This year the Principality of Monaco and Australia are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of Diplomatic Relations between their respective countries. On this occasion, the Embassy of Monaco in Australia organised a “Monaco Week” taking place recently in Sydney. Various events were planned to promote the Principality, particularly through the participation of the Prince Albert II and Princesse Charlene Foundations, the Tourism and Congresses Directorate and the Société des Bains de Mer.
The two countries decided to establish Diplomatic Relations in May 2007. Currently, the Ambassador of Australia to Monaco, posted in Paris, since 4 September, 2014 is Stephen Brady. Conversely, Catherine Fautrier was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Monaco, to the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, on 16 June, 2011.
More recently, two major cultural exhibitions have strengthened the ties between the two countries. In March 2012, Princess Charlene officially opened the “Princess Grace” exhibition in Bendigo (VIC), which was a great success. In addition, from March to September 2016, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco received the exhibition “TABA NABA”, made up of pieces of Australian aboriginal art around the theme “Man and the Ocean”.
Looking back at history, the Consular Relations between the Principality of Monaco and the Commonwealth of Australia began on 27 August, 1959, when Mr. Vincent John Flynn was appointed First Honourary Consul of Monaco in Sydney. Today, Monaco has two Honourary Consuls in Australia:
- Andrew M. Cannon, appointed in 2002 and based in Melbourne, covering the states of Victoria (VIC), Tasmania (TAS), South Australia (SA) and Western Australia (WA)
- Hadrien Bourely, who was appointed in 2016 and is based in Sydney, covering the states of New South Wales (NSW), Northern Territories (NT) and Queensland (Q)
Approximately 150 Australians currently reside in the Principality of Monaco and more than 10,000 of them visit the Principality each year. In 2010, the Directorate of Tourism and Congress opened a Representative Office, based in Sydney, which covers Australia and New Zealand.
Given these past and current links between these disparate states, it is fitting for Australia and Monaco to now proudly celebrate the 10th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
