Category Archives: Princely Family of Monaco

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco Open a New Maternity Block at Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace in Monaco

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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 morning, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene presided over the inauguration of a newly completed maternity block at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace, located in the Jardin Exotique quartier.

The ceremony included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque within the obstetric emergency unit, followed by a tour of the facility. Accompanied by the Minister of the State of the Principality of Monaco, Mr. Christophe Mirmand, the Director of the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace, Ms. Benoîte Rousseau de Sevelinges, and the Chief of the Maternity Department at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace, Professor Bruno Carbonne, the Princely Couple visited several of the newly developed spaces, including a double parental room, a birthing suite, a hydrotherapy room, and upgraded obstetric care units.

The redevelopment forms part of a broader modernization of the hospital’s maternity services, with a focus on improving care for mothers and newborns through updated, family-centered facilities.

The inauguration follows the recent opening of the hospital’s Parent-Child Unit and represents a further step in the establishment of a comprehensive Mother and Child center at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace.

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco’s 1956 Wedding to Be Celebrated in a New Exhibition at the Palace in Monaco

Poster courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Visite du Palais Princier de Monaco

On Friday, the Palais Princier de Monaco announced the opening of the exhibition Le mariage du siècle: Monaco. 12–19 Avril 1956, to be presented in the Grands Appartements of the Palais Princier de Monaco from June 8th to October 15th, 2026.

The exhibition is being held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the marriage of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Miss Grace Kelly, which took place in April 1956, three months after the announcement of their engagement in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Bringing together photographs, film material, garments, accessories, gifts, and archival documents, the exhibition examines the sequence of events surrounding the wedding, from the arrival of Miss Grace Kelly to the Principality of Monaco on April 12th, 1956, to the couple’s departure for their honeymoon on April 19th, 1956, situating the ceremonies within the broader context of their international reception.

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

Prince Albert II of Monaco Marks 10th Anniversary of the Flowers for the Bees Campaign in Monaco-Ville

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

On Friday, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended an event at the Jardins Saint-Martin in Monaco-Ville marking the 10th anniversary of the campaign Des Fleurs pour les Abeilles.

The Sovereign Prince was joined by the founder of the Observatoire Français d’Apidologie, Mr. Thierry Dufresne, and its vice-president, Mr. Arnaud Dufresne, as well as a group of students from l’Institution François d’Assise–Nicolas Barré, who had previously taken part in educational activities on the role of bees in pollination.

A commemorative photograph was taken to mark the anniversary of the initiative, launched in 2017 by the Observatoire Français d’Apidologie with the support of the Sovereign Prince and the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco.

The campaign encourages the public to plant nectar-rich flowers to support bee populations and promote biodiversity. It forms part of broader efforts to address the decline in pollinators through public participation and environmental education.

Since its inception, more than 1.5 million seed packets have been distributed, contributing to the creation of flowering areas in a range of settings.

The 10th edition of the campaign is scheduled to take place from May 9th to 24th, 2026, and continues to emphasize the role of individual action in environmental conservation.

Headlines, Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

Prince Albert II of Monaco Meets Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset Ahead of the Principality of Monaco’s Presidency

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

In Monaco-Ville, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco held a meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Alain Berset, in the Salon de Famille at the Palais Princier de Monaco.

The meeting was held in the presence of the Directeur de Cabinet, Mr. Olivier Wenden, the Conseiller de Gouvernement-Ministre des Relations Extérieures et de la Coopération, Ms. Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, and the Ambassadeur représentant permanent de Monaco auprès du Conseil de l’Europe, His Excellency Mr. Gabriel Revel.

Secretary General Berset was accompanied by the Directrice adjointe de Cabinet du Secrétariat général, Ms. Natacha de Roeck, and the Conseiller au sein du Cabinet du Secrétariat général, Mr. Thibault Curmi.

Discussions focused on major European issues, with particular emphasis on the promotion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, which constitute the core mandate of the Council of Europe. The meeting also addressed the Principality of Monaco’s priorities in advance of its presidency of the Committee of Ministers.

The Principality of Monaco will assume the presidency from May 15th to November 10th, 2026, marking the first time the Principality has held the role since it acceded to the Council of Europe on October 5th, 2004.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Sovereign Prince elevated Secretary General Alain Berset to the rank of Commandeur de l’Ordre de Saint-Charles.

Founded on March 15th, 1858, by Charles III of Monaco, the Ordre de Saint-Charles is one of the Principality of Monaco’s principal orders of merit. It is conferred in recognition of eminent services rendered to the State and to the Sovereign Prince. The order is awarded across several ranks, Chevalier, Officier, Commandeur, Grand Officier, and Grand-Croix, and remains a central element of the Principality of Monaco’s system of honors, reflecting the Principality’s longstanding traditions of state distinction and service.

Today’s visit forms part of preparations for the Principality of Monaco’s forthcoming presidency, during which the Principality is expected to advance its engagement in multilateral cooperation and the institutional work of the Council of Europe.

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

  • 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.

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

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

  • 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.