On Thursday morning in Monaco-Ville, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, in his capacity as High Patron, attended the opening session of the 13th Edition of the Rencontres Internationales Monaco et la Méditerranée at the Musée Océanographique de Monaco.
Organized by the Association Monégasque pour la Connaissance des Arts with the support of the Government of the Principality of Monaco, in partnership with the Institut Océanographique, Institut audiovisuel de Monaco, and the Monaco National Commission for UNESCO, the two-day symposium is held this year under the theme Ulysses Through the Ages.
The symposium brings together researchers, academics, writers, art historians, and artists to examine the reinterpretations of Ulysses across literature, the arts, history, cinema, and contemporary thought. The program offers a multidisciplinary examination of the figure of Ulysses as a symbol of wandering, intelligence, memory, and exile, and considers the continued relevance of this myth in light of contemporary cultural and human questions.
In his speech, the Sovereign Prince observed that the theme resonates with the history of the Palais Princier de Monaco. Recent restoration work in the Throne Room revealed a Renaissance cycle of frescoes depicting scenes from the Odyssey.
At the center of the ceiling is the Nekuia, the episode in which Ulysses descends to the underworld to consult the seer Tiresias. The composition is framed by zodiac signs, the labors of the months, and additional imagery illustrating episodes from the hero’s journey.
According to the Sovereign Prince, these discoveries provide new insight into the artistic history of the Palais and underscore the enduring presence of classical mythology within Monaco’s cultural heritage.
According to a statement from the Palais Princier de Monaco, the frescoes will be examined in greater detail during a forthcoming conference, Images d’une souveraineté de la Renaissance, to be held from March 19 to 21 at the Musée Océanographique de Monaco.
On Thursday in Madrid, Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg began a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Spain at the invitation of Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.
The official visit takes place in the context of Grand Duke Guillaume’s accession to the throne on October 3, 2025, following the abdication of his father, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, and forms part of the established diplomatic exchanges between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
The visit began with an official welcoming ceremony at the Palacio Real de Madrid, where the grand ducal couple was received by Their Majesties the King and Queen.
Following the playing of the national anthems, the inspection of the guard of honour, and the presentation of the respective delegations, Their Majesties held an initial meeting with the grand ducal couple.
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke later held bilateral talks with His Majesty the King, accompanied by members of the Luxembourg delegation. Those present included the Deputy Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mr. Xavier Bettel, the Minister of the Economy, Mr. Lex Delles, and the Minister of Finance, Mr. Gilles Roth.
The Spanish delegation included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Mr. José Manuel Albares.
In the afternoon, Their Majesties the King and Queen hosted a luncheon at the Palacio Real de Madrid in honour of the grand ducal couple.
During the luncheon, His Majesty the King delivered a speech.
In his remarks, His Majesty welcomed the grand ducal couple to Spain and recalled the visit he and Her Majesty the Queen made to Luxembourg in 2014, shortly after his proclamation, when they were received by Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.
The King emphasized the longstanding ties between the Royal House of Spain and the Grand Ducal House of Luxembourg, describing the visit as a reflection of the friendship and close relationship shared by the two countries.
Referring to the historical links between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, His Majesty noted that the two countries share centuries of intertwined history, recalling in particular the reign of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who also held the title of Duke of Luxembourg, and the reign of his son, Felipe II of Spain, figures who illustrate the historical connections between the two nations.
Turning to European affairs, the King highlighted Spain’s four decades of membership in the European Union and expressed appreciation for Luxembourg’s role as a founding member of the bloc and a longstanding partner in the development of European integration.
He also underlined the close economic and social links between the two countries, noting the presence of thousands of Spanish nationals living and working in Luxembourg, as well as the contribution of Luxembourg nationals residing in Spain, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of the two societies.
The King further addressed the broader international context, expressing concern over ongoing global conflicts, including the situation in the Middle East and the continuing war in Ukraine, and reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to diplomacy, international cooperation, and the principles of international law.
At the end of his speech, His Majesty the King raised a toast to the friendship between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, expressing his wishes for the prosperity of Luxembourg during the reign of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke and for continued cooperation between the two countries.
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke then delivered a speech in which he expressed his gratitude to Their Majesties for the welcome extended to him and to Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess during their first official visit to Spain.
The Grand Duke noted that the visit was among the first official engagements he had undertaken abroad since his accession to the throne in October 2025 and described it as reflecting the longstanding relations between the Grand Ducal House of Luxembourg and the Royal House of Spain, as well as the friendship between the two countries.
Referring to the historical links between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Grand Duke recalled more than five centuries of shared history, particularly the period during which Luxembourg formed part of the territories of the Spanish Crown.
He noted that this legacy remains visible in Luxembourg City, including the Spanish defensive turrets known as échauguettes espagnoles and the origins of the Palais Grand Ducal, whose reconstruction during the sixteenth century took place under Spanish administration.
The Grand Duke also referred to the close ties between the peoples of the two countries, noting the presence of nearly 10,000 Spanish nationals residing in Luxembourg, many of whom work in the European institutions, the financial sector, and emerging areas of innovation. He also highlighted the growing number of Luxembourg students who pursue their studies in Spain.
Turning to European affairs, the Grand Duke recalled Luxembourg’s support for Spain’s accession to the European Union in the 1980s, referring to remarks made by his grandfather, the late His Royal Highness Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, during the State Visit of Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1980. He observed that Spain’s membership of the Union has since strengthened political, economic, and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
The Grand Duke further addressed the broader international context, noting the challenges facing the international order, including geopolitical tensions, the war in Ukraine, and economic uncertainty. In this context, he emphasized the importance of cooperation between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg within the framework of the European Union and other international institutions.
He also referred to the strength of the economic partnership between the two countries, noting that several members of the Luxembourg Government responsible for portfolios including the economy, finance, and energy were accompanying him on the visit.
At the end of his speech, the Grand Duke raised a toast to Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, to the prosperity of the people of Spain, and to the continued friendship between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Later in the afternoon, the Grand Duke and members of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg delegation met with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, Mr. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, at the Palacio de la Moncloa.
The meeting was followed by the signing of three memoranda of understanding between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The agreements concern cooperation in the fields of energy and space, as well as the establishment of regular bilateral political consultations.
In the evening, the grand ducal couple attended a reception with representatives of the economic and financial community hosted by the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Madrid.
Portrait courtesy of the Maison du Grand-Duc/Kary Barthelmey
Orden de Isabel la Católica
Ahead of the official visit of Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg to the Kingdom of Spain on March 5, 2026, His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain has conferred high distinctions of the Orden de Isabel la Católica upon the Grand Ducal couple by Royal Decree.
Under Royal Decree 176/2026, His Majesty granted the Collar de la Orden de Isabel la Católica to His Royal Highness Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg.
According to the Boletín Oficial del Estado, the official state gazette of Spain, the decree reads:
“Wishing to give proof of My Royal esteem to His Royal Highness Guillaume V, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, upon the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, and following deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting of March 3, 2026, I hereby grant him the Collar de la Orden de Isabel la Católica.”
By Royal Decree 177/2026, His Majesty conferred the Gran Cruz de la Orden de Isabel la Católica upon Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg. The decree states:
“Wishing to give proof of My Royal esteem to Her Royal Highness Stéphanie de Lannoy, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, upon the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, and following deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting of March 3, 2026, I hereby grant her the Gran Cruz de la Orden de Isabel la Católica.”
The Orden de Isabel la Católica was instituted on March 14, 1815, by Fernando VII of Spain under the original name Real Orden Americana de Isabel la Católica. It is currently governed by Royal Decree 2395/1998 of November 6, which approves its regulations.
The Order is intended to “reward extraordinary acts of a civil nature carried out by Spanish and foreign individuals that benefit the Nation or contribute, in a relevant manner, to fostering relations of friendship and cooperation between the Spanish Nation and the international community.”
His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain serves as Grand Master of the Orden de Isabel la Católica, and all decorations are conferred in his name.
The official incoming visit takes place in the context of Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg’s accession to the throne on October 3, 2025, following the abdication of his father, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, and forms part of the established diplomatic engagement between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses Prince Georg Friedrich and Princess Sophie of Prussia attended a ceremonial church service on Sunday, marking the reopening of the Hohenzollern crypt at the Berlin Cathedral following an extensive restoration project.
The service formally concluded more than six years of conservation work on the dynastic burial site of the House of Hohenzollern. Located beneath Berlin Cathedral, the crypt contains 91 coffins dating from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries and represents one of the most significant dynastic burial sites in Europe.
The renovation project, preceded by a lengthy planning phase, focused on structural stabilization, updated climate control systems designed to preserve historic sarcophagi, and improved accessibility for visitors.
The reopening was accompanied by a Protestant service reflecting the cathedral’s historic role as the court church of the Hohenzollern dynasty, which ruled as Kings of Prussia and, from 1871 to 1918, as German Emperors.
The reopening restores public access to a key site associated with Prussian and German dynastic history and forms part of ongoing efforts to preserve architectural and cultural heritage within the German capital.
Prince Georg Friedrich is the head of the House of Hohenzollern.
Portrait courtesy of Dusan Reljin/Det Kongelige Hoff
In Oslo, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, a state-funded but academically independent research body established in 1959 to strengthen Norway’s capacity for independent analysis of foreign and security policy.
The institute conducts research on international security, defense policy, development, energy, and global economics, and provides policy briefs and analysis to government ministries and parliamentary bodies. It also maintains partnerships with the European Union, the United Nations, and other international research institutions.
During the visit, the Crown Prince was asked about the health of his father, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, following the King’s recent hospitalization in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the island of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.
“The king is doing better. He is responding well to the treatment. We are happy about that and grateful for all the care that has come these days. It seems he is on the road to recovery now,” the Crown Prince said.
The 89-year-old monarch was admitted to Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur for treatment of an infection and dehydration. His personal physician, Bjørn Bendz, traveled to Tenerife to assist the medical team. The King was discharged on Thursday evening.
King Harald V and Queen Sonja remain in Tenerife. No date has been announced for their return to Norway.
Photo courtesy of Des Hauses Hohenzollern/Britt Carlsen
The House of Hohenzollern announced this morning that Princess Donata of Prussia (Prinzessin Donata von Preußen) died on February 25, 2026, following a long illness. She was 73.
Princess Donata was born in 1952. She was a great-granddaughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia. Her father, Prince Wilhelm Karl of Prussia, was a grandson of Wilhelm II and served as Herrenmeister, or Grand Master, of the German Order of Saint John. Her paternal grandfather was Prince Oskar of Prussia, the fifth son of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
According to the official statement, she pursued a career in journalism. For decades, she contributed to reporting in equestrian sport, with particular emphasis on eventing, international breeding, especially Holsteiner horses, and major championships. She served as editor in chief of “Pferd & Sport” and reported from the Olympic Games, as well as World and European Championships.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, January 17, 2026. Vatican Media.
T.S.H.s Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco/ Michaël Alesi/Palais Princier de Monaco
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, January 17, 2026. Vatican Media.
In Monaco-Ville, the Palais Princier de Monaco announced that Their Serene Highnesses Albert II and Charlene of Monaco will host a one-day official visit from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on Saturday, March 28.
According to the Palais Princier, the visit reflects “the enduring bonds linking the Grimaldi dynasty to the Roman Pontiffs” and the historic diplomatic relationship between the Principality of Monaco and the Holy See.
The invitation was extended by the Sovereign Prince during his meeting with the Holy Father at the Vatican on January 17, 2026, and separately by His Excellency The Most Reverend Dominique-Marie David, Archbishop of Monaco, underscoring both the institutional and pastoral dimensions of the visit.
The Palais Princier further noted that, as a sovereign state in which the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman religion is enshrined in the Constitution, Monaco regards this spiritual heritage as a foundational element of its national identity and institutional continuity.
The visit is described as a historic moment for the Principality and a sign of hope in a spirit of dialogue and peace.
The Royal Correspondent 