Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will travel to Madrid on 1st and 2nd June for a two-day programme marking 150 years of Monaco’s diplomatic presence in Spain, with the visit also coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Spanish branch of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
The trip will be Princess Charlene’s first official visit to Spain since her marriage to Prince Albert in 2011, and comes as the two countries mark a century and a half of formalised diplomatic ties.
Talks with King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Sánchez
On the afternoon of Monday 1st June, Prince Albert II will travel to the Zarzuela Palace for a working meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain, followed by a private lunch. The two heads of state are expected to discuss matters of mutual interest across a range of bilateral issues.
Later in the day, the Prince will hold an official audience with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the Moncloa Palace.
Royal Botanical Garden and cultural exhibitions
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will then join Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia for a visit to the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid. Founded in the 18th century during the reign of King Charles III, the garden houses significant plant collections and has a long-established role in biodiversity conservation and scientific research.
The two couples will also visit a pair of exhibitions at the Villanueva Pavilion, organised by the Embassy of Monaco in Spain and on display from 28th May to 13th June. The first, Monaco and Spain: Five Centuries of Shared History, draws on the Archives of the Prince’s Palace to trace the historical, cultural, and diplomatic links between the two countries.
The second exhibition marks the 8th edition of the Monaco Artists Forum, a showcase of Monegasque artistic creation launched by the Princely Government and organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs. The forum brings together professional and amateur Monegasque and resident artists, offering Madrileños a window onto the Principality’s creative scene.
Foundation anniversary and IE University address
Tuesday 2nd June will focus on the 10th anniversary of the Foundation’s Spanish branch, which opened in Madrid in 2016. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation was established by Prince Albert II in 2006, making this also its 20th year of operation.
The Foundation’s work in Spain has developed in close partnership with IE University, and Prince Albert II will visit the institution’s campus, where he will deliver an address at a conference entitled ‘Leading the Future Through Collaboration: Talent, Innovation and Opportunity’. The day will focus on collaboration, innovation, and the transmission of knowledge to future generations.
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