Recently, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the inauguration of Cartier’s Prince Rainier III exhibition at Cartier Monaco. The exhibition showcases the special longtime relationship between the famous jewelry house and the Princely family.
Photo courtesy of the Palais Princier
On Tuesday, May 12, 2015, Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover participated in a meeting with members of the Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco at the Grand Véfour in Paris. The purpose of yesterday’s meeting was to establish the list of nominees for the 2015 Prix Littéraire (Literary Prize). The prestigious prize honors “…renowned French writers…”
The nominees are: Mr. Henri Lopes, Ms. Amélie Nothomb,Ms. Chantal Thomas, Mr. Fred Vargas, and Ms. Anne Wiazemsky.
Photo courtesy of the Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco
On May 9, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the 1st Annual Monaco ePrix in Monte-Carlo. The Monaco ePrix is a:
“…new FIA Championship, which showcases electrical-energy innovations in a racing environment and designed to appeal to a new generation of Motorsport fans. It aims to accelerate the electric vehicle market and to promote sustainability.
Commencing in Beijing in September 2014, the Championship will compete in the heart of ten of the world’s leading cities, racing around their iconic landmarks. Ten Teams, each with two Drivers, will go head-to-head in electric single-seater race cars capable of speeds in excess of 225km/h. to challenge for the Drivers and Team Championships.”
On Monday, May 11, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco inaugurated the new International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) along the Quai Antoine 1er on Port Hercule.
In a press release IAAF President, Mr. Lamine Diack, noted that the new headquarters is an:
“…especially proud moment for the IAAF to move into a specifically designed office space on the quay of Monaco’s world famous port. On behalf of the IAAF Council and all the staff, I would like to thank Prince Albert and the Principality of Monaco for providing us with this stunning location. Ever since our association’s move to Monaco in 1994 we have greatly appreciated the warmth of your welcome and hospitality. The IAAF feels very much at home in Monaco and looks forward to enjoying many more productive years in residence in the heart of the capital of world athletics.”
Meanwhile, the sovereign prince was also proud of the IAAF and their new building noting:
“…Monaco has been the home of world athletics ever since my father Prince Rainier III warmly welcomed the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to the Principality in 1994. Since the beginning, Monaco has embraced athletics with our annual meeting Herculis evolving in the IAAF’s competition calendar from Grand Prix to Super Grand Prix status – in 2004 and 2005 hosting the World Athletics Final – to being a member of the IAAF Diamond League series, today’s premier invitational circuit of athletics.
As Honorary President of the International Athletics Foundation, President of the Monegasque Athletics Federation and as an IOC member, I am especially pleased that the Olympics’ number one sport has flourished during its time in Monaco. I fervently hope that newly housed in these impressive offices the long standing relationship between Monaco and the IAAF will continue to prosper.”
On the morning of Sunday, May 10, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Jacques Honoré Rainier of Monaco, Marquis of Baux and Her Serene Highness Princess Gabriella Thérèse Marie of Monaco, Countess of Carladès, were baptized (in the Roman Catholic faith) during obligatory Sunday Mass at the Cathédrale de Monaco. The baptism was presided over by Archbishop Bernard Barsi. The godparents for HSH Hereditary Prince Jacques are: Mr. Christopher LeVine, Jr. and Mrs. Diane de Polignac Nigra. For HSH Princess Gabriella the godparents are: Mr. Gareth Wittstock and Mrs. Nerine Pienaar.
Guests in attendance included Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Mr. Andrea Casiraghi, Mr. Pierre Casiraghi and his beautiful fiancée, Miss Beatrice Borromeo, Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Mr. Louis Ducruet, Miss Pauline Ducruet, Miss Camille Gottlieb, Baroness Elisabeth-Anne de Massy and her daughter, Miss Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, Mrs. Donatella Knecht de Massy (Princess Charlene’s Maid of Honor), Mr. and Mrs. Michael Wittstock, Mr. Sean Wittstock and his lovely wife, Chantel, Ms. Roisin Galvin (fiancée of Mr. Gareth Wittstock), Mr. and Mrs. John Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher LeVine, TRHs The Duke and Duchess of Castro, Danish designer Ms. Isabella Christensen, Monégasque free-diver Mr. Pierre Frolla, numerous Monégasque government officials, and friends of Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco.
After the Mass and baptism, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene met with well-wishers along the Rue Bellando de Castro on the way to the Palais. Once inside the Palais Princier the princely couple along with their precious little ones — Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella — their godparents made their way into the Salon des Glaces, where Hereditary Prince Jacques received the Grand-Croix dans l’Ordre de Grimaldi and Princess Gabriella received the Grand Officier dans l’Ordre de Grimaldi. While the godparents of Prince Jacques were named the Officers of the Ordre de Saint-Charles and the godparents of Princess Gabriella were named Officers of the Ordre de Grimaldi.
And, with that, warmest congrats as well as many blessings to Their Serene Highnesses and their sweet little ones!
🙂
Click here to view a photo gallery.
Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier
On Friday, May 8, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco participated in the first meeting of the year with the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco Board of Directors in Monte-Carlo.
During this afternoon’s meeting members:
“…approved the 2014 financial statements of the Foundation. Since its creation in 2006, the Foundation has supported 341 projects. 10 new projects within the three areas of the Foundation’s priority actions were submitted to the Board of Directors for approval, among them WCRP Polar Challenge project, Chimpanzees and men: Research and protection of tropical biodiversity, and Seahorses implementation project in the Marine Reserve of Larvotto…”
The sovereign prince also witnessed the signing of a partnership between the American branch of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco and Amherst College (the sovereign prince is an Alumni of this prestigious university).
And, finally, on May 7, 2015, Prince Albert II lent his support to French yachtsman, Mr. Alain Thébault:
“…a pioneer in boats that fly and alongside Eric Tabarly the instigator of the Hydroptère, who is currently on standby in Los Angeles to attempt a record-breaking Pacific crossing.
A special encounter is set to take place in Hawaii between Mr. Bertrand Piccard and Mr. Alain Thébault, one driven by the wind, the other by the sun, but both promoting the same message: ‘Use Clean Energy’. Support given to Alain and his crew by the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco will enable them to leave for Hawaii as quickly as possible so that they can join forces with Solar Impulse to deliver the same message. One parameter remains uncertain: a debris field resulting from the tsunami, a stretch the size of Texas which the crew need to sail along on the edge of a high-pressure area before reaching their friends from Solar Impulse in Hawaii.
A film will be produced to denounce the pollution of this ocean, sadly strewn with waste and other plastics, in conjunction with the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco and the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute that are working in Monaco and France on these issues which will have an impact on future generations.”
Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier
This morning the Palais Princier de Monaco released their final information regarding the upcoming baptism of the Princely twins of Monaco.
The baptism will take place on May 10, 2015, at 10:30AM at the beautiful Cathédrale de Monaco during obligatory Sunday Mass with Archbishop Bernard Barsi presiding.
The godparents of the Princely twins will come as no surprise to longtime royal watchers and supporters of the Monégasque Princely family. So who are the godparents? For His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Jacques Honoré Rainier of Monaco the godparents are Mr. Christopher LeVine, Jr. and Ms. Diane de Polignac Nigra. For Her Serene Highness Princess Gabriella Thérèse Marie of Monaco the godparents are Mr. Gareth Wittstock (younger brother of Princess Charlene) and Ms. Nerine Pienaar (longtime and close friend of Princess Charlene from lovely South Africa).
After Mass, the Princely family will proceed from the Cathédrale de Monaco, along the Rue Bellando de Castro, to the Palais Princier. During that time the people of Monaco as well as tourists will be able to catch a glimpse of the family as well as send them their well wishes.
Once the Princely family have arrived at the Palais there will be a “…decoration ceremony held inside the Salon des Glaces…” according to the press release. His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Jaques and his godparents will receive the Ordre de Saint-Charles while Her Serene Highness Princess Gabriella and her godparents will receive the Ordre de Grimaldi.
If you are interested in watching the baptism of the Princely twins live you may do so via the links below. Don’t forget the Mass begins at 10:30AM Monaco time! 🙂
Photo courtesy of the Palais Princier
The Royal Correspondent 