As part of Monaco’s National Day celebrations on Monday 17th November, Prince Albert II awarded the Medals of Physical Education and Sports to 53 recipients during a ceremony held at Stade Louis-II.
Princess Charlene, Princess Stéphanie, Camille Gottlieb and Marie Ducruet were also in attendance, showing their support for the Principality’s sporting community.
Among those honoured this year was Louis Ducruet, who received the bronze medal in recognition of his dedication to Les Barbagiuans de Monaco, the charity football team he has led as president.
The team, founded by Prince Albert in 1980, regularly plays in support of children’s causes and brings together former professional athletes for charity matches throughout the year.
The ceremony celebrated not only athletic achievement but also the values of commitment, excellence and service that sport represents in Monaco. The honourees included coaches, athletes and volunteers whose contributions continue to shape the Principality’s sporting landscape.
Princess Charlene visited the JOYA Jewellery Fair on Thursday 14th November, touring the second edition of the high-end exhibition at One Monte-Carlo.
Held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, the event brought together a curated selection of rare and exceptional jewellery. Organised by Vanessa Margowski and Delphine Pastor-Reiss, JOYA is quickly establishing itself as a highlight on Monaco’s cultural calendar, offering both collectors and the curious a window into the art of fine jewellery.
During her visit, the Princess explored a wide-ranging display that includes archaeological artefacts, antique and vintage pieces, and bold contemporary creations from both established maisons and independent designers. The fair’s focus on craftsmanship and artistic heritage offers a broad perspective on jewellery through the ages, from historical treasures to modern interpretations.
Now in its second year, JOYA aims to celebrate the diversity and creativity of the jewellery world while offering an accessible platform for dialogue between creators, collectors, and the public.
The European breastfeeding forum Mum Mood is returning to Nice for its third edition on Saturday 6th December. The event features an expanded line-up of speakers, roundtables, music, and hands-on activities.
Held in French at the AC Hotel Marriott in Nice and open to both healthcare professionals and the public, Mum Mood 2025 is the only event of its kind in Europe to unite science and support around the subject of breastfeeding. The event is free to attend and aims to empower mothers and families with expert-led information, medical insight, and community connection.
“Breastfeeding is a right and a choice,” says Céline Bourganeuf, the founder and driving force behind the initiative. A neonatal nurse and certified lactation consultant, Bourganeuf launched Mum Mood in 2022 to bring a medical, societal, and philosophical lens to what she sees as a crucial — and often misunderstood — issue of public health.
Conferences, roundtables and creative exploration
This year’s forum features a packed programme beginning with a morning conference by Dr. Luka Velemir on birth and physiology, followed by a session led by Bourganeuf herself on informed breastfeeding choices. Later, guests can explore two roundtable discussions, one focusing on the mechanics of successful breastfeeding, and another on navigating the postpartum experience.
Throughout the day, a curated art exhibition with Disting’Art will run alongside a selection of artisan stands, while the Behia Jazz Trio will provide a musical interlude to balance the scientific and emotional tone of the event.
A grassroots movement for informed choice
Mum Mood is powered by a volunteer-led collective of mothers, many of whom were former patients of Bourganeuf. Together, they have developed the “P.A.S.S. Allaitement” model — Protect, Accompany, Sensitise, Support — as the foundation of their mission to provide reliable, accessible breastfeeding education across all stages of motherhood.
This year’s edition also seeks to address wider societal stigmas — like the recent controversy over a mother being asked not to breastfeed during a family activity at the Louis Vuitton Foundation — and to reaffirm breastfeeding as both a public health issue and a personal right.
In one of the more intimate moments of Monaco’s Fête Nationale celebrations, two sisters at the heart of the Principality’s public life took centre stage at the Palais Princier on Tuesday 18th November — one to honour, and the other to be honoured.
Princess Stéphanie was awarded the rank of Commander in the Ordre du Mérite Culturel, the highest distinction of its kind, in recognition of her decades-long dedication to Monaco’s cultural and social landscape. The medal was presented by her elder sister, Caroline Princess of Hanover, President of the Conseil d’Honneur of the order, in a ceremony that blended formality with quiet familial pride.
Held in the Salon Bleu, the annual event celebrates individuals whose work and commitment have contributed to Monaco’s cultural vitality — whether through music, heritage, visual arts or community engagement. In Princess Stéphanie’s case, her championing of the circus arts and her leadership in charitable initiatives formed the cornerstone of her recognition.
Princess Caroline, in her speech, reminded attendees that culture is not a luxury but “a common good”, and praised this year’s recipients as “poets of gesture and material, transmitters of emotion and meaning”.
Prince Albert II with his sisters Princess Caroline of Hanover and Princess Stephanie, with her son Louis Ducruet and daughter Camille Gottlieb. Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger, Prince’s Palace
Recognising cultural voices, past and present
The ceremony also paid homage to historic cultural figures with ties to Monaco, including Joséphine Baker, who found a final home in the Principality, and avant-garde composer Pierre Boulez. Their influence, said Caroline, continues to echo in Monaco’s artistic identity.
In total, seven individuals were honoured this year across diverse fields — from art curation and music composition to heritage conservation and cultural diplomacy. Their achievements, Caroline noted, reflect “a culture that dialogues with history, nature, and modernity”.
Among the honourees were Björn Dahlström, director of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco; composer Bruno Mantovani; comic artist and writer Damien Mac Donald; and curator Ashok Adicéam. The awards also recognised Isabelle Minioni for her role in cultural mediation, and Pierre Nouvion Duboys de Lavigerie for his ongoing contribution to Monaco’s historical preservation.
The Ordre du Mérite Culturel was created in 1952 to formally acknowledge those who enrich the intellectual and artistic life of the Principality.
Monaco has officially taken over the presidency of the Pelagos Agreement, a key trilateral accord between France, Italy and the Principality aimed at protecting marine mammals in the Mediterranean. The announcement was made during the 10th Meeting of the Parties, held in Monaco on 12 and 13 November 2025.
Madame Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of Monaco’s Department of External Relations and Cooperation, led the proceedings across two days of intense discussions. Delegates from all three countries, along with regional partners and marine conservation stakeholders, gathered to assess progress and set future priorities for the Sanctuary.
A Shared Mission for Mediterranean Conservation
Created over 25 years ago, the Pelagos Agreement represents a shared commitment to safeguarding marine mammal populations in one of the world’s busiest maritime zones. The Pelagos Sanctuary itself spans 87,500 square kilometres — from the Giens Peninsula in France, across Tuscany and down to northern Sardinia — forming a marine protected area home to whales, dolphins and porpoises.
“The Principality of Monaco will assume, with determination and a spirit of continuity, the presidency of the Meeting of the Parties for the next two years,” Prince Albert II said in a message delivered to attendees. “This responsibility reflects our commitment to deepening cooperation between the three countries, strengthening implementation mechanisms, and continuing awareness efforts, particularly among younger generations.”
Strengthening Regional and Global Cooperation
Looking ahead, Monaco plans to expand the Agreement’s reach and impact. This includes strengthening collaboration with other Mediterranean and international organisations focused on marine conservation. As the new presiding nation, Monaco will continue advancing scientific research, regional coordination, and public awareness around marine mammal protection.
Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum is getting ready to welcome local students for a fun and interactive day of learning about sustainability, as part of the 2025 European Week for Waste Reduction. The event, called Repair is Fair, will take place on Tuesday 25th November and aims to show kids how small everyday actions — like fixing broken gadgets or upcycling old clothes — can have a big impact on the planet.
From 9am to 4pm, groups of students aged 8 to 15 from Monaco and the surrounding region will move through a series of nine hands-on workshops, each one designed to make sustainability feel practical, creative, and fun. They’ll get to try everything from repairing mobile phones to customising sneakers and whipping up zero-waste snacks.
The workshops are built around five main themes: responsible tech, sustainable fashion, health and beauty, eco-friendly food habits, and general waste reduction. The aim? To help students build useful skills, spark curiosity, and develop everyday habits that reduce waste — all while having a good time.
A team effort with Monaco’s institutions
Organised with the help of local organisations like SBM Offshore, Monaco Digital, Nike Monaco, the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo and the Sûreté Publique, the event brings together experts and volunteers from across the Principality. There’s even a focus this year on electronic waste, with students learning how to care for digital devices, protect their data, and think more critically about tech use.
Chefs from top hotels in Monaco — including the Hôtel Hermitage and the Monte-Carlo Bay — will also be on hand to teach the young participants how to prepare tasty, zero-waste dishes made with seasonal ingredients, all tailored to suit younger tastes.
Repairing, reusing, rethinking
Whether it’s sewing a new pouch from leftover fabric, mixing natural beauty products, or learning how to extend the life of their phone, students will be encouraged to think differently about the things they use every day.
