Monaco has formally received five new ambassadors representing the Philippines, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Malta, in a diplomatic luncheon held at the Hôtel Hermitage on Thursday.
The gathering was hosted by Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Monaco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, who met with the newly accredited envoys to mark the strengthening of ties between the Principality and their countries.
The five ambassadors welcomed were Eduardo José A. De Vega of the Philippines, Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen of Finland, María Mjöll Jónsdóttir of Iceland, Caroline Vicini of Sweden, and Daniela Memmo d’Amelio of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
Also present at the event were the Honorary Consul General of the Philippines, honorary consuls from Finland and Sweden, and representatives from the Monaco Economic Board and the Strategic Council for Attractiveness
The Bal de la Rose will take place on Saturday 21st March at the Salle des Étoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo, marking its 70th edition with a space-themed night designed by Christian Louboutin and held in aid of the Princess Grace Foundation.
The ball is held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II and under the presidency and in the presence of Princess Caroline of Hanover, President of the Princess Grace Foundation, who has chosen ‘Galaxy Rose Ball’ as this year’s theme. As in previous years, she has given her friend Louboutin carte blanche over the creative direction. Visionary designer Benoît Miniou, whose work sits at the intersection of research and imagination, has joined the collaboration for this edition.
The setting
The Sporting Monte-Carlo will be transformed into a monochrome space shuttle for the evening, with the Salle des Étoiles fitted with portholes that change colour according to the planets encountered during the night’s journey. Sound and light effects and immersive laser shows will complete the setting.
The performers
Seven acts are scheduled to perform across the evening. Rondò Veneziano will open the ball with a performance blending Venetian Baroque elegance and contemporary music, followed by the Crazy Horse cabaret from Paris, whose dancers will perform against kaleidoscopic lighting and graphic projections.
Ballet Kalinka will bring the Russian tradition of character dance to the stage, in the lineage of the Moiseyev Ensemble, before Berlin-based Dulce Compania performs on stilts in custom-made costumes. Choreographers and artistic directors Céline and Cain Kitsaïs will combine dance with theatrical stage effects.
Leee John and his band Imagination — known for their blend of British soul, jazz and funk — will close the live programme before DJ Josh Quinton takes over until the early hours. Television presenter Stéphane Bern will also participate in the evening.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on Sunday, one place behind Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton, as the pair produced one of the race’s defining moments — a wheel-to-wheel duel that had them swapping positions almost a dozen times across the middle third of the race.
Victory went to 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli, who became the second youngest grand prix winner in Formula 1 history with a composed drive for Mercedes. The Italian, who had taken pole position the previous day — itself a record as the youngest ever pole-sitter — led team-mate George Russell home in a Mercedes one-two, with Hamilton third and Leclerc fourth. Antonelli, who fought back tears in his post-race interview, trails Russell by four points in the championship.
Leclerc and Hamilton’s race
Ferrari’s race began brightly. Both drivers made strong starts, with Hamilton briefly taking the lead ahead of Antonelli and Leclerc slotting into third ahead of Russell. A safety car on lap 10, triggered by Lance Stroll stopping on track, brought all four leading drivers into the pits for hard tyres. At the restart, Hamilton passed Russell aggressively to reclaim second, with Leclerc following suit — but Mercedes’ superior pace allowed Russell to reassert himself, leaving Hamilton and Leclerc to contest the final podium position.
What followed was one of the race’s highlights. The two Ferrari drivers traded position repeatedly in a battle that Leclerc described as a genuine product of the new technical regulations. “These new cars are really fun to race — it’s all about tactics and energy deployment, and you can really play with that to get ahead of your competitors,” he said. Hamilton ultimately came out on top, crossing the line three and a half seconds ahead of his team-mate. “Today was one of the most enjoyable races I’ve had in years,” Hamilton said. “Hard but fair battles, especially with Charles.”
Team principal Fred Vasseur admitted he had needed to check his heart rate during the duel but said he had no intention of ordering his drivers to hold position. “That would have been unfair. They are professionals and today’s battle was good for the team and good for the sport.”
Lewis Hamilton took 3rd at the Chinese Grand Prix. Photo source: Ferrari Media Centre
The new cars divide opinion
The Chinese Grand Prix also threw the 2026 regulations into sharp relief, generating a debate that cut straight to the heart of what Formula 1 is. The new hybrid engines, with their 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, introduce boost and overtake modes that allow drivers to surge past rivals — but leave them temporarily short of battery charge and vulnerable to being re-passed. The result is a style of racing that has polarised the paddock.
Hamilton called it “awesome” and likened it to go-karting. Max Verstappen, who retired with an energy recovery system failure after a frustrating afternoon in the lower half of the field, was considerably less charitable, describing the new formula as “terrible” and comparing it unfavourably to Mario Kart. “This has nothing to do with racing,” he said. “I would say the same if I was winning races.”
Fernando Alonso, who retired with 23 laps remaining after suffering severe vibrations from his Honda engine — television cameras showed him removing his hands from the wheel on the straight to relieve the discomfort — called it simply “the battery world championship.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff took a different view, pointing to fan engagement data. “All the indicators say people love it,” he said. McLaren’s Andrea Stella acknowledged the philosophical tension. “Do we want to be faithful to the DNA of racing in a traditional sense? Do we accept that this counterintuitive situation belongs to the business or not? This is a high-level philosophical question.”
Retirements and results
Among the notable absentees, both McLarens failed to start — Lando Norris with an electrical problem before reaching the grid, Oscar Piastri with a separate issue that left his car unable to be started. Williams’ Alex Albon and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto also failed to make the race.
The result consolidates Ferrari’s second place in the constructors’ standings on 40 points, though Vasseur acknowledged the gap to Mercedes remains significant. “We still have a long way to go,” he said. “We need to make progress in different areas.”
Next up: Japan
The championship resumes in a fortnight at Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix — a circuit that, under the new regulations, has itself become a talking point after drivers noted that some of its most demanding corners are no longer being attacked at the limit of grip, with energy recovery taking priority over outright speed.
Prince Albert II joined 110 Michelin-starred chefs at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo on Sunday evening for an extraordinary Chefs’ Dinner, held on the eve of the Michelin Guide France & Monaco Awards Ceremony — the first time the ceremony has been staged in the Principality.
The dinner, held in the Salle Empire and the Louis XV-Alain Ducasse restaurant, was conceived by Alain Ducasse and inspired by the new Dom Pérignon vintages. Drawing on his culinary philosophy of ‘Mediterranean Naturalness’, Ducasse created a menu built around the produce of the Riviera — chickpeas, red mullet, citrus fruits and other ingredients from the Mediterranean terroir. In keeping with his Naturalité approach, the menu centred on plant-based ingredients with only a small number of fish, all from sustainable sources.
“A long time ago, I put down roots on the shores of the Mediterranean,” Ducasse said. “With Naturalité, it inspires me to create contemporary, sustainable, and delicious cuisine. Last night, I had the great pleasure of sharing it with my colleagues and friends.”
The exclusive dinner took place in the Salle Empire of the Hotel de Paris. Photo credit: Florian Jeffroy – Space Visuals
The evening was attended by around 250 guests including chefs, culinary professionals, journalists and dignitaries, and was held in the presence of Stéphane Valeri, Chairman and CEO of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, and Gwendal Poullenec, International Director of the Michelin Guide. Also present were SBM chefs Yannick Alléno, Marcel Ravin and Dominique Lory.
Guests in the lobby of the Hotel de Paris. Photo credit: Florian Jeffroy – Space Visuals
Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, described by Michelin as the world’s most starred resort, served as hospitality partner for the ceremony. Valeri said hosting the gathering was a point of pride for the group. “This evening underscores our Group’s ongoing commitment to making the Principality of Monaco one of the international capitals of gastronomy and the Art de Vivre,” he said.
The Michelin Guide France & Monaco Awards Ceremony takes place Monday 16th March at the Grimaldi Forum.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene attended the second edition of the Provale Solidarité charity gala in Paris on Friday 13th March, lending their support to an organisation dedicated to helping professional rugby players facing sudden career endings, financial hardship or difficulties in transitioning to life after sport.
The evening, held at the Four Seasons Hôtel George V, fell on the eve of Prince Albert’s 68th birthday. The Sovereign Prince and Princess Charlene serve as patron and godmother of the event. Princess Charlene is also President of the Fédération Monégasque de Rugby.
Princess Charlene’s speech
Delivering a speech at the gala, Princess Charlène drew on her own experience as a former elite athlete to speak to the realities faced by players when their careers come to an abrupt end. “Behind every career, there are years of commitment, devotion, self-surpassing and sacrifices,” she said. “Few people understand what rugby demands of a player’s body and life. And I know how much the transition after a brilliant sporting career requires courage and support.”
Princess Charlene speaking at the charity gala. Photo credit: Sara Steck/Palais princier
She invoked the words of Nelson Mandela to underline sport’s broader role in society. “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite people in a way that is almost unique. Sport can create hope where there is only despair.”
Affirming the Princely couple’s commitment to the cause, she closed with a call to action. “I appeal to your solidarity and your generosity, because in rugby as in life, together we go further.”
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene with the association president Malik Hamadache. Photo credit: Sara Steck/Palais princier
About Provale Solidarité
Founded in 2023, Provale Solidarité is a dedicated fund for professional rugby players in difficulty and has French-Algerian rugby union player Malik Hamadache as its president. It provides emergency financial assistance, social support, psychological care — including help for those suffering from depression — and programmes promoting gender equality within the sport. Its work addresses a reality that rarely makes headlines: the abrupt endings that injury, illness or other circumstances can force on careers built over years of sacrifice.
Former French international Philippe Sella, who earned 111 caps for France, was also present at the gala. “Getting involved with Provale Solidarité means thinking about those whose careers have been cut short by injury or other circumstances,” he said. “Breaking with rugby from one day to the next is hard. Solidarity in life is a human commitment.”
The evening’s programme
The gala brought together leading figures from French and international rugby for a programme that included a gastronomic dinner prepared by three-Michelin-starred chef Christian Le Squer and a charity auction of lots connected to rugby history. All proceeds go directly to funding the organisation’s emergency aid, social support and psychological assistance programmes.
Formula 1 has confirmed that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt the sport’s 2026 calendar.
The decision, taken in full consultation with the FIA and the respective race promoters, also affects the Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds scheduled to run alongside both events. No replacement races will be added to the calendar in April.
Formula 1 CEO responds to cancellation
In a statement released on 14th March, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said the decision, while difficult, was the right one given the circumstances. “I want to take this opportunity to thank the FIA as well as our incredible promoters for their support and total understanding as they were looking forward to hosting us with their usual energy and passion,” he said. “We cannot wait to be back with them as soon as the circumstances allow.”
FIA places safety first
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem framed the decision around the safety of those involved in the championship. “The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first,” he said. “Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow.”
Promoters back the decision
Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of the Bahrain International Circuit, said the circuit fully supported the decision and looked forward to welcoming fans back when F1 returns. Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, said Saudi fans had been looking forward to the Jeddah race but that the federation understood the considerations behind the decision and remained in close partnership with Formula 1.
What happens next
The cancellations leave a gap in the early part of the 2026 season. No timeline has been given for when either race might be rescheduled.
