Day: 30 December 2025

George Clooney has been granted French citizenship along with his wife Amal and their two children, according to an official decree published in France’s government gazette.

The announcement confirms the actor’s ambition to establish his family permanently in France, where strict privacy laws shield children from paparazzi attention. The 64-year-old two-time Oscar winner now holds dual US-French nationality.

“I love the French culture, your language, even if I’m still bad at it after 400 days of courses,” Clooney told RTL radio in early December, speaking in English. “Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us.”

French farm life

The couple lives with their eight-year-old twins on a farm in southern France at the Domaine du Canadel, a former wine estate near the village of Brignoles, which they purchased in 2021. Clooney told RTL that although the family travels frequently, their French home “is where we’re happiest”.

In a separate interview with Esquire magazine, Clooney expressed concern that his children might never “get a fair shake at life” in the United States, suggesting that life on a French farm would provide them with better opportunities.

Amal Clooney, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer, speaks fluent French. She specialises in international law and human rights cases, representing clients at the International Court of Justice and European Court of Human Rights.

European property portfolio

Clooney’s attachment to Europe predates his 2014 marriage to Amal. He purchased an estate in Italy’s Lake Como region in 2002, which became one of his primary residences. The couple also owns a historic manor in England.

Beyond their French property, the Clooneys maintain a New York apartment and property in Kentucky, though they reportedly sold homes in Los Angeles and Mexico over the past decade.

The move toward France suggests a strategic retreat from Hollywood’s media spotlight whilst maintaining proximity to European culture and privacy protections.

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Photo credit: Harald Krichel, via Wikimedia Commons

The President of Ray-Ban will receive the Monte-Carlo Fashion Week Award 2026 in a ceremony that celebrates the fusion of entrepreneurial vision and positive social change.

Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, who leads the iconic eyewear brand whilst serving as Chief Strategy Officer of EssilorLuxottica and President of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation in Italy, will accept the honour on 17th April during Monaco’s premier fashion event.

The award recognises executives who demonstrate what organisers call the balance between business achievement and social responsibility. EssilorLuxottica, formed from the 2018 merger of Italian eyewear giant Luxottica and French lens manufacturer Essilor, is one of the world’s largest eyewear companies with brands including Ray-Ban, Oakley and Persol.

Federica Nardoni Spinetta, who founded Monte-Carlo Fashion Week and leads the Chambre Monégasque de la Mode, said the event aimed to highlight those who “transform an entrepreneurial vision into concrete positive impact on society.”

Monaco connection

Del Vecchio said receiving the award in Monaco held personal significance. “Receiving it in Monte-Carlo, a city to which I have been deeply attached since childhood, makes it even more meaningful,” he said in a statement.

He added that his company would continue focusing on “people, innovation, responsibility and accessibility.”

Fashion week’s evolving focus

Monte-Carlo Fashion Week has increasingly emphasised sustainability and social responsibility alongside traditional fashion showcasing. The event, which receives official backing from the Principality, seeks to distinguish itself from larger fashion weeks by focusing on what it describes as ethical and responsible fashion practices.

The 2026 edition continues this approach, with organisers stating the event gives voice to designers working on inclusive and sustainable practices. It comes as the fashion industry has faced scrutiny over “greenwashing” claims, with critics questioning whether sustainability messaging matches actual environmental and social impact.

Del Vecchio’s award reflects a broader trend in fashion industry recognition extending beyond design creativity to include corporate social responsibility initiatives. The OneSight Foundation, which he leads in Italy, provides vision care services in underserved communities, though the foundation is funded by EssilorLuxottica, which benefits commercially from increased awareness of vision needs.

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