Relaxing After the Holidays

With the busy holiday season now behind them the Prince and Princess of Monaco have been off for a little Caribbean vacation. The Princely couple are seen here visiting the island of Barbuda (as in "Antigua & Barbuda") in the eastern Caribbean. I could go for some warm, sunny weather myself right about now...

Tapis rouge du Mariage Princier: 109 mètres d'histoire pour Monaco

Sweet Caroline

Fun Photos with Charlotte Casiraghi

Today in Monegasque History

It was on this day in 1701 that Prince Antoine I (aka "Goliath") became Sovereign Prince of Monaco.

The Prince's New Years Address

This past year has certainly been exceptional for Princess Charlene and myself. On the occasion of our marriage, we witnessed the strong union between the community and our family of Monaco.

Tonight I am here to express, on behalf of us both, our hope that each of you, I remember this shared joy.

While around us, several countries are or are marked by a financial crisis, severe economic and social, the dynamism of the Principality allows us to resist.In this delicate situation, particularly wise management of public finances is necessary to integrate the constraints on us, while preserving our social model and our growth prospects. That is why we must make balanced choices, reasonable and fair.

Do not lose sight of that in situations of economic crisis that the urgency of solidarity is strongest to protect against stress. The holiday season is a special time of reunion for families and between generations.

These periods also sensitizes us to the values of tolerance, respect for others and cultural diversity. It is my wish that Monaco remains a model of “living together” based on a common set of values.

Tonight, my thoughts especially go to our community experienced the death, illness or loneliness. I also want to provide my warm encouragement to our young people who embody the future. We believe in their imagination, their ideals, their will, their capacity for hard work and generosity.

Women and men who work, invest or choose to live among us, I hope that their contribution to our country brings them, in turn, an authentic personal development.

To one and all, in the Principality or who are away but remaining near in heart, I say again with confidence: “Happy New Year!”

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

Prince Albert's New Year Message (Facebook)

2011 The Year in Review

2011 has been a busy year for Monaco and the Princely House of Grimaldi. In January, Prince Albert visited the Middle East, the Circus visited Monaco and Princess Caroline showed how good you can look at 54 (provided you are blessed with the proper genes). In February Princess-to-be Charlene returned to her native South Africa and did some swimming for charity and Prince Albert talked about the environment. In February the Prince came to the United States but later in the month tragedy struck with the passing of Princess Antoinette, Baroness de Massy, who had celebrated her 90th birthday only the month before. Monaco went into mourning and the Casiraghi Trio carried the proverbial torch at the Rose Ball which the senior members of the family did not attend. Before the month was out the Portalis Institute made the Sovereign Prince an honorary doctor. Sounds nice doesn’t it? “Our Prince, the doctor”. In April, Charlene officially joined the Roman Catholic Church (being an Olympic swimmer, swimming the Tiber was surely no chore). Prince Albert II and Charlene visited Ireland, the homeland of Princess Grace’s Kelly ancestors and later Prince Albert and his bride-to-be attended the grand royal wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton in London (taking down notes the whole time I’m sure).

The month of May saw Prince Albert jet down to South America and saw racing fans from all over the world gather in Monte Carlo for the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix. In June the Sovereign Prince visited Estonia and Charlene was named Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics. Albert and Charlene were featured on their own new stamps, Charlene appeared in Vogue magazine and the wedding preparations reached a frenzied pace. In July the big day came as Charlene Wittstock officially became Princess consort of Monaco in a fantastic, open-air wedding in the courtyard of the Princely Palace. Despite the efforts of a few malcontents and some stunning examples of yellow journalism, the day was a great success. The royal houses of the world were well represented and the people of Monaco were front and center to see the day many thought would never come, when the bachelor Prince of Monaco finally married. After the wedding the couple were off to South Africa for some Olympic business and later a secluded honeymoon. Princess Stephanie carried on just fine on her own at the Fight AIDS Monaco summer gala and later an upset Prince Albert took aim at the disreputable practices of the gossip-peddlers in the media who had tried so hard and so unsuccessfully to spoil his wedding day. One French magazine editor at least responded with reason and maturity -nah, just kidding, he actually called for Monaco to be invaded and taken over by France. That should show everyone just how credible he is!

In August, the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta (of which Albert is a member) came for a visit. The new Princely couple made a grand splash at the Red Cross Ball and a long-time anti-Monaco blogger (with an obsessive hatred of the Prince and all of his friends) was given a judicial smack-down by the French legal system. His effort to sue the entire country of Monaco was thrown out by the French court in September. Also that month, Prince Albert visited the Caucasus nation of Georgia followed by a visit to Mother Russia itself for an environmentalist conference in Archangel. Princess Stephanie, along with daughters Pauline and Camille visited Russia in September as well for the “Contest of the Circus Arts” at the Tenth International Youth Festival. Princess Caroline was busy in October, honoring the choreographer Robert Wilson who produced a musical on the life of Princess Grace and handing out the awards for the Prince Pierre Foundation. The President and First Lady of Croatia came to visit the Palace, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene went to Nepal and, in one of my favorite stories, a drunken Frenchman was sentenced to six days in jail for insulting the Sovereign Prince when the bar he stumbled into would sell him no alcohol. After sobering up the man apologized and said he was really quite fond of our Albie so we’ll let it go at that.

November had plenty of the usual appearances, visits, award ceremonies and the like for the Grimaldis. Prince Albert and Princess Charlene made their first trip to the United States as husband and wife, Princess Stephanie gave some nosy photographers an eye full on vacation and the Monegasque all came out for National Day to celebrate six years on the throne for Albert II. In December, Princess Stephanie put in extra duty for the week of World AIDS Day, Prince Albert attended an environmentalist conference in South Africa and Princess Charlene inaugurated her own charitable foundation which will focus on children followed by a happy round of the usual Christmas traditions. All in all, 2011 has been a great year for the Grimaldi family and the monarchy of Monaco. There was the occasional unpleasantness but, in the end, Prince Albert prevailed over his antagonists. The loss of Princess Antoinette was, no doubt, the lowest point but, given her age and infirmities, hardly unexpected. The crowning event, without question, was the Princely wedding, a glamorous and happy occasion many thought they would never see. Despite their detractors, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have gotten off to a great start and in a year in which most of the rest of the world has known one crisis after another, Monaco has sailed on relatively unscathed with her Sovereign Prince at the helm, his new Princess by his side and with Caroline and Stephanie, each in their own unique way, serving their country, serving others and supporting their brother as only they can. Overall, a good year. Here’s hoping 2012 will be even better.

Happy New Year wishes to one and all and thanks for reading
Mad for Monaco.

The 2011 Monaco Madness Awards

Friends, Romans, Monegasque monarchists, we are gathered here today to honor the “epic wins” and “epic fails” of 2011. Let’s get right down to it shall we:

The Al Gore Award for obsessive environmentalism, once again, goes to HSH Prince Albert II for never missing a conference, awards ceremony or speech opportunity involving the environment, climate change and/or global warming. As usual, it wasn’t even close. Congrats!

The Charlie Sheen Award, for “WINNING!” goes to TSH Prince Albert and Princess Charlene together; Princess Charlene for swimming for charity, Prince Albert for promoting world peace through football and to the couple for actually putting a meeting of the International Olympic Committee before their own honeymoon. That, my friends, is dedication.

The Charlotte Casiraghi Award, for extreme gorgeousness above and beyond the call of duty goes, once again, to Charlotte Casiraghi. As usual, it wasn’t even close but, then again, there’s a reason why the gorgeousness award had to be named after Charlotte Casiraghi, the only girl gorgeous enough to win the Charlotte Casiraghi Award. Congrats!

The Cathy Barry Award, for having the most well-stocked dairy department of any princess over the age of 40 goes to HSH Princess Stephanie. Be proud of what you’ve got, why not. And how you got it is nobody’s business but your own. We love you unconditionally sweetheart. Additionally, the Little Jimmy Dickens Award for best monkeyshines goes to her daughter Camille for making faces at the paparazzi. You go girl!

The G.I. Jane Award for being a real trooper goes to HSH Princess Charlene for putting up with a media frenzy of rumors and gossip all intended to ruin the happiest day of her life -and never letting it get her down but pulling it all off like a pro.

The Bjorn Award for extreme boldness in fashion goes to Andrea Casiraghi for wearing zebra-striped shoes to the AMADE gala this year. Sorry Steph, this year your nephew takes the prize. Better luck next year.

The Buford Pusser Award for putting the smack-down on the bad guys goes to HSH Prince Albert II for taking the tabloids, media that act like tabloids and cranky old coots (who are totally not gay) to court for harassing his family and his country. Way to go Albie!

The Monaco Raspberry Award for being an example of an “epic fail” goes to Christophe Barbier, editor-in-chief of L’Express for actually calling for the annexation of Monaco by France because Prince Albert called him out for printing baseless accusations with no facts to back them up. Immature overreaction why not?

The Andy Dick Award for being a really big loser goes to French citizen “Hachim N” who was arrested for being roaring drunk in public and then was sentenced to six days in the dungeons of Monte Carlo for insulting the Sovereign Prince. LOSER!

Finally, closest to home, we have the oh-so prestigious Monaco Madness Medal which recognizes the weblog which has directed the most visitors to our humble corner of the internet. This year the Monaco Madness Medal goes to … (drum roll please) the blog Princesas to whom we owed over 5,000 visits last year, a landslide victory. Congratulations to Princesas and our sincerest thanks, you or your readers at least truly are Mad for Monaco. Wear your medal proudly.

Today in Monegasque History

Today in 1731 HSH Prince Jacques I became Sovereign Prince of Monaco upon the death of his wife Princess Louise-Hippolyte, ushering in the reign of the Mantignon branch of the family.

And it was on this day in 1983 that HSH Princess Caroline of Monaco married her soulmate Stefano Casiraghi at the Princely Palace, starting off what would probably be the happiest years of her life.

Prince Albert II Looks Back

In this recent radio interview, HSH Prince Albert II answers questions and takes a look back at 2011, a very eventful year for the Principality of Monaco and the House of Grimaldi.

Monaco Christmases Past