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Month: October 2025

Princess Charlene joins young Monaco rugby players in Georgia

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/10/2025

Princess Charlene of Monaco travelled to Georgia this week to support the Principality’s under-16 national rugby team during an intensive training camp ahead of an upcoming international tournament.

On Wednesday 29th October, the Princess — who serves as President of the Monegasque Rugby Federation — visited the Georgian Rugby Union’s training centre in Martkopi, a facility known for its elite infrastructure. She was accompanied by her brother Gareth Wittstock, General Secretary of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.

The young Monegasque players are taking part in a series of friendly matches against top-tier Georgian teams as part of their preparation for the prestigious Dubai International Rugby Sevens tournament scheduled for late November.

Photo credit: Ana Demetrashvili / Georgian Rugby Union

As part of her visit, Princess Charlene also attended a first aid training session for youth athletes, co-organised by the Georgian Red Cross and the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. The workshop aimed to raise awareness among players about life-saving emergency techniques.

Princess Charlene was welcomed by Natia Loladze, President of the Georgian Red Cross, and Davit Kacharava, President of the Georgian Rugby Union and former national team captain.

The day ended on a high note for the Monaco U16 team, who celebrated two more victories during the camp, bringing their total to four wins and two losses.

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Photo credit: Ana Demetrashvili / Georgian Rugby Union

Miraculous 13th century icon to visit Monaco’s Orthodox Church

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
30/10/2025

A revered religious artefact, said to possess miraculous healing powers, will be displayed at St Elena’s Parish in Monte-Carlo on Monday evening. 

The Kursk-Root Icon, one of Orthodox Christianity’s most venerated relics, will be available for worship at the church on Avenue de Grande-Bretagne on 3rd November at 6pm.

The icon, which depicts the Virgin Mary, dates back to the 13th century and has been central to Orthodox faith for over 700 years. According to tradition, believers credit it with healing the sick, resolving conflicts, and bestowing divine grace upon the faithful.

The Kursk-Root Icon, photo provided

The sacred image holds deep historical significant within Russian Orthodox tradition. It was revered by Russian Tsars and the renowned military commander General Kutuzov during the Russian Empire.

Such is the icon’s importance that in Ukraine and Russia, worshippers routinely queue for seven to eight hours for just five seconds before it. Hundreds of thousands of people wait to pay their respects when it visits these countries.

Hundreds of thousands follow the Kursk-Root Icon in Ukraine, photo provided.

The Orthodox Church of Monaco has extended an invitation to all Christians in the principality to take advantage of this rare opportunity. Church representatives highlighted the timing, noting the current difficulties in Ukraine, and called for unity amongst the Christian community.

The icon will be displayed at St Elena’s Parish, which is part of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR)

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Main photo provided.

Monaco to crown world’s finest caviar

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
30/10/2025

Monaco will become the centre of luxury caviar for one day on November 6th, as the Yacht Club de Monaco hosts the second edition of the World Caviar Awards.

The international competition will bring together premium caviar producers and merchants from 20 countries, including Russia, Iran, France, Italy, China and the United States, to compete for top honours in a blind tasting judges by Michelin-starred chefs and gastronomy experts.

The event, founded by caviar specialist Laurent Morin and held under the high patronage of Princess Yasmine Murat, Princess of Pontecorvo, marks a significant step up from its inaugural edition at Saint-Émilion Grand Barrail in October 2024.

How the competition works

Each caviar entry will be evaluated under strictly controlled conditions, with identical temperatures, portions, and unmarked containers to ensure complete impartiality. Two sworn bailiffs will oversee the juggling process, where jury members will asses samples individually without consultation.

The competition features two distinct categories: producers who farm their own fish and create caviar, and merchants who source, refine and sell caviar from various farms. Separate juries will judge each category.

Judges will score entries on appearance, texture, balance and length of flavour on the palate, with results determining the year’s most outstanding caviars.

When it comes to the judging panel, among the notable names are GĂ©rald Passedat from Marseille’s Le Petit Nice, Pascal Garrigues of Monte-Carlo Beach, and Pierre Casiraghi, Vice-President of the Yacht Club. The panel also includes multiple Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (MOF) title holders, world freediving record holder Pierre Frolla, and Christian Garcia, chef to Monaco’s princely palace.

Beyond the competition

The blind tasting, scheduled from 10am to 2pm, represents just part of the day’s festivities. Some 220 guests will enjoy a premium cocktail reception followed by an exclusive ten-hands caviar dinner, where renowned chefs will collaborate on specially created dishes for the occasion.

“Caviar is no longer reserved for an elite few,” said Morin, who has worked in the caviar industry for over 15 years. “Thanks to the creativity of chefs, it’s now regarded in haute cuisine as a full-fledged ingredient, while retaining its aura of rarity.”

The event aims to celebrate caviar’s diversity while providing an international platform for producers, much like the already established competitions for wine and cheese

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Main photo credit: World Caviar Awards

Valentina Castellani-Quinn appointed artistic director of MATIFF with global peace initiative

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/10/2025

Filmmaker and producer Valentina Castellani-Quinn has been named Artistic Director of the Matera International Film Festival (MATIFF), where she unveiled a new programme designed to promote dialogue and understanding across borders.

The initiative, titled A Drop of Hope, uses film as a platform to foster empathy, reflection, and engagement around issues of peace, reconciliation and shared humanity. It was introduced in Matera – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former European Capital of Culture – chosen for its historical role as a cultural crossroads.

Castellani-Quinn said the initiative was inspired by the work of The Parents Circle, a grassroots organisation made up of bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families who advocate for peace. She hopes to encourage audiences, particularly young people, to look beyond the fast-paced content of social media and reengage with storytelling as a force for change.

“Cinema today is one of the most powerful platforms for conveying ideas,” she said at the launch. “Through imagery and dialogue, it transcends boundaries and speaks directly to the soul.”

Bridging cultures through cinema

The A Drop of Hope programme is intended to support cultural diplomacy and interfaith understanding through carefully selected films and conversations. Castellani-Quinn, who lives between Europe and the United States, brings to the role a background in both independent film production and international cultural outreach.

This year’s edition of MATIFF featured over 100 international films, including Eleonor the Great, the directorial debut from Scarlett Johansson, and I Bambini di Gaza (The Children of Gaza), a documentary by Loris Lai and produced by Tarak Ben Ammar, which premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and was awarded Best Feature at MATIFF.

Also screened was a newly restored colour version of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Il Vangelo secondo Matteo (The Gospel According to Matthew), shown in its international premiere.

Positioning film as a cultural force

With Castellani-Quinn at the helm, MATIFF is placing itself at the intersection of creativity and conscience, reflecting a growing trend among international festivals to take on social and humanitarian issues.

Her vision for the programme extends beyond this year’s festival, with plans to involve global partners, educators, and cultural organisations in future editions.

“Peace does not begin in politics,” she said, “it begins in the human heart—and often, it begins with a story.”

As geopolitical tensions remain high in many parts of the world, A Drop of Hope aims to remind audiences of the unifying power of film, and the importance of platforms that prioritise listening, shared experience, and human connection.

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Monaco’s Collège Charles III to Roll Out Standard Uniforms for All Students in 2026

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/10/2025

Monaco’s Collège Charles III will introduce a compulsory school uniform for all pupils starting in February 2026, marking the first time a public secondary school in the Principality has adopted a full uniform policy.

The decision, announced by the Princely Government on Wednesday 29th October, builds on a model already in place in Monaco’s primary schools and is intended to strengthen student cohesion, promote a calm and respectful school atmosphere, and reinforce the school’s public image.

Each student will receive a starter pack containing four short-sleeved polo shirts, two hooded sweatshirts and a cap in burgundy and navy. The set will cost €140 and will be available for collection from the school, with home delivery also offered at an additional charge. Families may purchase further items individually if needed.

While the top half of the uniform is standardised, trousers or skirts will remain at the discretion of families, provided they are dark in colour to maintain a sense of visual unity. Students who fail to wear the required attire will not be allowed to attend class, officials have said.

The initiative follows significant modernisation efforts at Collège Charles III, including the school’s recent relocation to a new facility and the earlier introduction of a sports uniform for certain classes.

The introduction of a uniform at the secondary level is part of Monaco’s broader education strategy, which, according to the government, seeks to combine high academic standards with a shared sense of identity, discipline and belonging among students.

See also: 

Collège Charles III opens its doors: a new era of education in Monaco

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Photo compilation by Monaco Life

Beausoleil mayoral candidate Nicolas Spinelli to hold public meeting

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
30/10/2025

Nicolas Spinelli, an independent candidate for mayor of Beausoleil, will hold a public meeting on November 6th at 7pm at the Centre Culturel Prince Jacques. 

The meeting comes as part of Spinelli’s campaign for the municipal elections scheduled for 15th and 22nd March 2026, which will determine the town’s mayor until 2032. Beausoleil, which shares a border and close ties with Monaco, is preparing for an election that Spinelli says will address key issues including the relationship between the two neighbours.

During this meeting, Spinelli plans to discuss his candidacy, clarify Beausoleil’s political situation, and present the main lines of his programme. Key topics will include excessive urbanisation in the town, fighting corruption, security concerns, transparency in municipal action, and relations between Beausoleil and Monaco. Doors will open to the public at 6:30pm, and a “surprise” has been planned for 7pm when the formal programme begins.

Building a programme with residents

Spinelli’s campaign has launched a citizen consultation running from October 1st until December 15th, inviting residents to share their views on the town’s future. The campaign, where participants can contribute anonymously or provide contact details, promises to visit every neighbourhood to meet with residents, including young people, working professionals, retirees, families, shopkeepers, associations, and representative from sports, culture and health sectors.

The candidate describes his list as totally independent from property developers and political parties, stating that “the only people we will work for are the people of Beausoleil”.

Spinelli has previously served as an elected official in Beausoleil for 18 years, holding positions including municipal councillor, deputy mayor, CCAS administrator, and vice-president of CARF.

Among the priority projects outlined in his campaign are the development of the Devens area into a sports and leisure centre, the creation of a municipal retirement home, and the reorganisation of the municipal market.

A question-and-answer session and informal reception will follow the speeches. The event will take place at the Centre Culturel Prince Jacques, located at 6/8 avenue du Général de Gaulle in Beausoleil.

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Main photo provided by Nicolas SpinelliÂ