Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will travel to Madrid on 1st and 2nd June for a two-day programme marking 150 years of Monaco’s diplomatic presence in Spain, with the visit also coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Spanish branch of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
The trip will be Princess Charlene’s first official visit to Spain since her marriage to Prince Albert in 2011, and comes as the two countries mark a century and a half of formalised diplomatic ties.
Talks with King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Sánchez
On the afternoon of Monday 1st June, Prince Albert II will travel to the Zarzuela Palace for a working meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain, followed by a private lunch. The two heads of state are expected to discuss matters of mutual interest across a range of bilateral issues.
Later in the day, the Prince will hold an official audience with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the Moncloa Palace.
Royal Botanical Garden and cultural exhibitions
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will then join Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia for a visit to the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid. Founded in the 18th century during the reign of King Charles III, the garden houses significant plant collections and has a long-established role in biodiversity conservation and scientific research.
The two couples will also visit a pair of exhibitions at the Villanueva Pavilion, organised by the Embassy of Monaco in Spain and on display from 28th May to 13th June. The first, Monaco and Spain: Five Centuries of Shared History, draws on the Archives of the Prince’s Palace to trace the historical, cultural, and diplomatic links between the two countries.
The second exhibition marks the 8th edition of the Monaco Artists Forum, a showcase of Monegasque artistic creation launched by the Princely Government and organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs. The forum brings together professional and amateur Monegasque and resident artists, offering Madrileños a window onto the Principality’s creative scene.
Foundation anniversary and IE University address
Tuesday 2nd June will focus on the 10th anniversary of the Foundation’s Spanish branch, which opened in Madrid in 2016. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation was established by Prince Albert II in 2006, making this also its 20th year of operation.
The Foundation’s work in Spain has developed in close partnership with IE University, and Prince Albert II will visit the institution’s campus, where he will deliver an address at a conference entitled ‘Leading the Future Through Collaboration: Talent, Innovation and Opportunity’. The day will focus on collaboration, innovation, and the transmission of knowledge to future generations.
Just across the border in Beausoleil, at 16 Avenue d’Alsace, Basta Pinsa has built its reputation on a simple proposition: the same panoramic view of Monaco and the Hercule port as you would get on the Monegasque side of the frontier, at French prices.
The rooftop terrace has become a natural gathering point for those who work in Monaco, those visiting it and those finishing a late shift — no dress code, no guest list, just pinsa and a view.
The pinsa
In the kitchen, Italian chef Pino has been there from the start. His focus is pinsa romana — a long-fermented Roman dough that is lighter than traditional pizza, topped with seasonal produce. The Italian influence extends beyond the plate to the general philosophy of the place: eat well, drink well, take your time.
2026 updates
For the new season, the terrace has been refreshed with a house-coloured scooter, a photo corner and a cornhole set. Cocktail workshops are now available on reservation, and DJ evenings run every Saturday night.
Basta Pinsa is open Monday to Saturday from 5pm to 10:30pm.
Charles Leclerc recovered from a difficult weekend to finish fourth at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, as teammate Lewis Hamilton claimed second place to give Scuderia Ferrari HP their fourth podium in five races.
Hamilton’s result at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve — Ferrari’s 840th podium — came after a determined late-race charge past Max Verstappen, while Leclerc’s points finish represented a solid salvage job following a weekend in which he struggled to find confidence in the SF-26.
A tale of two Ferraris
The contrast between the two drivers could hardly have been sharper. Hamilton, who qualified fifth, produced one of his strongest performances of the season — running third in the opening laps after an excellent start that carried him past Oscar Piastri, before eventually hunting down and passing Verstappen with five laps to go.
Leclerc, starting eighth after a qualifying session he described as a struggle with tyre warm-up, made an early gain past Isack Hadjar off the line. Both Ferrari drivers switched from used Soft tyres to Mediums during a Virtual Safety Car window on lap 31, and while Hamilton maintained his position, Leclerc temporarily lost fourth to Hadjar before reclaiming it with a clean, decisive overtake on lap 40. He finished the race 34 seconds behind his teammate.
Ferrari’s 37-point weekend haul — seven from Saturday’s sprint, 30 from Sunday’s race — extended the team’s advantage over McLaren in the constructors’ championship.
Leclerc eyes Monaco redemption
Leclerc was candid in his assessment of the weekend, admitting he needed to understand where Hamilton had found the performance he could not. “It has been a difficult weekend for me, starting from FP,” he said. “I just didn’t get the right feeling in the car and struggled to put the tyres in the right window. Lewis on the other hand had a great weekend in the same car, so I have to look into his data and understand what he did differently to make it work.”
With Monaco next on the calendar, the Monegasque driver will be hoping conditions in the Principality offer a more natural fit. “Next up is my home race in Monaco,” he added. “I look forward to racing there, and I hope that our car will give us an advantage on that track.”
Hamilton was equally positive after what he described as a deeply satisfying result. “I felt at one with the car from the first laps in practice,” he said. “The fight with Max was intense and enjoyable, that’s why we race.”
The Monaco Grand Prix takes place from 5th to 7th June.
Five days after formally assuming the rotating presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Monaco took the chair for the first time in Strasbourg on 20th May, as Foreign Affairs Minister Isabelle Berro-Amadeï set out the Principality’s priorities for the six-month mandate.
Berro-Amadeï outlined six thematic areas that will guide Monaco’s presidency through to 10 November 2026: the protection of women, children’s and young people’s rights, support for the European human rights protection system, the fight against organised crime, sport, and the pursuit of practical solutions to contemporary challenges.
A historic first for the Principality
Monaco is assuming the presidency of the Committee of Ministers for the first time since its accession to the Council of Europe, under the guiding ambition of ‘Protecting everyone, through an effective Organisation, in response to contemporary challenges’.
The 46 member states take on the presidency in turn for six months, in English alphabetical order, with the rotation changing each May and November. Monaco follows the Republic of Moldova and will be succeeded by Montenegro.
Speaking as she assumed the chair, Berro-Amadeï warned that “European democracies are currently facing major challenges and the principles at the heart of our shared endeavour are sometimes being undermined.”
Ceremonies mark the handover in Strasbourg
The day included several events celebrating Monaco’s new role. A bilateral meeting with Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset was followed by a musical performance by Stella Almondo, a young Monegasque pianist, in the foyer of the Council of Europe building.
A flag-raising ceremony was held on the Council of Europe forecourt in the presence of the Secretary General, and, following tradition, Monaco’s flag was raised in Strasbourg city centre. A tram in the colours of the Monegasque presidency was also inaugurated. La Palladienne performed on the Place de la Mairie as part of the day’s programme.
Months of events ahead
Monaco’s institutions are fully mobilised for the presidency, with the Secretary of State for Justice and members of the Prince’s Government set to participate in events across all six thematic priorities in the coming weeks.
A cultural programme will run alongside the political agenda, with events designed to promote Monaco’s cultural life to audiences in Strasbourg, including concerts, film screenings, and gastronomy initiatives.
Ambassador Gabriel Revel, Monaco’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, is leading the day-to-day work of the presidency, supported by Deputy Permanent Representative Gabriel Chabert, Margaux Girardin, and legal adviser Ghiwane Boumediene, alongside the team from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
The entrepreneurial heartbeat of the French Riviera took centre stage on Thursday 21st May, as the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation hosted the highly anticipated Stelios Foundation Young Entrepreneurs Awards. Held at the Foundation’s headquarters in Monaco, the prestigious ceremony gathered the region’s elite business minds, investors and community leaders to celebrate next-generation business talent operating across the South of France and the Principality.
The awards, spearheaded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou—the legendary billionaire philanthropist and founder of the Easy family of brands (including easyJet)—identify and support young, agile startups driving economic vitality.
When asked by Monaco Life why fostering this early-stage business ecosystem matters so much for the region, Sir Stelios was remarkably direct about the realities of modern economics:
“Creating new jobs starts by encouraging young people to create new businesses,” Sir Stelios explained. “Big businesses sometimes shrink—they sometimes make people redundant. So it’s the young startups that create the new jobs in an economy, and I think it’s good for our communities.”
Reflecting on his own journey launching easyJet at just 27 years old, Sir Stelios added that youth provides a unique, almost fearless advantage when navigating the volatile waters of business ownership: “The best time to do it is before you understand how much risk you’re taking. So start at 27 or 28, and by 32 or 33, you are successful.”
The top spot: Félix Nacach’s BedBoat sails to victory
The crowning moment of the ceremony belonged to Félix Nacach, the founder of BedBoat. Nacach is a familiar face to the foundation; having successfully secured second place at last year’s awards, his persistent effort, resilience and excellent operational achievements over the past twelve months propelled him straight to the top. As the first-place grand prize winner, Nacach walked away with the coveted €30,000 cash prize to fund the continued expansion of his innovative maritime venture.
First prize winner Felix Nacach
BedBoat has rapidly disrupted the local nautical tourism market by transforming moored vessels into premium, hotel-style accommodations. By unlocking underutilised assets in ports across the Riviera, Nacach’s platform offers travellers a unique luxury experience while providing boat owners with a seamless stream of passive revenue.
“Reaching the top spot this year is a massive validation of our growth and persistence,” Nacach shared with Monaco Life. The €30,000 injection will pivotally scale BedBoat‘s digital infrastructure and expand its footprint across premium Mediterranean berths.
Second prize winner Tina Lyberaki
High-tier mentorship wins second place
Securing the coveted second-place award was Tina Lyberaki, the founder of Athena Academia, an ultra-premium personalised education and mentorship institution located directly in front of the Vanguard in Monaco.
A University of Seattle physics graduate, Lyberaki spent a decade tutoring maths and physics in the Principality before launching the academy to serve a discerning demographic split between the International School of Monaco and elite Swiss boarding schools like Aiglon College. With a network of 50 high-level international teachers, primarily Oxford graduates, Lyberaki rejects the term ‘agency’, viewing her role as deeply psychological.
“We don’t just put a tutor and a student together,” Lyberaki explained toMonaco Life. “I personally visit the family home to analyse the student’s energy and personality—whether they face emotional difficulties or ADHD—and hand-select the perfect tutor. When you establish that exact bond of energy, the student blooms completely.”
For Lyberaki, the public stage of the Stelios Awards offers a vital platform to reach more families navigating the pressures of elite education, noting that roughly 20% of her current student body actively battles modern anxiety and ADHD.
From left to right Sir Stelios, Pierre Athimon – third prize winner and Philippe Ortelli – President Board of Industry of Monaco
Disruption in traditional sectors
The 2026 finalists perfectly embodied this fearless ethos, showcasing how entrepreneurial drive can breathe vital innovation into traditionally conservative industries.
Taking a prominent top-three position was Pierre Athimon, founder of Corporate Assurances, an independent brokerage specialising in industrial, commercial and complex risk across France and Monaco. Navigating intricate corporate safeguards requires absolute focus, a trait Athimon credits for his success.
“The best piece of business advice I’ve received in my life is probably to go straight and never look back,” Athimon explained to Monaco Life. “You have one target and you have to reach it. So don’t listen to people, don’t look the other way—just go straight to your point and it will be fine.”
For Athimon, the accolade carries profound weight due to the calibre of the judging panel and his contemporaries. “It’s a big opportunity because, in my point of view, Sir Stelios is a big businessman, and most of all, he is a charitable man for entrepreneurs.”
From left to right Sir Stelios, Paola Alemanno Grislain (fourth prize) and Guillaume Rose (CEO Monaco Economic Board)
Green healthcare and corporate logistics share fourth
In a testament to the diverse talent on display, the joint fourth-place prize saw two standout entrepreneurs receive €5,000 each toward their ventures.
Paola Alemanno Grislain, the driving force behind Ambulances du Rocher, turned heads in the premium medical sector. Her Monaco-based medical transport company focuses on high-end patient transportation, combining absolute clinical reliability with cutting-edge modernisation. Built on a dual vision of complete digital end-to-end integration and an eco-responsible, fully electric ambulance fleet, her business brings vital modern innovation to a traditionally conservative sector.
“Receiving this prize means recognition of all the innovation we want to bring to a very traditional sector,” Alemanno Grislain noted. “It highlights the vital impact that modern, eco-conscious entrepreneurship can create today.”
Sharing the fourth-place honours was Romain Le Rouge, celebrated for his exceptional work at the helm of ExcelloCenter, a corporate logistics and business solutions hub making major waves on the Riviera.
Fuelling Monaco’s next generation
By pairing financial backing with elite peer recognition, the Stelios Foundation continues to ensure that Monaco’s economic ecosystem remains dynamic, resilient and forward-thinking. The Thursday ceremony proved once again that the best investment the community can make is in the unfiltered ambition of its youth.
Photo from left to right: Pierre Athimon, Sir Stelios and Felix Nacach. Bottom, from left to right: Romain Le Rouge, Tina Lyberaki and Paola Alemanno Grislain.
Chinese delegation visits Monaco for first bilateral economic talks in 13 years
A delegation from the Chinese Embassy in France and Monaco paid an official visit to the Principality on 12th May, marking the first high-level bilateral economic exchange in more than 13 years.
The delegation was led by Wang Dong, the embassy’s Minister for Economic and Commercial Affairs. The day-long programme brought Chinese diplomats into direct contact with Monaco’s government ministers, business leaders, and institutional representatives, with discussions centred on bilateral trade and cooperation.
Talks with Monaco’s finance minister
Wang Dong and his delegation met with Frédéric Cottalorda, Monaco’s Conseiller de Gouvernement-Ministre des Finances et de l’Économie, to review the current state of bilateral relations and explore areas for future development.
Both sides noted a significant rise in trade volumes between the two countries over the past five years, in both imports and exports. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in a spirit of open and constructive dialogue — a hallmark, they said, of Sino-Monegasque relations over more than 30 years, despite the considerable differences between the two countries’ socio-economic systems.
Working lunch at the Yacht Club de Monaco
At the initiative of Monaco’s Embassy in China, a working lunch was held at the Yacht Club de Monaco, bringing together the Chinese delegation alongside company directors and senior representatives from Monaco’s institutions responsible for economic development, attractiveness, and tourism.
Discussions focused on sectors seen as offering strong potential for bilateral cooperation, including tourism, innovation, start-ups, high technology, ecology, the blue economy, and renewable energy.
‘Business Destination China’ conference
The day concluded with a conference organised by the Monaco Economic Board, at the invitation of the Monegasque Chamber of Commerce. Before an audience of more than 70 business leaders, the Chinese delegation delivered a wide-ranging presentation on the specificities of the Chinese market and the opportunities it offers for foreign enterprises.
A networking cocktail reception followed, allowing Monaco’s entrepreneurs to engage directly with the embassy’s diplomatic staff.
The visit signals renewed momentum in economic ties between the Principality and the world’s second-largest economy, with both sides indicating an appetite for more structured engagement in the months ahead.
