Ahead the red carpet in June, Monte-Carlo Television Festival has announced that the event will be co-hosting the Night of 100 Stars gala in partnership with Make-A-Wish International, the charity association dedicated to putting smiles on the faces of critically ill children around the world.
Around a hundred VIP guests, celebrities and notable Monaco residents will be gathering at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort for the Night of 100 Stars charity event on 16th June, and the gala evening looks set to be one of the big philanthropic occasions of the summer.
Maxime Dereymez, the winner of Dancing with the Stars France, and former model Victoria Silvstedt will be co-emceeing the event, which will feature a special performance by The Voice France alumni Nade.
“This event is more than just a glamourous night,” says Silvstedt. “It is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children around the world.”
Founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish has spent the last four decades giving critically or terminally ill children the chance to live out their dreams for a day, whether that is going on a rollercoaster, being a police officer or meeting their hero.
The wishes of more than 585,000 children worldwide have been granted by Make-A-Wish and its affiliates, which operate a network of branches in 40 countries across six continents.
“As our festival celebrates the talent of international television production, we also shine a light on the positive impact our industry can have on the lives of others,” says Laurent Puons, CEO of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. “With this event, we are delighted to support Make-A-Wish International and to help grant wishes to children around the world who are living with critical illnesses.”
For more information on Make-A-Wish, click here. To reserve tickets to the Night of 100 Stars gala and afterparty, click here.
The Principality’s very own Charles Leclerc has won the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, fulfilling the dreams of the Ferrari driver and of Monaco.
Qualifying on Saturday 25th May gave the Scuderia Ferrari driver his third start from the P1 grid slot in Monaco. It also moved him ahead of Niki Lauda in the list of Ferrari pole sitters in the team’s history; 26-year-old Leclerc is now second only to the legendary Michael Schumacher.
“I’m very happy. We were fast right from the beginning of the weekend and I really think the whole team deserves this pole position. We know how important track position is here and having the possibility to start in front of everyone gives us the best chances,” he later said. “Now we have to complete the job, and we will do our best to bring home this victory.”
Race Day on Sunday 26th May brought sunshine to the streets of Monaco, and thousands of Formula 1 fans poured into the Principality, with the grandstands near full capacity along every sector of the iconic circuit.
The on-track drama began almost as soon as the lights went out; before Lap 1 was done, four drivers and their cars had retired from the race.
A collision just after the Sainte Dévote turn involving Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez put both drivers, as well as Magnussen’s teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, out of the running. Damage to the barriers forced a 44-minute delay to the standing restart.
Meanwhile, the two Alpine drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, were also involved in a separate incident. The damage to Ocon’s car was deemed sufficient enough for him to withdraw from the race. He was handed a 10-second penalty, which will be carried over to the Canadian Grand Prix in June, and the Team Principal warned that “serious consequences” would be coming for the driver in the future.
Charles Leclerc: P1 to win
Once the race had resumed, Monaco’s golden boy, Charles Leclerc, was quick off the line and secured his status at the front of the grid.
By Lap 41, the race leader had lapped Stake KICK Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz and the fourth-placed Lando Norris, for McLaren, quickly following suit.
Ultimately, it was a pitstop-less race for the Top 5, which also featured Mercedes’ George Russell.
Leclerc delivered a faultless performance, maintaining his position up front and elegantly managing the gap between himself and Piastri behind, slowing the pace when needed and picking up the speed when he felt pressure from the Australian driver.
As the chequered flag was waved at the end of Lap 78, the Monegasque driver sailed through with a lead of more than eight seconds on the second-placed Piastri and Sainz in third. It marked success at last on his home track, the win he has always dreamed of.
The emotion in his voice over the radio was clear for all to hear as commentators joked, “The son of a hairdresser is a cut above the rest.”
Prince Albert II congratulates Charles Leclerc
Prince Albert II of Monaco and members of his extended family were seen celebrating the Monegasque’s victory as the driver punched the air and proclaimed, “Tonight is going to be a big night!”
The sovereign looked down on the celebrations in the paddock, with Princess Charlene alongside him, as the horns of the yachts moored in Port Hercule blared out.
“No words can explain [the feeling],” said Leclerc, grinning from ear to ear, to reporters post-race. “Winning a race that I always dreamed of winning one day… The emotions were coming, I was thinking of my dad… He [gave] everything for me to be here, we always dreamed of winning here.”
Charles Leclerc’s victory at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix makes him the second-ever Monegasque. after Louis Chiron in 1931, to win a home race in the Principality. Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
As Leclerc made his way to the podium, a visibly moved Prince Albert stepped forward to hug the driver. The two appeared to share some close words as they embraced again atop the podium before the Monegasque national anthem was played.
On top of the full points, which will see Leclerc catch up significantly on Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Standings, the Monegasque was also voted Driver of the Day by F1 fans watching on worldwide.
