Monaco’s curfew will be extended to 11.30pm on 24th December to allow for Christmas celebrations, while only restaurants will be given an extra hour of reprieve on New Year’s Eve. Almost all other measures currently in place will remain until at least 15th January.
Prince Albert spoke to the citizens of Monaco in a televised address from his Palace on Wednesday night, saying: “Although it has been announced that vaccination programmes are either underway or immanent, this must not be interpreted as meaning life can return to normal right away. It will take several months before that is possible.”
He confirmed that his government has put together a national vaccination plan which is now ready and will begin as soon as vaccines are given approval.
However, he added, “We must not let our guard down and put everything that we have achieved so far at risk by lifting the health measures too quickly and too loosely.”
He announced that almost all of the current measures, including the 8pm to 6am curfew, will remain in force until at least 15th January.
An exception, however, has been made for the 24th December – the day on which Monegasques traditionally celebrate Christmas – when curfew will not come into force until 11.30pm.
On the 31st December, New Year’s Eve, restaurants will be allowed to stay open until 10.30pm – an hour later than the current curfew.
Furthermore, non-residents will only be allowed to enter Monaco if they have a hotel reservation.
For everyone else in the Principality, an 8pm curfew still applies for New Year’s Eve.
Public gatherings will be banned on both the 24th and 31st December.
Minister of State Pierre Dartout is expected to reveal more details in a press conference on Friday, including a lifting of the ban on sports activities.
“I understand the efforts that are being asked of you during this festive period, when family is so important. We must continue on this path as we have made great progress together in the fight against this epidemic. I know I can count on your understanding and readiness to do what needs to be done in order to overcome this ordeal,” concluded the Prince.
Photo taken from Prince Albert’s address on Thursday night
Day: 17 December 2020
Monaco’s trend-setting Princess
Sporting a new punk-style undercut, Princess Charlene, together with Prince Albert and their children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, have welcomed Monaco’s littlest citizens to the Prince’s Palace for the family’s traditional gift giving celebration.
The Palace courtyard was transformed into a winter wonderland for its little guests on Wednesday, complete with Christmas chalets, giant tree, and even fake snow.
Nearly 700 children aged between five and 12 enjoyed the festivities, which also included a fir forest, traditional crib, Santa’s sleigh, jugglers and acrobats.
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene joined their children in handing out gifts to the young Monegasques, much to their delight and that of their accompanying parents.
The Palace was eager to point out that the event was held outside this year, where strict health protocols were observed, including temperature measurement and hand disinfection at the entrance to the Palace, mandatory mask wearing and a single direction of movement in the Cour d’Honneur.
Princess Grace and Prince Rainier started the tradition of an annual gift distribution in the Palace, nurturing the bond between the Princely Family and the community.
But it is Princess Charlene’s new look that is grabbing headlines this year across the globe. Concealed under a beret during the inauguration ceremony of Monaco’s new maritime vessel earlier that day, the 42-year-old Princess wore her new locks proudly at the Palace that afternoon, complemented with a sequin face mask that matched her black and gold ensemble.
Photos: Eric Mathon / Prince’s Palace, Manu Vitali / Government Communications Department
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