Circus in Town (Again)

Circus Awards

After considering this photo of our Steph and this troop of flamboyant Asian acrobats the thought occurred to me; Stephanie is probably the only princess in the world I could see in a photo like this and it all seem completely normal. That's why we love ya Steph. That's why we love ya.

Send in the Clowns

It's that time again -the Circus is in town! TSH Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene and Princess Stephanie (with Pauline and Camille in tow) attended the opening last night of the 36th annual Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, a tradition started in 1974 by HSH Prince Rainier III who was a life-long fan of the circus. He passed this love to his youngest daughter and Princess Stephanie, as we all know, serves as President of the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival.

There were lots of smiles all around, Pauline and Camille are really growing up fast (how many times have I said that) and very well I might add. Again this year Princess Stephanie will present the Clown d'Or Award, the most prestigious honor in the circus world. The fastival features the best in Circus acts and performances from professionals around the world -think of it as the Olympics for the Circus (maybe that will help the Prince & Princess relate) and of course is always a lot of fun. The circus may not have the huge popular following that it once did but it is still "the greatest show on earth" and something everyone should see at least once. There is a ton of great talent on display, human and animal, and it's just good, old fashioned family fun. Good on Monaco and kudos to Princess Stephanie in particular for keeping this tradition alive.

Princess Stephanie's Russian Visit

It seems that Russia has been *the* place to be in September. Earlier this month HSH Princess Stephanie of Monaco, along with daughters Pauline and Camille, were in Moscow for the award ceremony of the “Contest of the Circus Arts” at the Tenth International Youth Festival. Of course, when it comes to the circus world there is no bigger celebrity than our Princess Stephanie. Everyone was all smiles and Pauline pitched in with handing out the trophies. It is nice to see Princess Stephanie and her brood once in a while and they seem so much more ‘grown up’ every time we do.

Circus in Monte Carlo

The Circus is in town! Thursday night saw the opening of the 35th International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo with Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II, Princess Stephanie and Pauline Ducruet attending the opening ceremony. For the next ten days circus troops from all over the world will be in Monaco showing off their entertainment talents and competing in a number of tests of skill, daring and artistry. HSH Princess Stephanie of Monaco, long known for her love of the circus (even joining up for a time) is the patron of the festival and the Princess has spent the last week preparing for the event. The festival was first started in 1974 by HSH Prince Rainier III and has become quite a beloved and colorful tradition in Monaco. In an interview, Princess Stephanie said, “I have the eye of a child who grew up in the circus. The clowns always moved me so much. But now I also see the numbers with my professional eye. We have a quality to meet in Monaco. The public, accustomed for 35 years in Monaco has become a connoisseur and we have no room for error”.

Princess Stephanie herself has some experience with the circus, traveling with them while married to her second husband (for about five minutes) who was a circus performer. She has talked to many of the troops from around the world who have come to Monte Carlo to compete and she knows quality when she sees it. “There are a lot of circus schools [in Russia] and in this country, there is a real potential,” the Princess said. “Many directors, choreographers working in this country and present original numbers with traditional disciplines. That said, China also, the practice of the circus is very strong. In Shanghai, I met with circus schools some young people working with the single goal to go to the Festival in Monaco. It is unfortunate that in France, there is no culture. Perhaps due to a lack of circus schools”. Among those troops Princess Stephanie met with were the Americans. The Princess inspected their elephants and was given a ride while feeding them.

The treatment of animals has been a cause for some controversy and criticism of the circus but Princess Stephanie, a modern-minded woman if ever there was one, remains a staunch defender of the greatest show on earth in this, as in every other, area. “I find the debate on animals ridiculous. Zoos and circuses do much for the preservation of endangered species. The circus animals are treated as artists in their own right” the Princess said.

The Circus is in Town

The House of Grimaldi has, in recent times, shown a great deal of support for "the greatest show on earth" and this year is no different. Yesterday, HSH Prince Albert II along with HSH Princess Stephanie and her lovely daughter Pauline Ducruet were on hand for the opening ceremonies of the 34th International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo. Grimaldi support for the circus first came about during the reign of HSH Prince Rainier III and has continued under Albert II. Princess Stephanie in particular has shown great love for the variety of entertainment, at one point being in a relationship with an elephant trainer with the circus, accompanying the circus and with little Pauline appearing in some shows riding an elephant (mother and daughter loved the animals). That lasted only about a year and there was another relationship with another performer from the same circus later on, but though the boyfriends came and went Stephanie's love for the circus itself has never changed. In times such as we live in today, it is nice to encourage some good old-fashioned family entertainment that has never lost it's style and simple appeal.