Earlier this autumn, 15 Sevens players from Monaco’s U16 side headed to South Africa as part of an exchange programme made possible by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.

Sport is a great uniter, and from 29th October to 5th November, 15 Monaco Sevens players under the age of 16 travelled from the Principality to South Africa for a week of training sessions and matches with local players. 

The trip was about more than just rugby, however. It was also a chance for the young Monegasques to meet and interact with children from another culture and another way of life, some of whom they may have meet at the beginning of 2023, when a South African delegation flew to Monaco for the Sainte Dévote Tournament.  

See more: Rugby: South African team wins Sainte Dévote Tournament

A few days in Johannesburg  

The first leg of the most recent trip was spent getting to know Johannesburg. Of particular interest was a visit to the Kevin Richardson Foundation Reserve about an hour outside the city, where lions, leopards and hyenas rescued from captive-breeding and cub-petting facilities live out their days in a stress-free environment. 

Then to Cape Town  

The team then moved on to Cape Town, where they witnessed the struggles many children have to endure and overcome in order to get an education by meeting with a local organisation, the Atlas Charity.  

“One of the goals of these trips is to allow the children to come into contact with other populations and cultures,” said Thierry Danthez, the Vice-President of the Fédération Monégasque de Rugby. “This is the basis of the project, it is not only about playing rugby, but also about meeting other people and realising their difficulties.”  

A fair bit of rugby was, of course, on the cards and the Monegasque side enjoyed a series of matches while in Cape Town.  

“We played in a township against very disadvantaged children. It was quite striking, and our young people were surprised to see them always smiling, whatever the situation, even though their daily life is not all rosy,” said Danthez.  

The U16s later played against local private schools in the Winesland Tournament, where they were victorious.   

South Africa in Monaco 

The hospitality shown to the Monegasque visitors will not go unreciprocated, with a group from South Africa already planning a trip to Monaco next April for the Sainte Dévote Tournament.  

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Photo credit: Shaun Roy / Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation

Princess Charlene and her children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella have taken part in activities marking World Children’s Day, together with the Princess of Hanover.

The Mairie de Monaco organised a series of activities with the Monaco Government in the Princess Antoinette Park.

It was held as part of World Children’s Day on 20th November, the aim of which is to improve child welfare worldwide, promote and celebrate children’s rights and promote togetherness and awareness amongst all children.

Children in Monaco were invited to take part in a range of activities, and were delighted at the presence of Monaco’s Princess and her children.

“On World Children’s Day we make space for children and young people to raise their voices on the issues that matter to them. By prioritising children’s rights and participation, we can help to build a better future for all,” says UNICEF, initiator of the annual day of action fo children.

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Main photo credit: Éric Mathon / Palais Princier

Christmas has started early down on the Avenue de Monte-Carlo, where dozens of Swiss-style chalets selling a festive fusion of culinary delights and gifts have already sprung up. 

As the holiday season approaches, the Avenue de Monte-Carlo beneath the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo has been transformed into a Swiss-inspired retreat replete with wood-clad chalets and seasonal treats galore.  

Over the next few weeks, chefs from Société des Bains de Mer’s top restaurants will be leading the way with a range of tasty culinary offerings, from pastries and Viennoiseries to decadent chocolates. Macarons by Pierre Hermé, the famous French confectioner, are also available to purchase at a dedicated stand.  

For fans of the savoury over the sweet, make sure to stop by at the Komo sponsored chalet, which is serving up mountain specialties like raclette and mulled wine, with a few delicious lobster rolls thrown in too.  

In another part of the market, the so-called ‘My Sweet Avenue’ chalet can help visitors put together their own luxury hampers with a personalised gift experience, while other presents for loved ones can be picked up at the Terres Dorées chalet, known for its perfumes, soaps, candles and home sprays, or the boutique-style chalet featuring dresses and jewellery by Isabell Kristensen. 

The chalets are welcoming visitors between 10am and 7pm every day until 14th December. From 15th to 24th December, the hours will switch to 12pm to 7pm, except for on Fridays and Saturdays, when the stalls will open at 10am. 

From 26th December to 6th January, the chalets will extend their hours from 10am to 9pm, with a special closing time at 2am planned for 31st December. The chalets will be closed on 25th December. 

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Photos by Monaco Life 

The Oceanographic Awards, led by Prince Albert II and presented by the Oceanographic Institute and the Prince Albert I Foundation, are a celebration of the finest minds in ocean research and conservation. Here are the winners of 2023.  

The Oceanographic Awards, founded in 1948 in the memory of Monaco’s ‘Explorer’ Prince Albert I, spotlight exceptional individuals at the forefront of oceanographic research and conservation by formally recognising their contributions to their respective realms.  

Prince Albert II was at the helm of this year’s ceremony, which was held at the Musée Océanographique de Monaco on 22nd November, and congratulated each of the 2023 laureates personally for their diverse expertise and efforts. 

Distinguished contributions in marine science  

In the Science category, both Professor Nils Christian Stenseth, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist, and Professor Rashid Ussif Sumaila, an ocean economist, received awards. Professor Stenseth was recognised for his extensive research into marine ecosystems while Professor Sumaila was honoured for his work on the sustainable management of sea resources, which have helped shed light on the economic impact of human activities on the oceans. 

The Mediation category applauded Doctor Jean-Louis Étienne, an environmental activist known for his polar explorations, for his efforts in raising global awareness about the challenges facing our oceans, which have been crucial in mobilising public interest and action. 

Emerging researchers in oceanography 

Then it was on to the Thesis category, in which two young researchers, Doctor Charly de Marez from France and Doctor Adrian Van Kan from Germany, were welcomed to the stage to receive their respective awards. 

Doctor de Marez is currently specialising in the physics of high seas’ currents and was acknowledged for his significant post-doctoral research into ocean current dynamics at the University of Iceland. 

Doctor Van Kan, meanwhile, is a post-doctoral researcher in Physical Oceanography at the University of California, Berkeley and was recognised by the Awards for his contributions to our knowledge of marine physical properties. 

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Photo credit: Institut Océanographique de Monaco / Michel Dagnino / Cedou 

Monaco was thrilled to host the Malagasy Gospel Choir, a singing group made up of young Malagasy people from disadvantaged backgrounds, who were in turn thrilled to take part in a number of activities in the Principality.

From 18^th to 23^rd Novembeer, meetings, exchanges, concerts, sustainable development and children’s rights were at the heart of a short but intense stay by the Malagasy Gospel Choir in the Principality.

The choir, made up of 12 young girls aged 15 to 23 and a young blind man, is on a European tour with stops in France and Spain. This year, the traveling choir made it to Monaco, where numerous entities came together to welcome them, notably associations such as FAR, the Guides and Scouts of Monaco, the Princess Stéphanie Youth Centre and AMAPEI, all very enthusiastic to make the Monaco stopover an unforgettable stay.

Members of Malagasy Gospel Choir were able to participate in the closing of the No Finish Line, both on the course and on stage; discover the city through a treasure hunt prepared by the FAR; visit the Oceanographic Museum with IUM students as part of their ‘IUM Engage’ program; and meet schoolchildren and participate in International Children’s Rights Day organised by the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports at Princess Antoinette Park, this year honoring the Preventorium Rainier III of Madagascar.

“All these moments allowed for beautiful and deep intercultural exchanges around games, singing and even dancing with the children and young people of Monaco, with an emphasis on sustainable development and environmental protection,” said the government in a statement.

Among the highlights, the Malagasy Gospel Choir performed twice in concert, first on Saturday 18^th November at the Troparium of the Rainier III Auditorium, then on Tuesday 21^st November at the Saint-Charles Church.

The Malagasy Gospel Choir was created by the Bel Avenir Association in Tuléar, in the southwest of Madagascar. The Malagasy NGO has been supported by the Department of International Cooperation for many years as part of the Public Development Aid policy of the Prince’s Government.

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Main photo source: Government Communication Department 

From The Phantom of the Opera to a stage interpretation of Dreamworks’ Madagascar, there are cultural treats aplenty for theatre fans in Monaco this festive season. 

On the evening of Wednesday 22nd November, a packed audience settled into the seats of the Grimaldi Forum for the inaugural performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Don Carlo.  

Directed by the legendary Davide Livermore and featuring the talents of both the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, the Italian version of this masterpiece did not disappoint, and its stars were rewarded for their efforts by applause that filled the venue. 

The performance unofficially opened the festive season of cultural events in the Principality, which will include two more renditions of the story of the ill-fated Prince of Asturias on 24th and 26th November, along with numerous other offerings, from ballet to musical theatre.

Here is a rundown of what is coming up in Monaco over Christmas and New Year. 

Madagascar 

Four performances of Madagascar, the much-loved family tale from Dreamworks, will be held at the Grimaldi Forum between 1st and 3rd December, including two matinees. The show will be in English and last for a family-friendly hour and forty minutes, with a 20-minute intermission. Ticket prices start at €31. 

The Phantom of the Opera 

The next major title to grace Monaco is The Phantom of the Opera, often referred to as the most famous musical of all time. Although this iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber creation has been performed to more than 145 million fans and in 183 cities over the years, it has never appeared on a stage in France or Monaco.  

That is set to change from 16th to 31st December, with near back-to-back performances scheduled for the Opéra Garnier. Tickets start at 40€. 

Ballet to bring in the New Year 

Carmen, as choreographed by Johan Inger, will be gracing the stage from 30th December to 4th January 2024, excluding New Year’s Day. Passionate, fiery and free-spirited, Carmen is an age-old tale of seduction and violence that will be given new perspective within the Salle des Princes of the Grimaldi Forum. The musical backdrop will be provided by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo. 

Ticket prices begin at €52.  

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Photo credit: Marco Borrelli / Opéra de Monte-Carlo

The Mairie de Monaco has given proposals for a new €150 million development on the Avenue de la Costa in the Monte-Carlo neighbourhood its ticks of approval, but the 23-storey high-rise is still some way from getting off the ground. Here’s what we know about the plans so far.

Rising 23 storeys above the central Avenue de la Costa and descending an impressive eight beneath it, the new mixed-use high-rise being put forward by CMB Real Estate Development SAM could forever change the look and feel of the Monte-Carlo neighbourhood.  

The massive contemporary style edifice, not too dissimilar from the nearby One Monte-Carlo and 26 Carré Or developments that have sprung up in recent years, has been designed by local architect Emmanuel Deverini, whose other works include the Honoria Palace, the International University of Monaco and Les Cicognes. 

The plans suggest the high-rise will feature a distinct ‘green’ façade and house 25 apartments, including a duplex, as well as 111 carparking spots and office spaces for the CMB Monaco bank and the Croix Rouge Monégasque, which will both stand to lose their current premises, the Colibri and Palmeraie villas pictured above, if the development goes ahead.   

Initial budget projections set the overall cost at a colossal €150 million.  

Monaco’s Conseil Communal this week approved the project, but not without a request to increase the volume of public green spaces provided by the development, amongst other considerations.

The decision to give the Deverini design the greenlight was also not unanimous, and criticisms notably came from representatives André Campana, who called it “monstrous”, Camille Svara, who said the development was costing the neighbourhood its “charm”, and Marjorie Crovetto, who said the 36-month construction period was “a long time for residents” given the potential overlap with the €170 million Schuylkill development nearby on Boulevard de la Suisse.   

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Photo by Monaco Life

Princess Caroline of Hanover spent the eve of the Fête Nationale de Monaco handing out Ordre du Mérite Culturel awards to those who have shown “commitment in the development of the arts, letters and sciences in the Principality.” 

The Ordre du Mérite Culturel, or Order of Cultural Merit, is a special designation given to people in the arts, sciences or letters who have shown dedication to Monaco in these fields. It may also be awarded to individuals in those areas who have extended the “scholarly influence of the Principality” beyond its borders.  

On Saturday 18th November, the day before Monaco’s National Day celebrations, and under the arches of the Salon Bleu in the Palais Princier, Princess Caroline presided over the awards’ annual ceremony and handed out medals to this year’s recipients.   

CREATED BY PRINCE RAINIER III 

The Ordre du Mérite Culturel is the third highest award offered by the Principality and was created by a sovereign order signed on 31st December 1952 by the late Prince Rainier III.  

The medals for the Order come in three grades; those of Commander, Officer and Knight. The badge is round in shape and is framed by a laurel wreath that is suspended by the Monegasque crown. The reverse side shows the monogram of Prince Rainier III created using mirrored Rs.  

The Commander’s medal is made of gold and is worn around the neck while the Officer’s badge is silver and is pinned by a ribbon with a rosette on the left side of the chest. The Knight’s award is on a plain ribbon, worn also on the left side of the chest, and is made of bronze.  

The goal of the award is to “distinguish and reward people who have participated through their works or their teaching in the development of the arts, letters and sciences in Monaco or who, even abroad, have contributed, in these areas, to the intellectual influence of the Principality.” 

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Photo credit: Michael Alesi /Palais Princier de Monaco