On September 3, 2011, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco attended the International Year of Forests in honor of the 50th anniversary of the WWF Conservation in Geneva, Switzerland.  Over 300 people attended the event including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, WWF president Andrew Hoffman, and the mayor of Geneva Pierre Maudet to name a few.

During the gala event there was a “… charity auction conducted by Simon de Pury, Chief Auctioneer from Phillips de Pury & Co.”   One of the prizes from the auction included a private guided tour of the Palais Princier de Monaco.  The money raised during Saturday night’s event  went directly to various conservation protection causes around the world.

According to various sources, H.S.H. Princess Charlene had a great time at the charity event. Apparently she was seen happily mingling as well as conversing with guests — in French — during the evening.  Furthermore, those who attended the charity event noticed that H.S.H. Prince Albert II looked incredibly happy with his lovely wife (and vice versa) whereupon he kissed, smiled at as well as snuggled with the princess throughout the evening.  After a two-minute PDA break, H.S.H. Prince Albert II was called on stage whereupon he gave a speech about conservation and the environment:

I have devoted much of my energy and my time to the preservation of our planet’s biodiversity and climate… I do it in all international fora where I have to express myself and to defend causes that I believe. Monaco is also the resolute action of my government. And I also do through my personal foundation I created in 2006, and is now engaged in more than one hundred projects throughout the world.

Brilliant!

To read more about the International Year of Forests gala event please click here and here.  Plus, one more photo.

Sources: Nice-Matin, WWF, and private sources.

Photo courtesy of: Le Matin

On September 4, 2011, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco attended the Yorkshire Variety Club Golden Ball in Leeds, United Kingdom to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary.

Over forty years ago, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco were guests of honor at “…the ball held by the Yorkshire committee of the Variety Club Children’s Charity.  Now, Prince Albert and his wife are attending the committee’s 50th birthday bash, along with a host of other stars.” (source)  So what does the Yorkshire Variety Club do?  Well, they raise money for the sick and disadvantaged youth throughout England.  In the end, this year’s mega ball raised an estimated $406,000 for various youth charities. (source)

To view photos as well as to learn more about the Yorkshire Variety Club please click the links below:

• Gallery One 
• Gallery Two
  
• Yorkshire Variety Club 

Photo courtesy of: Palais Princier de Monaco