Month: May 2025

The Monaco International Dog Show reached its culmination this weekend with members of the Princely family presenting the awards to the competition’s top winners. Prince Albert II bestowed first-place honours upon an exceptional Basenji, whilst Princess Caroline of Hanover presented the second-place award to an outstanding Welsh Corgi. Melanie-Antoinette de Massy, current President of the Monaco Kennel Club, completed the ceremony by awarding third place to a remarkable Dachshund.

The prestigious event, held at Espace Fontvieille ‘Le Chapiteau,’ set new records with 1,430 dogs representing 262 breeds from 29 countries. This 2025 edition continues the tradition of Princely involvement that dates back to the club’s founding by Princess Charlotte in 1927.

The competition spread across two days, with Groups 1,2,3,6, and 10 judged on Saturday, 10^th May, followed by Groups 4,5,7,8, and 9 on Sunday, 11^th May. The indoor venue buzzed with activity as handlers presented their beloved canines before an international panel of nine distinguished judges.

The judging panel brought expertise from across Europe and beyond, with representatives from France, Peru, Italy, Finland, Switzerland, Ireland, Romania, and Spain. Each expert meticulously evaluated contestants against breed standards, morphology, body type, character, and movement patterns.

This year’s event highlighted French herding dogs as breeds of honour, specifically featuring the Pyrenean Shepherd, Beauceron, Briard, and Picard Shepherd from Group1. These distinctive breeds received special recognition throughout the weekend.

Princely Legacy Continues

Founded by Princess Charlotte in 1927, the club was subsequently led by Princess Antoinette until 2011, followed by Baroness Elizabeth-Ann de Massy until 2020. Today, Melanie-Antoinette de Massy continues this legacy as current president. 

Beyond the primary competition, the event featured specialised categories including Minor Puppy (3 to 6 months), Puppy (6 to 9 months), Young (9 to 18 months), and Veterans (7 years and older). The show also hosted Junior Handler competitions in two age groups: children from 5 to 9 years and young handlers aged 10 to 17.

As a qualifying event for the prestigious Crufts 2026 competition in the United Kingdom, the Monaco International Dog Show holds significant importance in the global canine community. Competitors and spectators alike enjoyed the facilities at Espace Fontvieille, with catering services available throughout the event.  

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Main photo by Monaco Life

Floral creations transformed the Yacht Club of Monaco this weekend as Princess Caroline of Hanover presided over the prestigious 56^th International Flower Competition. Melanie Antoinette de Massy and member of the National Council of Monaco Christophe Robino were also in attendance at the event, which showcased floral displays under the theme ‘Flowers in Motion’.

The competition, held under the high patronage of Prince Abert II on May 10th and 11^th, attracted participants from across Europe, with notable entries from Monaco, France, Italy and Switzerland. The Garden Club of Monaco, under Princess Caroline’s leadership, organised the two-day event that concluded yesterday.

“One of the most moving moments of the Competition is when one discovers all these magnificent compositions installed in this beautiful setting,” said Cecilia Casiraghi, Vice-President of the Garden Club of Monaco. “The competitors interpreted the theme ‘Flowers in Motion’ with tremendous inspiration. We are happy to see that floral art is generating increasing interest, including among younger generations who are fortunate to grow up in Monaco.”

This year’s Grand Prix General – Princess Grace of Monaco Prize was awarded to Margita Monnin from SAFA Geneva, Switzerland, whose creation in the ‘Pastel Whirls’ category particularly impressed the special jury headed by Princess Caroline, composed of personalities from literary and artistic worlds.

The competition featured seven categories: ‘Multicoloured Fireworks’ (large dimension), ‘The Rose Ball’ (table decoration), ‘Pastel Whirls’ (on a pedestal), ‘Monochromatic Swirls’ (niche), ‘Wind in the Garden’(niche), ‘Round Dance of Flowers and Leaves’ (wall decoration), and a special youth category ‘Dance of Flowers, Fruits and Vegetables’ for participants aged 6 to 14.

The Official Jury, comprising judges, professors, international authors, and floral art specialists, awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze Insignia across all categories. 

Several special prizes were awarded during the ceremony. The Prize for Originality in Interpretation, presented by Lionel Beffre, Minister of the Interior, went to Cinzia Ceria from Genoa, Italy. The Elegance in Composition Prize was awarded to Geneviève Antona from the Garden Club of Monaco.

Other notable recognitions included the Charm Prize presented by Karyn Ardisson Salopek from Monaco City Hall to Lisa Schmitt, the Colour Harmony Prize presented by Stéphane Valeri, President Delegate of Société des Bains de Mer, to Margita Monnin, and the Humor Prize presented by Enrico Barla to Sky Janssens from the British School in Monaco.

EXPANDING HORIZONS FOR FLORAL ART

For the first time, the Garden Club organised ‘Monaco in Flowers,’ a shop window competition that decorated the streets of the Principality with the support of UCAM and Société des Bains de Mer. The first prize was presented by Cecilia Casiraghi to the Eleven Monte-Carlo boutique, with Le Petit Elfe and La Carterie Hallmark taking second and third places respectively.

“Under the Presidency of Princess Caroline of Hanover, the Garden Club of Monaco is also broadening its scope by opening up to themes dear to Prince Albert II and essential for our future: the preservation of the environment and biodiversity,” added Casiraghi.

The event featured a rich programme of activities on May 11th, including conferences from 11:00 to 13:00 at the Aquarama Riva Bar covering orange blossom water by Murielle Iris, Monaco’s Exotic Garden as a botanical garden by Diane Ortolani, and olive cultivation by Armando Spajani and Riccardo Carver.

Visitors also enjoyed a floral arrangement demonstration by Kévin Billard, formerly of the Prince’s Palace, from 15:00 to 16:30. Throughout the weekend, the public could admire the beautiful compositions with free entry to the exhibition and all activities organised by the Garden Club of Monaco.

The 57th International Flower Competition is scheduled to take place in 2026.

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The Princess Grace Hospital Centre (CHPG) has taken a significant step forward in its commitment to inclusivity with the signing of a dedicated charter for patients with disabilities. The symbolic ceremony, held Thursday at the Salle Du Conseil d’Administration of the healthcare facility, formalises 17 concrete commitments aimed at making healthcare more accessible to all.

The event brought together key figures including Christophe Robino, Minister for Social Affairs and Health, and Lionel Galfré, Technical Advisor – Delegate for Disability, alongside partner associations and hospital management.

The charter is the culmination of extensive work by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Valérie Bernard, Head of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department and institutional disability liaison, and Damien Aimé, Management Officer at Cap Fleuri.

“Conscious of the difficulties that people with disabilities face in accessing healthcare, CHPG has made this challenge a priority,” reads the institution’s official document presented during the ceremony.

The initiative has already yielded tangible results with the implementation of four key measures: a unique phone number with an online form for pre-visit needs assessment, personalised care pathways designed a case-by-case basis, practical guidance sheets for all staff, and the formal charter that codifies the institution’s approach to inclusive care. 

Alignment with Monaco’s Handicap policy

This development comes as part of Monaco’s broader Handicap strategy launched by the Princely Government in December 2023, which encourages all organisations across the Principality to adopt standards facilitating the inclusion of people with disabilities.

During the ceremony, Christophe Robino highlighted the significance of the initiative: “I believe this is truly an excellent response to the government’s initiative, which is expressed through the Handicap policy. Ultimately, our objective is that individually and collectively, we are ready for a society where disability no longer presents barriers to accessing services and participating fully in daily life.”

The 17-point charter addresses multiple dimensions of healthcare accessibility, from guaranteeing care regardless of disability type to enhancing communication quality. It outlines commitments across six categories: healthcare access, reception quality, patient autonomy, needs assessment, caregiver support, and professional training.

The working group, which includes doctors, caregivers, administrative staff, management, and user representatives, collaborated closely with the Principality’s associations to develop this comprehensive framework.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Photo credit: Manuel Vitali – Direction de la Communication