More than 250 royals and dignitaries attended the anniversary of HSH Prince Albert II’s ascension as Sovereign Prince. The reception was held at the stunning art deco Villa Empain in Brussels on 27th June in the company of, to name but a few, HRH Princess Léa of Belgium, the Apostolic Nuncio, and Monaco’s Belgian Ambassador Sophie Thevenoux who, along with Marc Thevenoux, organised the event.
The morning of the celebration was business as usual, with the annual consular meeting covering news from the Monegasque Consuls of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The Director General of the Department of Finance and Economy Thierry Orsini also made a presentation of the Principality’s tax system, and Monaco’s international commitments in these regions.
Prince Albert came to the throne after the passing of his father, HSH Prince Rainier III, in 2005. He was well prepared, having assisted his father in affairs of state since 1984, and the transition was seamless.