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Month: September 2025

Prince Albert II opens Monaco Classic Week with tour of historic vessels

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
12/09/2025

Prince Albert II of Monaco officially launched the 17th Monaco Classic Week Thursday, touring the impressive collection of boats before visiting a unique exhibition celebrating cinema’s love affair with classic yachts. 

The Prince was accompanied by Bernard d’ Alessandri, Secretary General of the Monaco Yacht Club, as he explored some of the 160 historic vessels docked in Monaco’s harbour.

Following his tour of the classic boats, Prince Albert II visited the new ‘Action! Classic Yachts and the Big Screen’ exhibition, which traces the fascinating connections between cinema and yachting through rare archives and iconic posters.

The photographic showcase features 40 panels highlighting famous vessels and their Hollywood connections, including images of stars such as Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Jude Law, and Marilyn Monroe aboard classic yachts.

In a heartfelt moment during the visit, the Prince paused at a photograph of his mother, Princess Grace, and posed for a picture beside the display.

Prince Albert II next to a poster of Princess Grace, photo credit: Direction de la Communication – Stéphane Danna

The exhibition, produced by the Yacht Club de Monaco with André Z. Labarrère, creates a unique opportunity to see maritime film stars both on screen and moored in Monaco’s waters.

Several of the vessels featured in the exhibition are among the 160 boats participating in this year’s Monaco Classic Week, including the legendary Zaca, once owned by Errol Flynn, and Kalizma, the motor yacht famously gifted by Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor.

The four-day event, running until Sunday, offers free public access to the quays and exhibitions from 10am to 7pm daily.

See more in Kyriaki Topalidou’s video below…

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Main photo credit: Direction de la Communication – Stéphane Danna

Centuries of Monaco’s judicial history placed in the care of the National Archives

by: Cassandra Tanti
12/09/2025

Registers dating back to 1815 and records of the Council of State since 1905 are among the heritage archives now entrusted by Monaco’s Judicial Services to the National Archives for preservation.

Monaco has formally entrusted some of its most valuable judicial documents to the National Archives. On Thursday 11th September 2025, Samuel Vuelta-Simon, Secretary of State for Justice and Director of Judicial Services, and Michaël Bloche, Director of the National Archives, signed a convention sealing the deposit of these archives, some of which are more than two centuries old.

Treasures of Monaco’s legal past

The collection includes registers from 1815, capturing acts and rulings from the justice of the peace, the criminal court and the higher court, as well as files maintained by court clerks. Also deposited are records from the Council of State, with registers of deliberations and session dossiers dating back to 1905. Together, they form a unique chronicle of Monaco’s legal and political life over the last two centuries.

Years of collaboration come to fruition

This first deposit from the Judicial Services Directorate is the result of several years of cooperation with the National Archives, aimed at modernising storage practices and ensuring that fragile documents of patrimonial interest are preserved for future generations.

Expanding Monaco’s archival legacy

The move follows similar transfers in recent years from other public bodies, including the Conseil National, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace and the RAMOGE Agreement. Each deposit strengthens the Principality’s cultural memory, placing its history in safe hands while making it more accessible to researchers and the public.

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Bal du Marché returns to Place d’Armes for a festive evening on 12th September

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/09/2025

On Friday 12th September, Place d’Armes will once again be transformed into an open-air guinguette as the Bal du Marché brings live music, food and family fun to the heart of Monaco.

From 7.30pm this Friday, the bustling Place d’Armes will take on a new look as it hosts the Bal du Marché, a celebration of music, food and conviviality. The event, now an eagerly anticipated fixture in the local calendar, invites residents and visitors to enjoy a warm late-summer evening in a lively, communal setting.

Dining in the Halle

Guests can book tables directly with merchants in the Halle de la Condamine, ensuring a dinner that combines market freshness with the vibrant atmosphere of the square. Early reservations are encouraged to secure the best spots for the evening’s festivities.

Music and entertainment for all ages

The Benty Brothers Music orchestra will provide the soundtrack, filling the square with energy and dance rhythms throughout the night. Families will also find plenty of entertainment, with popcorn, candyfloss and a claw machine available free of charge for children and the young at heart.

A community celebration

With its blend of music, food and laughter, the Bal du Marché embodies the spirit of Monaco’s neighbourhood gatherings. Last year’s edition drew large crowds, and organisers are once again inviting the community to come together and celebrate this much-loved evening.

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Photo credit: Mairie de Monaco

Macron names Sébastien Lecornu as France’s new prime minister after Bayrou exit

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/09/2025

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, a day after François Bayrou was forced to resign following a historic defeat in a parliamentary confidence vote.

On Tuesday 9th September, President Emmanuel Macron asked Sébastien Lecornu to form a government, just 24 hours after François Bayrou was ousted from office. At 39, Lecornu becomes the seventh prime minister since Macron took office in 2017 and the fifth in just three years. He will formally succeed Bayrou at a handover ceremony in Paris on Wednesday.

Macron loyalist

Lecornu, a former member of the conservative Les Républicains, has served in every Macron-led government since 2017 and was appointed France’s youngest-ever defence minister in 2022. He was the architect of a major military build-up through 2030 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and previously oversaw overseas territories and local authorities. In 2019, he was tasked with organising the president’s “great national debate” during the Yellow Vests crisis.

Political reactions divided

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen dismissed the appointment as “the last shot of Macronism,” predicting that “inevitable future elections” would see her lieutenant Jordan Bardella become prime minister. Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon said Macron had “changed nothing” in response to Bayrou’s fall, while the Greens called the nomination a “provocation.” The Socialist Party warned the choice risked “social anger and institutional deadlock” and ruled out participation in Lecornu’s government.

France under pressure

Bayrou’s downfall followed his decision to call a high-risk confidence vote on his austerity budget, which included €44 billion in savings. The government was rejected by 364 votes to 194, prompting his resignation. The political upheaval comes amid rising borrowing costs for France and mounting social unrest.

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Photo credit: Ecole polytechnique / Institut Polytechnique de Paris / J.Barande

Monaco Yacht Show announces nominees for inaugural Blue Wake Awards

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/09/2025

The Monaco Yacht Show has unveiled the nominees for the first edition of the Blue Wake Awards, a pioneering initiative created in partnership with the Water Revolution Foundation to celebrate the most credible and impactful environmental innovations in the superyacht sector.

The shortlist highlights leaders across four categories. In Luxury Products and Services, Foglizzo Leather, Tai Ping and Turnstyle Design have been recognised. The Nautical Supplier category features AkzoNobel, Deasyl and Termodinamica. Competing in the Refit or Builder Shipyard category are Amico & Co, Baltic Yachts and Sanlorenzo. Finally, in Tenders and Water Toys, nominees include Evene Tenders, U-Boat Worx and Tykun. A fifth distinction, the Special Jury Award, will honour a yacht demonstrating outstanding commitment to sustainability.

All candidates were selected through a rigorous independent assessment led by the Water Revolution Foundation, based on transparent evaluation criteria jointly developed with the Monaco Yacht Show. This process ensures that only credible, high-impact solutions are recognised.

The winners will be revealed on Tuesday 23rd September during the Grand Opening Night of the Monaco Yacht Show, marking a milestone in the event’s mission to make sustainability a driver of innovation and excellence in yachting.

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Photo source: Monaco Yacht Show

Monte Carlo Beer partners with Molson Coors for UK launch

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/09/2025

Monte Carlo Beer, a brand born in the Principality, has entered the British market through an exclusive partnership with Molson Coors Beverage Company.

Founded in 2019 by Monégasque entrepreneurs William Scheffer and Anthony Orengo, Monte Carlo Beer has established itself along the French Riviera with a growing range including Blonde Ale, Amber Ale and IPA. The brand will now make its first move into the UK with the launch of a new 4.8% ABV super-premium lager, created specifically for British consumers. The beer, brewed in the UK, became available on draught in select venues on 28th July, followed by a bottled format in September.

Co-founders hail “full-circle moment”

Co-founder William Scheffer said the UK launch fulfilled an early ambition for the business. “We founded Monte Carlo Beer to not only celebrate our Monégasque heritage but to also celebrate memorable moments with friends. When we created the beer originally, we had hoped that one day the Monte Carlo Beer brand would expand internationally, so this is a full-circle moment for us.”

His business partner Anthony Orengo pointed to Molson Coors’ experience with European brands such as Rekorderlig, Madrí Excepcional and Staropramen as a key reason behind the collaboration. “Working with them to create this special addition to the portfolio was an opportunity we simply couldn’t pass up,” he said.

Industry backdrop

The partnership comes as demand for premium beers continues to grow in the UK. According to Molson Coors, the on-trade world beer market is up 7% in value. Hannah Norbury, Marketing Director for Molson Coors in the UK and Ireland, described Monte Carlo Beer as “a super-premium, refreshing golden lager that will add real excitement on the bar”.

She added that the collaboration highlighted the company’s approach to innovation: “Partnering with passionate entrepreneurs like Will and Anto is a real privilege – creating something together for UK drinkers is testament to the fact that two heads are truly better than one.”

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Photos provided