Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

Prince Albert II of Monaco Receives Letters of Credence from Newly Appointed Ambassadors to the Principality of Monaco

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  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi/Frédéric Nebinger
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi/Frédéric Nebinger
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi/Frédéric Nebinger
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi/Frédéric Nebinger
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi/Frédéric Nebinger

In Monaco-Ville, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco received Letters of Credence from newly appointed ambassadors to the Principality of Monaco during a formal ceremony held in the Salon des Glaces at the Palais Princier de Monaco.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the Sovereign Prince’s Chef de Cabinet, Mr. Olivier Wenden, and the Conseiller de Gouvernement–Ministre des Relations Extérieures et de la Coopération, Ms. Isabelle Berro-Amadeï.

The ambassadors who presented their Letters of Credence were the Ambassador of the Republic of Benin, Her Excellency Ms Corinne Brunet, the Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia, His Excellency Viljar Lubi, the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait, His Excellency Abdullah Suleiman Alshaheen, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, His Excellency Vegar Sundsbø Brynildsen, and the Ambassador of Hungary, His Excellency Miklós Erik Tromler.

Letters of Credence are formal documents through which a Head of State informs a sovereign of the appointment of an ambassador as their official representative of their country in the Principality of Monaco.

The presentation of the Letters of Credence formally marks the start of the ambassadors’ diplomatic roles in the Principality.

Danish Royals, Royal Family of Denmark

Princess Isabella of Denmark to Begin Military Training with Guard Hussar Regiment in August 2026

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Photo courtesy of Steen Evald/Kongehuset ©

In Copenhagen, the Head of Communications for the Royal Household of Denmark, Ms. Nina Z. Munch-Perrin, issued a press release to announce that Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella of Denmark will undertake her military conscription with the Guard Hussar Regiment in Slagelse beginning in August 2026, following the completion of her upper secondary education.

The Princess will be among the first to serve under the Kingdom of Denmark’s reformed conscription system, established under the Forsvarsforlig 2024–2033, concluded in June 2023 between the Danish Government and a broad majority of political parties in the Folketinget.

The reform extends conscription from four months to eleven months, combining basic training with operational service, and forms part of a broader effort to strengthen military readiness in response to changing security conditions in Europe.

The Guard Hussar Regiment is the oldest regiment in the Danish Army, dating back to 1614, with the motto In Actis Esto Volucris.

Princess Isabella’s forthcoming service follows that of her brother and father. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Christian of Denmark completed his military training with the Guard Hussar Regiment in May 2025 and has since continued his military training as part of the lieutenant officer training program.

His Majesty King Frederik X began his military career in 1986, when he was the Crown Prince, with Den Kongelige Livgarde. In 1988, he was commissioned as a lieutenant of the reserve and served as a platoon commander with the Guard Hussar Regiment. He was promoted to first lieutenant of the reserve in 1989.

Belgian Royals, Headlines, Royal Family of Belgium

Prince Emmanuel of Belgium Changes Course of Study, Continues His University Education in Brussels, the Palace Confirms

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Portrait courtesy of Monarchie Belge/Bas Bogaerts

In Brussels, the Palais Royal de Bruxelles has confirmed that His Royal Highness Prince Emmanuel of Belgium has changed his course of study and will continue his education in the Belgian capital.

The 20-year-old son of Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians has withdrawn from UC Leuven-Limburg (UCLL) in Leuven after completing his first semester, where he had been pursuing a bachelor’s degree in International Business Management and Marketing, taught in English.

Prince Emmanuel has since enrolled in a French-language program in business development at ISTEC Bruxelles, École supérieure de commerce et de marketing, where he is following the program, “chargé d’affaires commerciales.” The course is understood to offer a more practical, hands-on approach, including opportunities for professional placements.

According to the Palais Royal, the transition was carried out discreetly and reflects a personal decision by the Prince following a reassessment of his academic direction. Despite the change, Prince Emmanuel’s studies are expected to proceed without delay, provided he completes his examinations by the end of the academic year.

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

Prince Albert II of Monaco Appoints Frédéric Cottalorda as the New Minister of Finance and the Economy

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  • Portrait courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco
  • Palais Princier de Monaco Communiqué de presse

In Monaco-Ville, the Palais Princier de Monaco has announced that, by decision of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, Mr. Frédéric Cottalorda has been appointed Conseiller de Gouvernement-Ministre des Finances et de l’Économie, effective April 1st, 2026.

He succeeds Mr. Pierre-André Chiappori, who had held the position since March 18th, 2024.

Mr. Cottalorda holds a Maîtrise de Sciences Économiques and a Diplôme d’Études Supérieures Spécialisées en ingénierie patrimoniale. He began his administrative career in April 2005 within the Service d’Information et de Contrôle des Circuits Financiers (SICCFIN), where he served in several roles, including Adjoint au Directeur until September 2013. He subsequently developed a consulting practice advising professionals subject to obligations relating to lutte contre le blanchiment et le financement du terrorisme (LCB-FT). In August 2024, he was appointed Conseiller Spécial au Secrétariat du Département des Finances et de l’Économie.

According to the Palais Princier, his experience across both the public and private sectors provides him with recognized expertise and a strong understanding of the financial and economic challenges facing the Principality.

The Sovereign Prince also expressed his sincere gratitude to Mr. Pierre-André Chiappori for his dedication and rigor throughout his tenure at the head of the Département des Finances et de l’Économie.

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco, Vatican

The Palais Princier de Monaco Releases a Historic Portrait of the Princely Family of Monaco and the Kelly Family with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

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  • Portrait courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi
  • Portrait courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi
  • Portrait courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi/Sarah Steck/Frédéric Nebinger
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi/Sarah Steck/Frédéric Nebinger

In Monaco-Ville, the Palais Princier de Monaco released an official portrait of Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, together with members of the Princely Family of Monaco and the Kelly family, on the occasion of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s historic Apostolic Visit to the Principality of Monaco.

The portrait was taken in the Salle des Gardes of the Palais Princier by Mr. Michaël Alesi, following the official welcoming ceremony in the Cour d’Honneur and prior to the balcony appearance and subsequent liturgical celebrations and pastoral engagements across the Principality.

Front row, from left to right: Mr. Gareth Wittstock, Mr. Louis Ducruet and Mrs. Marie Ducruet, Her Serene Highness Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Her Serene Highness Princess Gabriella of Monaco, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Jacques of Monaco, Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover, Ms. Charlotte Casiraghi, Mr. Pierre Casiraghi and Mrs. Beatrice Borromeo Casiraghi.

Second row, from left to right: Ms. Susan Kelly von Medicus, Mrs. John “JB” Kelly III and Mr. John “JB” Kelly III, Mr. Christopher LeVine, Mrs. Donatella Knecht de Massy and Mr. Sébastien Knecht de Massy, an unidentified woman, and Miss Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy.

The Palais Princier also released additional portraits of His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Jacques of Monaco and Her Serene Highness Princess Gabriella of Monaco. Among them were a photograph of Princess Gabriella with Father César Penzo, the Palatine Chaplain at the Chapelle Palatine of the Palais Princier de Monaco, during the pontifical Mass at the Stade Louis-II in the quartier of Fontvieille, a portrait of Princess Charlene, and a portrait of the Sovereign Prince and His Holiness.

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco Attend Road Safety Day in Larvotto, Promoting Bicycle Safety and Soft Mobility

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  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Frédéric Nebinger
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Frédéric Nebinger
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Frédéric Nebinger
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Frédéric Nebinger
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Frédéric Nebinger

This afternoon, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, accompanied by Mr. Gareth Wittstock, participated in the 2nd edition of Road Safety Day, held along the Esplanade in Larvotto.

Organized by the Fondation Princesse Charlene de Monaco, the initiative is intended to promote awareness of bicycle safety while encouraging the development of soft mobility within the Principality of Monaco.

The program brought together a range of educational and interactive activities designed to engage participants of all ages in safe cycling practices. These included an “Awareness Village,” a practice track for children and young people, as well as a dedicated road safety circuit aimed at helping young cyclists develop both reflexes and control under real conditions.

The event also featured the Monabike Challenge, a sporting initiative intended to encourage the use of bicycles as a practical mode of transport in an urban environment.

Norwegian Royals, Royal Family of Norway

The Royal Court of Norway Confirms Princess Astrid is Recovering from Pneumonia

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Portrait courtesy of Ola Vatn/Det Kongelige Hoff

In Oslo, the Communications Director of the Royal Court of Norway, Ms. Guri Varpe, confirmed to the Norwegian public broadcaster Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) this afternoon that Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, “has had pneumonia.”

The 94-year-old Princess, the eldest daughter of the late King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha of Norway, is now “on the road to recovery,” according to Ms. Varpe.

Reports that the Princess had been hospitalized first emerged on Friday, when the Norwegian tabloid Se og Hør published photographs of Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway visiting her in hospital, prior to any official statement regarding her condition.

Meanwhile, Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway have begun their Easter holiday, travelling by train to Prinsehytta, their cabin in Sikkilsdalen.

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