vitcheva, HE Christos Stylianides and HE Olivier Poivre d’Arvor were all in attendance. Goals for the upcoming decade, the role of the private sector as well as the role of the Mediterranean in achieving 30×30 were topics touched upon during the day of in-depth discussions.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our distinguished panelists and participants for their invaluable insights and contributions, making this day of dialogue truly enriching,” stated the Prince Albert II Foundation on social media.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene make a Historic Visit to Alsace
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene visited several Alsatian communes on 17 March to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Jeanne de Ferrette’s wedding to Albert II of Habsburg. According to a statement by the Princely Palace, the marriage of Louise d’Aumont, Duchess of Mazarin, with the future Prince Honoré IV of Monaco in 1777 brought the county of Ferrette to the Grimaldis.
The visit began in Feldbach, where Mayor Sylvie Renger welcomed the princely couple before they unveiled a “Grimaldi Historical Sites of Monaco’ plaque. Prince Albert and Princess Charlene then visited the 10th century St. James Church before heading to Donnemarie. There, they both inaugurated the ‘Passage of the Counts of Ferrette’, near the church of Saint-Léonard. An inauguration was held in the presence of Mayor Alexandre Berbett.
The Princely couple then visited Thann, where the official ceremonies of the 700th anniversary of Jeanne de Ferrette’s wedding to Albert II of Habsburg began. The Archduke and Archduchess Rudolf de Habsburg-Lorraine and the Archduke and the Archduchess Rudolf de Habsburg were in attendance.
In Thann, the Prince and Princess also visited the collegiate church of Saint-Thiébaut, where a restored organ was unveiled to them. Part of the restoration process took place thanks to support from the Sovereign. After a traditional lunch, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene attended a show by the Little Singers of Thann amongst a large crowd at the Albert-I park.
Prince Albert II gives an Exclusive Interview to Paris Match
A few days before his 66th birthday, Paris Match journalist Stéphane Bern spoke to Prince Albert II in the Palace Square. During the exclusive interview, Prince Albert II discussed the shocking dismissal of the Princely family’s principal asset manager, Claude Palmero. Fired in June 2023, the former employee went to the courts in Monaco in a futile bid to win back the job he inherited from his father.
During the interview, Prince Albert II also discussed his family. According to the Prince, Princess Gabriella has an independent character and although Prince Jacques was once more introverted, he is becoming more confident and is caring towards his sister. He added that the twins are very close and enjoyed the St. Devote celebrations, which including the traditional burning of a boat.
The Prince also revealed that he is proud and happy to have contributed to the preservation of the oceans and biodiversity, but it can be frustrating to acknowledge that this is not a priority for many people, including heads of state and governments. The interview concluded on the subject of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The Prince revealed that he will be in attendance with Princess Charlene to support the Principality’s competitors and watch the swimming competitions.
