Princess Caroline of Hanover spent the eve of the Fête Nationale de Monaco handing out Ordre du Mérite Culturel awards to those who have shown “commitment in the development of the arts, letters and sciences in the Principality.”
The Ordre du Mérite Culturel, or Order of Cultural Merit, is a special designation given to people in the arts, sciences or letters who have shown dedication to Monaco in these fields. It may also be awarded to individuals in those areas who have extended the “scholarly influence of the Principality” beyond its borders.
On Saturday 18th November, the day before Monaco’s National Day celebrations, and under the arches of the Salon Bleu in the Palais Princier, Princess Caroline presided over the awards’ annual ceremony and handed out medals to this year’s recipients.
CREATED BY PRINCE RAINIER III
The Ordre du Mérite Culturel is the third highest award offered by the Principality and was created by a sovereign order signed on 31st December 1952 by the late Prince Rainier III.
The medals for the Order come in three grades; those of Commander, Officer and Knight. The badge is round in shape and is framed by a laurel wreath that is suspended by the Monegasque crown. The reverse side shows the monogram of Prince Rainier III created using mirrored Rs.
The Commander’s medal is made of gold and is worn around the neck while the Officer’s badge is silver and is pinned by a ribbon with a rosette on the left side of the chest. The Knight’s award is on a plain ribbon, worn also on the left side of the chest, and is made of bronze.
The goal of the award is to “distinguish and reward people who have participated through their works or their teaching in the development of the arts, letters and sciences in Monaco or who, even abroad, have contributed, in these areas, to the intellectual influence of the Principality.”
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Photo credit: Michael Alesi /Palais Princier de Monaco