Sweet Caroline

Circus in Town (Again)

Legal Victory for the Prince

TSH Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco have won a legal victory in the court case against the Sunday Times, News International, over a false and slanderous article printed in July of 2011 just two days after the princely wedding. The Sunday Times has had to deliver a formal apology in court and pay three hundred thousand pounds in damages as well as covering the cost of the Prince's legal team. This was part of a slew of such articles, full of malicious gossip rather than facts, that came out around the time of the princely wedding in a despicable effort to ruin that happy occasion. They included a range of accusations, each more ridiculous than the last and each one conveniently lacking any sort of verifiable evidence. The court found than none of the allegations were true (no surprise there) and Prince Albert has another lawsuit against the Sunday Times over stories printed about his marriage, in particular against the editor, John Witherow, and the author of the article in question which is being heard in France where the paper is distributed. Hopefully, a few more rulings like this will make newspaper editors change their ways and, oh, I don't know, maybe verify their facts before printing wild rumors dreamed up by some nut with an ax to grind and too much free time? Let's hope so.

Palace Drops Support for Film

The upcoming film "Grace of Monaco" has been creating a great deal of buzz and, previously, seemed to have the full support of the Princely Family with TSH Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene even attending the U.S. Academy Awards last year to draw attention to the film and the late, beloved Princess Grace, herself an Oscar-winner as I'm sure everyone knows. However, all of that seems to have changed and whatever support the House of Grimaldi had for the film has been withdrawn. A statement from the Princely Palace, endorsed by HSH Prince Albert II, HRH Princess Caroline and HSH Princess Stephanie said that the Princely Family was not endorsing the film, that it is not a biopic, was overly glamorized and contained many falsehoods about the family and the Principality of Monaco. They stress it is "purely fictional". Those behind the film said that the Palace had, in the past, made some suggestions related to the film, including corrections about certain people and historical events but admitted that they paid little attention to what the Palace told them and more or less made it clear that truth and accuracy is not their primary goal in making this movie about Princess Grace.

Considering how supportive the Grimaldis seemed to be in the past toward the film, this came as a surprise to me. However, perhaps it should not be as the time period the film is focused on; when relations between France and Monaco were extremely tense over French citizens relocating to Monaco to avoid taxes and when Princess Grace was invited back into the movie business by her former director (and admirer) Alfred Hitchcock. It is a sensitive period to look at it and, perhaps, it should not be surprising that filmmakers would disregard the truth and the wishes of the family in an effort to make an even more dramatic story. That is quite normal, however, speaking for myself, I am far less interested in seeing this movie if it is just going to be another carbon-copy Hollywood drama rather than the real story of what actually happened to Princess Grace in Monaco at that time.

The Pontiff and the Princely Couple

HSH Princess Charlene (Catholic convert) looking pretty and proper in a veil

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI welcomed TSH Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene to the Vatican for a private audience at the Apostolic Palace. I believe this was the first time Princess Charlene has met the Pontiff and it was an occasion to renew and highlight the very long history of close relations between the Principality of Monaco and the Holy See.

Les vœux du Nouvel an du Couple Princier

Happy Christmas

A happy and blessed Christmas to all from Mad for Monaco

SAS Prince Albert II et Dmitry Rybolovlev en visite à La Turbie

Christmas and a New Foundation

It has finally happened, the Princess Charlene Foundation is up and running (you can check out the website here). The focus of the new foundation will be helping the vulnerable, particularly children, through the benefits of sport, with a particular emphasis on those sports the Princess herself is most fond of such as rugby and (of course) swimming. And, with Christmas just around the corner, it was time for Santa Claus to make his appearance at the Princely Palace and Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene were on hand to help Santa in handing out gifts to all the good little Monegasque girls and boys (which is all of them I'm sure). It is so very loyal and patriotic of Santa Claus to always dress in the Monegasque national colors isn't it?

"Remember kids, only recycled wrapping paper!"

"And what do you want for Christmas?" (besides an heir to the throne...)

"So, what do you think, this many of our own? You up for it?"

The Prince and the President

In their first formal meeting, French President Francois Hollande welcomed HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco to the Elysee Palace for a 'working lunch' to discuss matters of common interest and boost Franco-Monegasque relations. As I'm sure all regular readers know, the Principality of Monaco has a "special relationship" with the French Republic in that, while remaining a sovereign state, the principality is a protectorate of France and France has traditionally had considerable influence in the micro-monarchy on their southern coast.

"And how about this global warming huh?"

"Well, thanks for the lunch Monsieur, we'll have to have you over to the palace someday"

"Goodbye Frenchie friends, I love ya!"

"See you later guys, I won't be far away"

Congratulations to the Cambridge Couple

Mad for Monaco sends heartfelt congratulations to Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their upcoming addition! A happy occasion for any Royal Family and any country so fortunate. So...do Your Serene Highnesses have anything you would like to tell us? (looking at watch ... tapping foot)    Anything?

Princely Couple in the Far East

TSH Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene recently attended a benefit gala in the city-state of Singapore for the Prince Albert II Foundation. Quite the stylish affair...