Day: 24 December 2016

Outward Bound Monaco had the honour of hosting Prince Albert on Monday, December 5 at the Yacht Club of Monaco, in a setting that was both intimate and prestigious, to recognise and reward the achievements of the 32 young people who excelled in Outward Bound Courses in the UK during July and August 2016.

HSH awarded certificates to each of the achievers and then took the time to meet the young people and hear firsthand about their experiences, a privileged moment that the Outward Bounders both enjoy and value.

Outward Bound Monaco, which enjoys the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II and HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is a registered charity which provides organisation and access to the outstanding facilities and adventures of the Outward Bound organisation in the UK (mainly in the Lake District and Wales areas) to children all over the Europe.

Activities include rock climbing, camping, orienteering, canoeing, bridge, raft building, environmental education and mental challenges. Since its formation in 2004, OBM has already sent over 300 participants from the Cote d’Azur on amazing OB experiences in the past 12 years and this year’s success was no exception.

Michael Peagram, President of Outward Bound Monaco said: “The outdoor activities are not only sporting and enjoyable, but they are character forming and they take our young people into a new sphere of challenge, bravery and self-discovery. At the same time as having fun, they are learning skills for life such as resilience, leadership, and team building. In today’s fast changing and uncertain world Outward Bound is an environment where maturity and determination are grown.”

All travel arrangements are organised and supervised by the Monaco Outward Bound team and the life changing courses are delivered by Outward Bound UK. If you are interested in finding out more about 2017 courses, see the website or contact Administrator Vanessa Ilsley at vanessa@outwardbound.monaco.com

Article first published December 6, 2016.

HSH Prince Albert and his family have mailed their annual Christmas cards to thousands of privileged recipients, not without the full glare of publicity from the international press.

While each glossy magazine has a slightly different take, all agree that the undisputed stars of the show are the royal twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, who turned two on December 10.

In French, English and Monegasque, the Christmas message is: “May the joy and peace of the holiday season be with you in this New Year 2017.”

The photo for the annual Christmas card was taken in Salon des Glaces,with a portrait of Princess Grace in the background, by photographer Vanessa von Zitzewitz on December 3. (Feature image: Courtesy of Prince’s Palace of Monaco/Facebook)

READ ALSO: A day in the life of the Prince

St Paul’s Anglican Church hosted its Children’s Christingle, the traditional Christmas Eve service for kids, at 5 pm on Saturday.

A Christingle was given to each child at the service, symbolising the message of Christmas: the orange represents the world; the red ribbon represents the blood of Christ; the four cocktail sticks containing dried fruits represent the four seasons and the fruits of the earth; and the lit candle represents Christ as the light of the world.

Midnight Mass will be held at 11 pm tonight, with a Family Christmas Celebration on Sunday, December 25, at 10:30 am (22 avenue Grande Bretagne).

The 12th edition of the Bain de Noel tool place Saturday morning at 10 am. Organised annually by the Association les Amis du Bain de Noël de Monaco, money raised is donated to a different association each year.

For 2016, the fundraising dip was in aid of Association Monégasque de Vol à Voile, which was founded in 2014 by Anthony Roustan, an aeronautic enthusiast born in Monaco. Vol à Voile offers sick children or persons with disabilities a chance to escape their daily lives by flying with an instructor, and this year they had two outings.

This year’s Bain de Noel at Larvotto’s Rose des Vents beach was partnered with Amade Monaco, the association started in 1966 by Princess Grace, which will double the funds raised for Vol à Voile today to help orchestrate more opportunities for children to fly in the months to come.

Some 150 people participated in the traditional Christmas swim this morning. On-site registration, €10, included a raffle ticket, croissants and coffee.

It was a highly convivial pre-Christmas gathering.

Organised by the City of Monaco, in partnership with the Monegasque Model Federation and MC Clic.

Info: +377 93 15 06 09

Cine-Concert with screening of the film “Fantasia” of the Disney Studios accompanied by thePhilharmonic Orchestra of Monte-Carlo under the direction of Kazuki Yamada. With the support of the Association of Friends of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Info: +377 98 06 28 28