The heiress born in New Orleans’ French Quarter in 1857 who married the Sovereign of Monaco, Prince Albert I, will be remembered next month when Prince Albert visits the Big Easy to unveil a plaque at the site of her birthplace – appropriately, on Royal Street.
In 1889, Marie Alice Heine wed Prince Albert I in Paris becoming HSH Princess Alice of Monaco. She was his second wife.
The announcement of Prince Albert’s visit was made on Wednesday, February 21, by Monaco’s Ambassador to the US, Maguy Maccario Doyle, as she gave details of Monaco Takes New Orleans, a week-long series of events currently underway through February 25 to mark the deep ties between the Principality and New Orleans, and as a birthday “gift” to the city.
“To celebrate our historic and cultural bonds on this momentous anniversary, I am delighted to announce that our Sovereign, HSH Prince Albert II, will be coming next month to New Orleans to unveil a plaque commemorating the birthplace of Alice, Princess of Monaco, who was the wife of his great-great-grandfather, Prince Albert I,” said Ambassador Doyle.
“In preparation for this official visit, we will showcase the artistic and cultural heritage of Monaco, as well as its culinary flavours, and I’m delighted to welcome back, for the first time in a decade, the talented troupe of Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. It’s an extra special honour for Monaco to be one of the first countries to pay tribute to the enduring appeal of the Crescent City on its 300th birthday,” she said.
New Orleans Mayor Mitchell Landrieu stated, “We are thrilled to have the Principality of Monaco participating in the New Orleans Tricentennial,” said. “As we celebrate 300 years of New Orleans, we will be remembering the cultural ties between our City and Monaco.”
Mayor Landrieu headed a delegate that visited Monaco on November 29 and 30, which included meetings with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Monaco Economic Board, as well as a lunch at the Palace in the presence of Prince Albert.