For one night, the gilded opera hall was transformed into the heart of the Amazon as Monaco gathered to celebrate 20 years of Prince Albert II’s Foundation — two decades in which a personal conviction of the Prince has grown into an international force for environmental action.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene presided over the anniversary gala on Friday 18th September, joined by Monica Bellucci, Richard Gere and Isabelle Huppert, with live performances by Christina Aguilera, Plácido Domingo and Sister Sledge carrying the celebration late into the evening.
Eva Herzigova, Catrinel Marlon and Aurélien Muller were also among those walking the gala’s green carpet at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
Yet behind the famous faces and grandeur of the setting was a milestone of considerable substance. Since its creation in 2006, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has supported more than 830 projects around the world, advancing work on climate change, biodiversity and water resources.
A purpose beyond any reign
Opening the evening, Prince Albert returned to the conviction that led him to establish the Foundation just one year after becoming Sovereign.
“Twenty years ago, I had come to a simple conclusion. A Head of State is given a position, a voice that is listened to, and a great many doors that open when he knocks; and it seemed to me that these were worth a good deal more if they were put to work for something that would outlast any reign,” he said. “So I set out to build a foundation that could act where a State cannot always act: quickly, across borders, and for the long term.”
That ambition has shaped the Foundation’s work across the Mediterranean Basin, the Polar Regions and the world’s least developed countries. Its projects bring together scientists, institutions, NGOs, local communities and economic partners, combining research with practical efforts to protect and restore natural ecosystems.
Hollywood voices support Monaco’s environmental mission
Guests of honour Monica Bellucci and Richard Gere used the occasion to pay tribute to Prince Albert’s sustained environmental leadership. Bellucci spoke of her respect for a commitment that has placed both people and future generations at the centre of environmental action.
Gere drew a direct connection between ecological responsibility and shared humanity.
“For twenty years, HSH Prince Albert II and his Foundation have helped keep environmental protection at the heart of the international conversation,” he said. “Caring for our planet is inseparable from caring for one another.”
Their presence reflected a central part of the Foundation’s approach over the past two decades: bringing the scientific and environmental worlds into conversation with international culture, philanthropy, business and public life.
A night staged on a fitting scale
The anniversary was given all the scale its setting demanded. Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno devised the gala dinner, served beneath an Amazon-inspired transformation of the Salle Garnier. Christina Aguilera brought international pop power to the stage, while Plácido Domingo and Sister Sledge completed a line-up that moved from opera to disco.
Art and experience also became instruments of support during an auction conducted by Simon de Pury. Lots included works by Georges Condo, Urs Fischer and Secundino Hernández, an exclusive Chopard high-jewellery creation, an experience with Richard Gere, privileged access to Maison Petrus and a journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
The evening was supported by the Foundation’s longstanding partners Rolex and UBS, alongside contributions from Chopard, the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Maison Petrus and the Belmond Group.
Twenty years — and a mission far from finished
The anniversary offered a moment to take stock of what has been achieved, but its message was firmly directed towards the future. Pressure on the climate, biodiversity, oceans and natural resources has intensified since the Foundation began its work in 2006. Its next chapter will continue to combine scientific research, field-based solutions, public awareness and international cooperation in response to those challenges.
On a night filled with music, cinema, art and Monaco spectacle, the clearest statement came from the purpose that first set the Foundation in motion: using the Principality’s international reach to deliver environmental action well beyond its borders.
See more in the gallery below. Credits: Philippe Fitte, Ed Wright, Frederic Nebinger
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Main photo credit: Philippe Fitte
