Albert-I Medals awarded to Ellen MacArthur and Professor Eric Karsenti
On Friday 12 October, winners of the Grandes Médailles Albert-I were awarded at the Oceanographic Museum by Prince Albert II. Ellen Patricia MacArthur, a successful long-distance sailer who broke the world record for the fastest solo trip around the world in 2005, was one of two recipients of the Albert-I medal. She was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II after her voyage and has since created a foundation to help eliminate waste and pollution in the oceans by promoting a circular economy with a team of 125 people.
Biologist and Professor Eric Karsenti was awarded the second Albert-I medal for his work on the Tara Ocean Expedition. He travelled around the world for three years with 50 stops to observe the effects of climate change on planktonic and coral systems. Commander Cousteau, Leonardo DiCaprio and Sandra Bessudo have all received this honourable medal in the past.
Princess Charlene awards Tim Daly at Princess Grace Gala
On Tuesday night, Princess Charlene attended a gala evening for the Princess Grace Foundation in New York City. Wearing a Ralph Lauren tuxedo, the Princess presented the Prince Rainier Ill Award to American actor Tim Daly for both his career and his social commitments. Tim Daly is the president of the Creative Coalition, a social and political rights organization in the United States.
Princess Charlene presented the Prince Rainier III statuette, made by the sculptor Kees Verkade, to the actor, who also received $25,000 to donate to the organization of his choice.
Since its creation in 1982, the Princess Grace USA Foundation has been working to help and support young talents in the world of theatre, dance and film. This year’s Princess Grace awards were given to choreographer Kyle Abraham and theatre actor Sam Gold.
Prince Albert II visits Albania
As part of an official visit to Tirana, the capital of Albania, HSH Prince Albert II was received by Albanian President Ilir Meta. The two Heads of State met and held a meeting in the presence of Gilles Tonelli, Government Counsellor Minister, HE Bernard Fautrier, Vice-President of the Prince Albert II Foundation and Richard Milanesio, Cabinet Counsellor for HSH the Prince. At the end of the meeting, a bilateral agreement was signed between the two countries. The general agreement opens future possibilities in the environmental, tourism and ocean sectors. A financial partnership of 45,000 euros for the benefit of the National Agency for Marine Protected Areas represented by SE Bernard Fautrier, was also established.
During his visit, the Prince also placed a wreath in front of the Mother Albania monument. The Mayor of Tirana presented the Prince with the key to the city and Prince Albert also received a medal of the Albanian flag, the highest distinction in the country.
Prince Albert visits Prehistoric Art Exhibition
Prince Albert visited the Prehistoric and Protohistoric Art exhibition on Thursday evening at the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of Monaco. Guided by director Elena Rossoni-Notter and Yves Coppens, president of the museum’s scientific committee, the Sovereign took in the various works of early expression.
The exhibition also pays tribute to Prince Albert-l, patron of research on Palaeolithic art in the early twentieth century. The museum’s research is continuing on sites like the Observatory cave, where new carbon-14 dating has found human traces from 30,000 years ago. Archaeological teams from the Principality were also contacted to help with excavations in Siberia next summer.
The Prehistoric and Protohistoric Art exhibition runs until 31 January.
Prince Albert and Princess Caroline attend Studio Africa Exhibition
Collector Jean Pigozzi guided Prince Albert II and Princess Caroline through the Studio Africa collection on Wednesday during the exhibition’s opening. Images from photographic studios in West and Central Africa comprise the exhibition, which is currently displayed on the walls of the Quai Antoine-l room.
The Studio Africa exhibition, thought up by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs and curated by Joerg Bader and Martine Fresia, focuses on images from the 1950s to 1980s in Bamako, Kinshasa and Lagos. Photographs made by Africans for Africans. Until the 1940s, the production of images was controlled by colonial powers. In the preface of the catalogue for the exhibition (written by Prince Albert II) the Prince calls the collection a social fresco retracing intimate moments from the middle of the last century.
The Studio Africa exhibition is free and runs until the 15th of November.
Princess Caroline inaugurates plaque for Friends of CHPG
Princess Caroline of Hanover inaugurated a donor’s plaque for the Friends of the CHPG association on Wednesday at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre. The Princess, who is President of the board of directors for the Friends of the CHPG association, was accompanied by Didier Gamerdinger, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Benoite Sevelinges, the director of the CHPG, Stéphane Valeri, the President of the National Council and members of the association.
Following the unveiling of the new plaque, donors and guests could see the advanced pieces of equipment recently acquired by the foundation. The Friends of the CHPG association, created by Sovereign Ordinance in 2014, helps benevolent sponsors support innovative solutions for the care of patients at the hospital.
