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Month: September 2026

Prince Albert II welcomed astronaut Thomas Pesquet to the Prince’s Palace

by: Virginia D’Umas
14/09/2026

Prince Albert II received European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet in an official audience at the Prince’s Palace on Friday, 11th September.

The meeting followed a busy few days in the region for the French astronaut, who arrived in Monaco straight from the first International Space Summit in Paris, where he served as a special envoy. 

Earlier in the week, Pesquet spoke at a conference titled ‘Space Exploration Today and Tomorrow’ at One Monte-Carlo, hosted by the Monaco Méditerranée Foundation, and met with students at the Lycée Albert Ier.

A veteran of the stars 

Born on 27th February 1978 in Rouen, France, Pesquet was 31-years-old when he was selected by the European Space Agency in 2009. He has since become one of Europe’s most experienced astronauts, spending six months on the International Space Station (ISS) during his first mission in 2016–2017, and returning in 2021 for the Alpha mission, where he made history as the first French commander of the station.

Alongside his flight career, he actively promotes European technological autonomy in space.

Technology in the service of earth 

At the Palace, discussions between the Prince and the astronaut transcended pure exploration, homing in on the vital link between orbital observation and terrestrial conservation. According to the Palace, Prince Albert II confirmed Monaco’s ongoing support for scientific innovation, particularly projects that use satellite data to monitor marine ecosystems and climate shifts.

As the Principality develops its own space sector — supported by local industrial players like Venturi Space — the meeting highlighted a central point: advancing our reach beyond the atmosphere is key to protecting life on Earth.

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Thomas Pesquet meets Prince Albert II during visit to Monaco. Photo Credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Palais princier 

Rokethon set to return to Monaco for a day dedicated to animal welfare and adoption

by: Kayla Sauceda
14/09/2026

The Rokethon is returning to Monaco for a day dedicated to animal adoption and supporting local animal welfare. Held under Princess Charlene and organised with the Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA) de Monaco on Sunday 27th September, the event will offer a full day of activities.

Held at the Chapiteau de l’Espace in Fontvieille, the morning will kick off with a speech from Princess Charlene, followed by a walk/run for participants and their dogs held in solidarity against animal abandonment. Awards will then be presented to Dr. Thierry Bedossa, founder of Agir pour la Vie Animale (AVA), and Ozeki, a deserving dog. The afternoon will continue with an agility course, a fashion show with dogs available for adoption, animal art, a photo studio, a raffle, food trucks, and a dog park.

Although the fashion show at 3pm will give added visibility to dogs seeking their forever homes, the entire day will offer visitors the opportunity to meet dogs available for adoption.

Registration opens on-site from 8:30am and entry is free, although donations will be accepted. Dogs must meet all regulatory requirements to participate, ensuring that the necessary hygiene and safety conditions are met.

Although the day is designed around dogs, bringing one is not mandatory to participate. Animal lovers looking to support the cause are welcome to join, whether or not they have a four-legged friend of their own.

Rokethon’s objectives are simple: to raise awareness, give visibility to associations and shelters, promote adoption, and bring together animal lovers to take action. This annual event brings each of these aims together for a day dedicated to animal welfare in the Principality.

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Photo credit: Rokethon

Musée Matisse Nice to explore artistic dialogue between Henri Matisse and Alex Katz

by: Virginia D’Umas
14/09/2026

From 28th October 2026 to 18th January 2027, the Musée Matisse Nice will present ‘Henri Matisse – Alex Katz. Le silence de la peinture’, an autumn exhibition exploring the contemporary reception of Henri Matisse’s work through the lens of leading American painter Alex Katz. 

Conceived in collaboration with the artist following his visit to the museum in 2024, the exhibition places Katz’s works in direct dialogue with the permanent collections.

Henri Matisse, Odalisque au coffret rouge, Nice, 1927 (oil on canvas). Photo credit: Musée Matisse Nice / François Fernandez

A lasting transatlantic connection 

The artistic link between Matisse and Katz traces back to February 1949, when Katz—then a student at Manhattan’s Cooper Union—discovered an exhibition of Matisse’s recent works at Pierre Matisse Gallery. Paintings such as Nature morte aux grenades (1947) and Le silence habité des maisons (1947), alongside brush drawings and cut-out watercolours, left a profound aesthetic impression on the young artist. This connection is anchored in a long history of cultural exchange between France and the United States, amplified by Matisse’s own 1930 trip to New York. Struck by the city’s unique visual power, Matisse remarked that  “New York light is exceptionally beautiful, and then these towers, these masses rising in the air, in this light which is like crystals”.

He famously predicted: “You will understand, when you see America, that one day they will have painters, because it is not possible, in such a country, which offers such dazzling visual spectacles, that there won’t be painters one day.”

Throughout his career, Katz has drawn ongoing inspiration from the French master, particularly in his handling of light and colour.

Alex Katz, Drawing for Black Roses 16, 2025 (ink on paper). Photo credit: Alex Katz / Adagp, Paris, 2026

Shared artistic vocabulary 

Born in Brooklyn in 1927, Katz developed a singular figurative style distinct from the dominant abstract expressionism of mid-century American art. Focusing on traditional genres such as landscape, floral still life, and human figures, his large-scale canvases and flat areas of colour share common ground with both pop art and Matisse’s aesthetic principles. Both artists rely on simplified forms, flattened spatial planes without perspective, and a rigorous elimination of non-essential detail to privilege immediate visual impact and sensory experience.

Exhibition highlights and visitor information 

Curated by Aymeric Jeudy, Director of the Musée Matisse Nice, the showcase spans Katz’s career from his early 1951 work Nude to recent 2025 pieces like Lilies 13, featuring an extensive selection of paintings, drawings, prints, and cut-outs.

The museum is open daily except Tuesdays, from 10am to 6pm, with closing hours adjusted to 5pm from 1st November. 

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Alex Katz, Reclining Bather, 1960 (oil on cardboard). Photo credit: Alex Katz / Adagp, Paris, 2026

Football: Monaco’s winning run ends in Strasbourg

by: Luke Entwistle
13/09/2026
Monaco's Paris Brunner leaping highest to head a cross at the Meinau

AS Monaco’s 100% win record under Filipe Luís came to an end at the Meinau on Saturday, as RC Strasbourg Alsace held the Principality club to a tense draw (1-1).

Luís’ winning run as Monaco manager has come to an end, but what will remain is his record. None of his predecessors at the Stade Louis II have done what he did, winning all of his first five games in the dugout. It could have been six. The Brazilian’s tone post-match said as much, and whilst fine margins came into play, so did some questionable refereeing.

Despite an exquisite long-range equaliser from Paris Brunner, it was Éric Wattellier, the referee, who made himself the star of the show with some contentious calls that enraged the Principality club, who will write to the relevant authorities in order to gain clarity on some of the decisions made during the game.

Brunner the pantomime villain

Monaco will claim that a handball should have been signalled just prior to Strasbourg’s free-kick just after half-time. From that dead ball, a whipped ball was flicked past Lukas Hradecky by his own defender, Sadibou Sané. Monaco, to that point, had lacked the spark that had lit up their start to the season and allowed them to go into Saturday’s game as the only team in Ligue 1 to have won their first three games.

But, as was the case at the Parc des Princes the previous weekend, there was a reaction from Luís’ men. Paris Brunner, the unexpected breakout star in Ligue 1 this season, forced Chelsea loanee Filip Jorgensen into action as he dived low to his right to tip the Monaco forward’s header onto the post.

But he could do nothing about the German’s effort in the 71st minute. Receiving the ball in space, he drove towards the RCSA box and unleashed a thunderbolt that beat Jorgensen low to his right. Silence descended on the Meinau. Then came the jeers as Brunner celebrated in front of the Strasbourgeois Kop, inciting their anger with an imitation of a knife cutting a throat. He was subsequently booed by the home crowd for the remainder of the encounter.

Brunner, who risks a suspension, explained himself post-match: “The supporters were talking about my family, about my mum, my dad. I could see them. There was a lot of emotion. I didn’t want to be disrespectful. I wouldn’t say that I regret it, but it isn’t the message that I wanted to send. It was misunderstood. I wanted to say, ‘What a goal; it’s over!'”

Luís critical of refereeing display

But it wasn’t quite over and Monaco, reinvigorated, pushed against a Strasbourg side now on the back foot. Denis Zakaria saw a goal disallowed. There was no disputing the offside that saw the strike ruled out, but there was more debate about an incident in the 89th minute. Matthis Abline was felled in the box. Wattellier was undeterred, but he was not sent to review the action on the screen. Replays showed clear contact.

“Errors can happen,” said Luís post-match. “If there was the same rule as at the U20 World Cup, we could have made the referee look at the screen. He would have had to review it because when I watch it back, there is no doubt [that there is a penalty]. In real time, it is hard for the referee, but technology is there to help him.”

That help was not forthcoming and so Monaco were forced to settle for a draw. As of Sunday morning, Monaco are still top of Ligue 1; only Lille, who face ESTAC Troyes, can topple them before the conclusion of the gameweek. RC Lens await Les Monégasques next week as they look to head into the extended international break on a high.

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Photo source: AS Monaco

Monaco joins Paris Summit as Macron demands European space autonomy

by: Virginia D’Umas
11/09/2026

Delegations from more than 90 nations converged on the Grand Palais on 9th and 10th September for the inaugural International Space Summit in Paris, confronting a pivotal moment for orbital governance, security, and industrial autonomy.

Representing Prince Albert II, Ambassador Valérie Bruell-Melchior led Monaco’s delegation alongside officials from the Department of External Relations and Cooperation, embedding the Principality directly into continental strategies for peaceful and sustainable space exploration.

Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders met in Paris to address a growing worry: Europe relies too much on foreign rockets and technology.

A fragile ambition: The case for European crewed flight

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a blunt assessment of the continent’s standing during his address on Thursday, 10th September: “We want Europe to assert its ambition in crewed spaceflight,” he told delegates. “Our European space programme remains fragile, and we must step up our efforts.”

Macron’s challenge mirrored a sharp warning issued earlier by European Space Agency (ESA) chief Josef Aschbacher during a closed-door address to ministers and dignitaries. Posing a fundamental question to the continent’s political leadership — “Will we be passengers or pilots?” — Aschbacher highlighted the rapid pace of global space development, according to Le Monde.

For decades, Europe has sought greater independence yet remained entirely grounded in manned spaceflight, relying on Russian and American rockets and capsules. According to figures highlighted in Le Monde, continuing down this path carries a severe financial penalty: buying foreign seats for European astronauts is expected to drain roughly five billion euros over the next decade into external economies rather than building domestic jobs and technological capacity.

To break this cycle, Macron outlined an aggressive ten-year roadmap, demanding an estimated annual investment of one billion euros. His explicit milestones include docking the first European cargo capsule, Nyx, with the International Space Station within two years; landing the Argonaut lunar vehicle on the Moon in five years; and launching the first European crewed capsule from Kourou with domestic and international astronauts aboard within a decade. Member states must now weigh these ambitions ahead of a decisive ESA ministerial meeting in December 2026, following last year’s record-breaking 22.1 billion euro budget securing three years of baseline programming.

Monaco’s dual strategy: Legislative rigour and lunar engineering

While major continental powers debate multibillion-euro outlays, Monaco is carving out a specialised role through proactive domestic governance and vanguard industrial engineering. The Prince’s Government Space Affairs Bureau is advancing robust legal frameworks designed to shield local actors from the rising hazards of orbital congestion, ensuring that the Principality’s scientific and commercial operations adhere to strict international standards of safety and sustainability.

Simultaneously, Monaco’s growing industrial footprint stepped onto the global stage in Paris. Venturi Space utilised the international gathering to exhibit its advanced space engineering, drawing attention with Alta Luna—a specialised single-seater vehicle engineered specifically to operate within the harsh, demanding environments of future lunar bases. 

See also: 

Venturi Space unveils astronaut-driven Alta Luna for future Moon bases

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Photo Credit: Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires Étrangères

Princess Alexandra of Hanover announces engagement to Ben-Sylvester Strautmann

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/09/2026

Monaco’s Princely Family has a wedding to look forward to, with Princess Alexandra of Hanover announcing her engagement to long-time partner Ben-Sylvester Strautmann.

Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Ben-Sylvester Strautmann are engaged, marking a new chapter in a relationship that has spanned around a decade.

The couple shared the happy news on Friday 11th September, with Princess Alexandra revealing her engagement ring in a series of photographs.

The engagement follows a long relationship between the youngest daughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover and Strautmann, who have been together since around 2016. Over the years, the couple have become familiar faces at major events in the Principality, regularly appearing together alongside members of Monaco’s Princely Family.

Strautmann has also accompanied Princess Alexandra to a number of official and sporting occasions. During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, for example, the couple joined Prince Albert II at a water polo match, according to the Monaco Olympic Committee.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alexandra De Hanovre (@alex.hanover)

The youngest daughter of Princess Caroline

Princess Alexandra was born on 20th July 1999 and is the daughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover and Prince Ernst August of Hanover. She is the younger half-sister of Andrea Casiraghi, Charlotte Casiraghi and Pierre Casiraghi through her mother, and of Prince Ernst August and Prince Christian of Hanover through her father.

While she has largely maintained a more private profile than some members of Monaco’s Princely Family, Princess Alexandra regularly attends major occasions in the Principality, including National Day celebrations, the Rose Ball and the Monaco Grand Prix.

Strautmann, who grew up in Monaco, has been by her side for many of these appearances and is himself well known within the Principality.

No details regarding a wedding date or plans have yet been announced.

See also: 

In conversation with young entrepreneur Ben Strautmann

Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok. 

Image taken from Alexandra of Hanover Instagram account