The Princely Family attended the Centenary Gala Dinner honouring Prince Rainier III, held in the Atrium of the Monte-Carlo Casino on 20 October. Prince Albert II, Princess Stephanie, Louis Ducruet, Marie Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb attended the event. French model and singer Baptiste Giabiconi was also in attendance. The glittering ball was a heartfelt ode to the beautiful galas once hosted by Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. The event raised funds for the Fight Aids Monaco association, founded by Princess Stephanie in 2004.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene attend the South Africa Rugby Match in Paris
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene attended the France 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and South Africa at the Stade de France in Paris on 21 October 2023. The Princess got to watch her home team win the tight game, with a score of 16-15. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene met with the South African players following their victory. The grand final takes place on Saturday 28 October with South Africa facing New Zealand.
Princess Caroline and Charlotte attend AMADE’s 60th Anniversary Dinner
Princess Caroline of Hanover, Charlotte Casiraghi, Dimitri Rassam and Carole Bouquet attended the 60th AMADE Anniversary Dinner at the Opera Garnier on 14 October.
“Now boasting a network of partners deployed over four continents, AMADE helps more than 40,000 of the most vulnerable children each year,” says Princess Caroline.
In 1963, after being particularly moved by the situation affecting Vietnamese children, Princess Grace created the AMADE World Association of Children’s Friends. In 1993 Princess Caroline became President of the Association.
Prince Albert II receives Archbishop Bartholomew I at the Palace
Bartholomew I, the Archbishop of Constantinople, visited Prince Albert II at the Palace on Thursday 19 October. The Archbishop has been supporting the protection of our environment for many years.
Upon his arrival at the Prince’s Palace, a double hedge of the Carabiniers du Prince returned the honours to the Archbishop before the Prince welcomed him in the Court of Honour. A one-on-one discussion was then held in the Family Room. Bartholomew I closed his visit by signing the official register in the Salon des Glaces.
Prince Albert II and Bartholomew I attend a Conference on Pandemics
Prince Albert II and Bartholomew I spoke at the conference on pandemics, organized by the CSM and the Global Virus Network. The Prince was introduced with a speech by Professor Patrick Rampal, who recalled Prince Rainier III’s creation of the Monaco Scientific Centre, which played a role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his speech, the Sovereign recalled that the Monaco Scientific Centre carried out more than 100,000 PCR tests in 2021 for Monaco’s population of 40,000 people. The Centre also carefully monitored the evolution of viral variants by genotyping them and, with the support of the Global Virus Network and Professor Linfa Wang, carried out more than 20,000 neutralizing antibody tests. Over half of Monaco’s population has been tested and informed individually of their level of protection against severe forms of COVID.
Budget Amendment 2023: Official Statement by Prince Albert II
On 20 October, Prince Albert II released an official statement following the debates that occurred during the examination of the 2023 Budget Amendment.
“I want to solemnly remind you that the Government, under my authority, and on the basis of the guidelines I set, is solely in charge of the administration of our Country.
If the Principality’s economic situation remains solid, it nevertheless faces, like other countries, the consequences of multiple crises and geopolitical events that impact our economies, societies and ambitions.
In this new environment, it is my responsibility to make sure that managing our budgets is in line with the realities of the world around us.
My desire is to ensure future generations have the same opportunities we have had so far.
It is therefore my duty, after extensive consultations with the Government and as the Sovereign Prince, to make arbitrations that meet both the needs of the present and the demands of the future.
I invite the National Advisors to Responsibility and Realism, to collaborate harmoniously with my Government, being aware of the challenges ahead in a world that has become uncertain.
The continuity and development of the Principality resides in the “long time of history” guaranteed by the Constitutional Monarchy,” – Prince Albert II.
