The Principality has come alive for the Fête Nationale de Monaco, an annual celebration of patriotism, tradition and, above all, family.
Led by Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Princely Family took centre stage during the festivities on Tuesday 19th November, an important date steeped in history for Monegasque nationals and citizens alike.
The National Day of Monaco, also known as the Day of the Prince, is a cherished tribute to the enduring legacy of the Grimaldi family, which has reigned over the Principality since 1297. Each year, this celebration of tradition and heritage brings Monaco’s local and international population together for a grand display of unity and cultural pride.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene attended the traditional National Day mass. Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Frédéric Nebinger / Michaël Alesi / Axel Bastello / Prince’s Palace
Following a patriotic drone show on the eve of the big day, the 2024 festivities began on Tuesday 19th November with a special mass and Te Deum at the Cathedral of Monaco, attended by members of the Princely Family.
Monaco Life was on the Rock to capture the moment when a beaming Prince Albert and a graceful Princess Charlene descended the steps of the cathedral before greeting the crowds.
Prince Jacques was dressed in traditional military attire alongside his father Prince Albert II. Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Frédéric Nebinger / Michaël Alesi / Axel Bastello / Prince’s Palace
A spectacular military parade followed in the Cour d’Honneur and on the Place du Palais, much to the delight of the gathered audience. Highlights included a collaborative display by the Carabiniers du Prince de Monaco and France’s Garde Républicaine, as well as a performance by the Orchestra of the Prince’s Carabiniers, who were accompanied by musicians from the French Army Choir.
Locals and visitors waved Monaco’s emblematic red and white flags enthusiastically and cheered joyfully as the Princely Family stepped out to make their traditional appearance on the Palace balcony.
The crowds on the Place du Palais were abuzz with excitement as the Princely Family made their traditional appearance on the Palace balconies. Photo by Monaco Life
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene were joined on the balcony by Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, as well as Princess Caroline of Hanover and Princess Stéphanie, completing the display of Monaco’s Sovereign family.
The crowds gather at the Palace Square as the Princely Family wave from the Palace windows. Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Frédéric Nebinger / Michaël Alesi / Axel Bastello / Prince’s Palace
The celebrations continue Tuesday evening with an invite-only gala performance of Puccini’s La Bohème at the Grimaldi Forum.
A collection of Bizen ceramics, a celebrated Japanese art form centuries in the making, is set to go on display in Monaco’s Japanese Garden this weekend.
On 23rd and 24th November, the Japanese Garden on Avenue Princesse Grace will host a fascinating exhibition dedicated to Bizen ceramics, one of Japan’s oldest traditional crafts.
Originating in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, Bizen ceramics have been crafted for over eight centuries using a distinctive clay unique to the region and remain a cornerstone of Japanese craftsmanship. Today, more than 300 artisans continue to innovate while preserving the traditional methods of this revered art form.
Bizen pottery is distinguished by its minimalist style, created without glazes or paints. Pieces are fired at extremely high temperatures—between 1,200 and 1,300°C—for two weeks, producing intricate patterns shaped by the clay, kiln arrangement, temperature fluctuations and ash residue. This process also gives Bizen ceramics their exceptional durability.
Historically prized for their functionality, Bizen vessels have become particularly popular in recent years for their ability to keep flowers fresh for extended periods.
The Monaco showcase will feature around 50 examples of this venerated art form, including works by Jun Isezaki, a ‘living national treasure’ of Japan, alongside creations by other contemporary artists, such as Koichiro Isezaki, whose work can be seen above.
Organised by Japan Articles Trading Monaco in collaboration with Bizen City and the Association Monaco Friends of Japan, the event aims to highlight both the traditional and modern aspects of Bizen ceramics.
The L’art céramique de Bizen exhibit will be open to the public from 10am to 5pm on both days. In addition to the display of 50 ceramic works, there will be a stand selling tableware items. Admission is free.
In honour of Monaco’s National Day, the Palais Princier de Monaco has released two precious photographs of Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.
The images, captured by official Palace photographer Eric Mathon, show Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene’s nine-year-old twins in two different locations within the Palace.
In one, Hereditary Prince Jacques places a protective arm around his sister on the marble staircase leading up from the Cour d’Honneur forecourt. In the other, the two face the camera confidently, hand-in-hand, beneath the beautiful archways of the Galerie d’Hercule.
Prince Jacques casts a protective arm around his sister, Princess Gabriella, on the steps of the Palace. Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco
Both are all smiles, with Prince Jacques appearing in full military dress, complete with the Star of the Order of Grimaldi, while Princess Gabriella wears an exquisite powder blue coat and matching headband.
The twins will turn 10 next month, on 10th December.
A confirmed sighting of a great white shark near the Porquerolles Islands in the Port-Cros National Park has sparked excitement among scientists. The species is a rare find in the Mediterranean, with only 40 documented sightings in the last four centuries.
In early November, a sailor cruising the waters near Pointe du Sarranier in the Port-Cros National Park noticed a fin breaking through the waves and quickly took out their phone to video the incredible scene. It was a great white shark, likely a juvenile measuring around four metres.
The sighting, which has since been confirmed by the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) in Paris and the Groupe Phocéen d’Étude des Requins (GPER), is extraordinarily rare. According to GPER, only around 40 documented sightings have been recorded in the Gulf of Lion since the 1600s.
The most recent sighting before that of Pointe du Sarranier occurred in 2002, when a nearly five-metre-long female was observed in the Camargue. Nevertheless, scientists estimate that populations in the Mediterranean are at just 10% of what they once were.
In an interview with Radio France, François Sarano, a doctor in oceanography, said of the sighting, “It’s quite extraordinary. It is both moving to see that they have not completely disappeared from this Mediterranean, where they were once very abundant. And then, if we are making such a big deal of it, it’s because there are very few of them. Unfortunately, this will not bring back to the sea the extremely large population that existed in the Mediterranean just 50 years ago.”
Earlier this year, the non-profit organization OCEARCH launched a six-week expedition to find and track sharks along the coasts of France, Spain and Ireland. The mission aimed to gather data and collect environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from the waters. Although only five blue sharks were studied during the expedition, the absence of great whites provided equally critical insights.
The species is listed as critically endangered on the European Red List of Threatened Species. Threats include pollution, overfishing and habitat destruction.
The recent sighting off Pointe du Sarranier is a reminder of the delicate balance within the Mediterranean ecosystem. While it inspires hope and curiosity, it also emphasises the urgent need for action to protect these iconic apex predators before it is too late.
A video of the sighting that has been shared on social media can be viewed below:
Apollo 15 legend David Scott, the first astronaut to drive a rover on the Moon, brought his incredible experience to Monaco on Monday during a special visit to Venturi Space. Hosted by President Gildo Pastor and joined by Prince Albert II and astronaut Jean-François Clervoy, the visit celebrated Monaco’s cutting-edge space advancements and its bold involvement in upcoming lunar missions set for 2025 and 2026.
“This is an extraordinary effort, supported by exceptional collaborators,” said Prince Albert II. “Knowing that Monaco will not only have a ‘foot’ but also a ‘wheel’ in space is a source of immense pride. It’s exciting to see how far this will take us.”
Exploring lunar innovation
The visit included five key stages, starting with presentations of Venturi’s pioneering FLIP and FLEX rovers. Developed across Venturi Space’s European bases in Monaco, Switzerland and France, the FLEX rover is set to launch with SpaceX in 2026 and is among three mobility systems shortlisted by NASA for the Artemis V mission in 2030. Meanwhile, the FLIP rover, optimised for surface versatility, is scheduled for deployment in 2025.
Photo: Prince Albert II with, from left to right, Venturi Space Ambassador Jean-François Clervoy, Apollo 15 Astronaut David Scott and Venturi Space President Gildo Pastor. Photo source: Venturi
“We are thrilled and immensely proud of what is being done here,” said the Prince. “This is going to be an incredible adventure because space remains one of the greatest frontiers for exploration. While there are still great adventures to be had here on Earth, this new phase of lunar activities and programs on the Moon is absolutely thrilling.”
Input from an astronaut
The star of the event was Apollo 15 Commander David Scott, one of only 12 astronauts to have walked on the Moon and the first to drive a lunar rover. The 92-year-old enthusiastically toured Venturi headquarters, speaking about his historic Hadley Plain mission in 1971 and sharing stories from his time on the Moon, while offering advice for the next generation of explorers.
“Venturi have taken on an enormous challenge,” he said. “The FLEX rover is very different from the one I drove. It’s much bigger and will have an enormous operating life. It seems to me that the teams are doing a good job, and I wish them good luck. We will be following closely.”
Gildo Pastor praised Scott’s expertise, saying, “It is a great honour to have David Scott with us. He gave us clear explanations and shared insights we weren’t aware of, making this visit truly worthwhile.”
Apollo 15 Astronaut David Scott with Venturi Space President Gildo Pastor. Photo source: Venturi
Apollo exhibitions highlight David Scott’s mission
As part of the event, guests explored two NASA photo exhibitions hosted by Venturi that are currently on show in the lobby of the Gildo Pastor Centre. Apollo 15 in Hadley Plain highlights the first use of a lunar rover by Scott and James Irwin, exploring one of the most scientifically significant Apollo landing sites.
To see himself in these photos, said Scott, was a wonderful opportunity to relive the moment.
“These are great memories, it takes me back to a time when we had an opportunity to do something challenging, something unusual. It was the best kind of holiday you could take,” he shared.
The other exhibition, Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 on the Moon, showcases breathtaking images of lunar highlands and the Taurus-Littrow plain, captured by astronauts during their groundbreaking missions.
Shaping Monaco’s space future
The tour of Venturi’s space technology comes just over a month after Monaco hosted representatives from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to discuss the development of space legislation and Monaco’s role in shaping responsible practices for the growing space industry.
“Developing space legislation is critical, though it is still in the relatively early stages for us,” said Prince Albert. “We need to lay the groundwork to determine how we can develop this sector and where it may take us. It’s a complex process, but we are actively working on it.”
Inside the Venturi Space lab in Fontvielle. Photo source: Venturi
From Monaco to the Moon
Prince Albert spoke about the broader implications of Monaco’s involvement in space, saying, “We’ve always looked at space programs with admiration, and I never thought, just a few years ago, that we would contribute to them directly or indirectly. Yet here we are, thanks to other actors working on satellites and other activities in this domain. This initiative is a shining example of what can be achieved, even in a small country, when people come together with determination to make things happen.”
Also present for the event was Astronaut Jean-François Clervoy, who has been appointed the European Ambassador for Venturi’s space initiatives. Clervoy is a French astronaut and engineer who flew on three NASA Space Shuttle missions, including a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission. He is a veteran of the European Space Agency and a leader in advancing aerospace innovation.
Main photo: Prince Albert II with Apollo 15 Astronaut David Scott (left ), Venturi Space President Gildo Pastor, and Venturi Space Ambassador Jean-François Clervoy. Photo source: Venturi
Photos: Patriotic drone show wows crowds at Fête Nationale festivities
A mesmerising display of 800 drones lit up the night sky above Port Hercule at the start of this week, officially beginning Monaco’s National Day celebrations.
At 8pm on the eve of Monaco’s Fête Nationale, the crowds that had gathered along Port Hercule were treated to a captivating drone show organised by the Mairie de Monaco.
The perfectly executed display featured classic emblems of the Principality, from the Princely crown to Monaco’s historic coat of arms. At one point, the 800 drones reassembled to spell out “Viva u Principu e Viva Mu̍negu”, meaning “Long live the Principality, long live Monaco”.
The show also paid tribute to Princess Charlene of Monaco with an image of a swimmer, a nod to the Princess’s achievements as an Olympic swimmer, as well as the centenary of AS Monaco Football Club and the Principality’s hosting of the final leg of the Tour de France earlier this year.
Monaco’s National Day celebrations will continue throughout Tuesday 19th November. Various religious, stately and cultural events have been organised at venues across the Principality.
Click on the images below to see more of the show:
