23 ° C
Profile

Tag: monacolife

Riviera Radio sale marks new era in 35-year-old station

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/12/2022

After 20 years’ ownership under American-based Morris Communications, local station Riviera Radio has been sold to Reg Grundy Media.

The English radio station, with its studios in Monaco, has been broadcasting throughout the south of France for 35 years. Two decades of that has been under the ownership of Morris Communications, a long-running family-owned company in the United States that has incorporated a vast number of print, radio and television media brands throughout the globe.

Riviera Radio Managing Director and shareholder Paul Kavanagh announced the sale in a statement on Thursday, adding that he will maintain his positions within the company.

Reg Grundy Media was formed from the Reg Grundy Organisation, an Australian-based multinational mass media company primarily involved in television as a production company, but also in distribution and licensing. Reg Grundy himself is most commonly associated with long-running hits Neighbours and Wheel of Fortune, but together with his wife and business partner Joy, the pair created and owned more than 160 top rating television series and movies, produced in over 76 countries.

Today, Reg Grundy Media is headed by Joy Chambers-Grundy, who will join the board of Riviera Radio. “We are most honoured and delighted to become part-owners of the unique Riviera Radio, a station I have listened to multiple times in the past. I am excited by this amazing acquisition, just as I know my beloved husband, Reg would be,” said Joy Chambers-Grundy, who has owned and been involved in a variety of media businesses, including more recently the Monaco Streaming Film Festival, which brings international media professionals to Monaco.

“It has been an honour for our family to serve the residents and visitors to your magnificent part of the world,” said William Morris III, Chairman of the Board, Morris Communications Company, in the statement. “We wish the Reg Grundy Media continued success in the operation of this unique property and extend our gratitude to those Riviera Radio employees who assisted our family there for many years.”

Prince Albert inaugurates a revived Cap Fleuri

by: Jessica Tatam
15/12/2022

Prince Albert II has officially opened a refreshed, renewed and thoroughly modernised Cap Fleuri, a residential home in Cap d’Ail that was first inaugurated by his great-grandfather in 1943. 

The official inauguration of the Résidence du Cap Fleuri saw Prince Albert have the honour of cutting the ceremonial red ribbon before a number of high-ranking Monegasque dignitaries from the political and social care spheres.

Built in 1943 as a place of rest and recovery by then-sovereign Prince Louis II, but later developed by Prince Rainier III, the Cap Fleuri Residence in Cap d’Ail had for some time been in need of updating to meet its residents’ needs. Over the last few years, an extensive reform and renovation of the original building has taken place, resulting in a two-stage project to bring the residency up to the requirements of the 21st Century.  

The first stage of the project, Cap Fleuri II, was completed recently in 2022 and consists of an ambitious and innovative design that “puts the elderly person at the heart of the project”, as commented by Dr. Sandrine Louchart de la Chapelle, the head of the clinical geriatrics department at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace (CHPG). The result of this is a home built around the primary objective to respect and support residents’ autonomy to the greatest degree possible.  

This respectful and resident-centred approach has been further complemented by a second aim: to create a centre that, wherever possible, would combine the required medical care with a “modern and warm” residential setting. By removing the need for travel and providing a more seamless service, this innovative approach allows for a much less stressful experience for residents. 

Damien Aimé, Executive Assistant at Cap Fleuri, explained that the residence boasts a wealth of cutting-edge technologies such as fall-detecting floors and top-of-the-range facilities, namely therapeutic baths, physiotherapy rooms, a chapel, a shop and dining rooms in each accommodation unit.  

The completed area of the residence currently has a capacity of 78 beds over four levels. Once the reconstruction of the historic building is complete, the total capacity will increase substantially to cater to 208 residents. 

  

 

Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

Princess Charlene talks health and happiness in rare interview

by: Jessica Tatam
15/12/2022

Monaco’s darling, Princess Charlene, has opened up about her health and family happiness as well as the future responsibilities of her young children in an intimate interview with Monaco Matin.  

As Princess Charlene celebrates 10 years of her eponymous foundation, she has stepped into the limelight to offer a rare insight into her private life at home in the Prince’s Palace with husband Prince Albert II and their eight-year-old twins, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.  

The last few years haven’t been easy for Princess Charlene. She caught an ENT infection whilst on a conservation trip in Africa and was forced to spend months separated from her family during a long period of convalescence, first in her native country of South Africa and again on her return to the Principality at the end of 2021. Even then, her recovery was unfortunately not complete and after a lapse in her health, she withdrew again from public life and wouldn’t resume her engagements until Easter this year.  

“When I returned to the Principality, I focused all my energy on my children, my husband and my health because they are my priority. My state of health is still fragile and I don’t want to go too fast. The road has been long, difficult and so painful,” the 44-year-old former Olympic swimmer told local press in May 2022.  

“My family and those I love are my rock”

Now, she has opened up again, in an intimate interview with Monaco Matin, to express her happiness and relief at her recovery.  

“I feel so much better today than I have in recent years,” she told the newspaper’s Cédric Verany, who has previously been given similar access to the inner circle of the Sovereign family. “I feel less pain and much more energy. I continue to recover, to rebalance myself. It will still take time, but I’m happy. My family and those I love are my rock. I approach the future, step-by-step, one day at a time.” 

Monaco’s National Day, which was held on 19th November, marked the first full-scale celebration – and the first large family reunion for the royals – in three years due to the Covid pandemic and Princess Charlene’s health issues. She told Verany that her children were “very enthusiastic to take part in this National Day”. 

“The National Day is always a joyful time with the family, supported by many interactions with the Monegasque population,” she said. “This year, Jacques was happy to wear the same uniform as his father and Gabriella [was] very proud to wear her medal.” 

Moving on to respond to a question about her twins’ maturity and the expectations upon them, Princess Charlene said, “Jacques and Gabriella were born with responsibilities and duties. They are still only children, but they are beginning to understand their roles… They continue to observe and learn before it becomes natural for them.”  

The Princess also spoke of the approach she and Prince Albert take ahead of high-profile events with their children: “With my husband, when we have to go to an event, we explain to them what the nature of this event, what this ceremony is. They like to accompany us, and the four of us like to accomplish these missions together.”   

Finally, when asked about the bond that her two children share – a special relationship that their father once joked “makes them very much into accomplices” – Princess Charlene admitted that Jacques and Gabriella share “a rather unique bond”.  

“They are two children who have their own language and who understand each other,” she touchingly explained. “They love and protect each other and share an immense benevolence between them”. 

 

 

Photo credit: Eric Mathon from the Palais Princier de Monaco

Princess Charlene celebrates her Foundation’s 10th anniversary and opens new headquarters

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/12/2022

Princess Charlene of Monaco on Wednesday celebrated the 10th anniversary of her Foundation with a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new headquarters and a giant birthday cake.

Princess Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer and witness to the devastating reality of drowning and aware of the positive changes that sport can bring to a life, created her namesake Foundation in 2012 with the aim of offering more positive opportunities to children around the world.

For 10 years, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation has been working to prevent drowning and inspire children through the values of sport.

“Sport has the power to change lives – positively affecting an individual, a family, a community. Sport teaches compassion, inspires and gives hope, and can unite people and countries,” says her Foundation.

Princess Charlene and her brother, Gareth Wittstock, General Secretary of Her Foundation. Photo credit: Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace

Over the past decade, more than one million people have benefited from the Foundation’s and its partners’ programmes in 43 countries through 510 different projects.

 More than 510 projects have been supported and created by the Foundation in countries such as Argentina, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Greece, Japan, Senegal, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, to name but a few. 

In 2022, new projects were implemented in countries such as Brazil, Haiti, and Jamaica and in the French overseas departments of La Réunion and Martinique. 

Prince Albert helps Princess Charlene cut the ribbon of her Foundation’s new premises. Photo credit: Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace

To mark its 10th anniversary, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation invited donors, partners and personalities, in the presence of H.S.H Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, H.S.H. Princess Stephanie, Gareth Wittstock, Secretary General of the Foundation, and Pierre Dartout, Minister of State. 

After a blessing by Monseigneur Dominique-Marie David, Archbishop of Monaco, Princess Charlene inaugurated the new premises of Her Foundation located at 4, Quai Antoine 1er. 

Monseigneur Dominique-Marie David, Minister of State Pierre Dartout, Princess Charlene, Prince Albert, Princess Stephanie, Gareth Wittstock and Mayor Georges Marsan. Photo credit: Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace

 

Photo above credit: Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace

Legacy of Prince Albert I lives on through Monaco-UNESCO partnership

by: Jessica Tatam
14/12/2022

In recognition of the legacy of Prince Albert I and coinciding with the centenary of his death, the Monaco has signed a partnership agreement with UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere programme to provide financial support to young scientists.

In line with UNESCO’s long history of work related to the environment and its commitment to protect the earth’s biodiversity, the Principality on Tuesday 5th December signed a formal partnership committing to provide financial backing to UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme, by recognising and rewarding young scientists. Anne-Marie Boisbouvier, Ambassador of Monaco to UNESCO, signed the partnership with the Man and Biosphere (MAB) program to financially support young scientists in their research programs, together with Noëline Raondry Rakotoarisoa, representative of the Deputy Director of UNESCO’s Science Sector.

Created in 1971 and celebrating its 50-year anniversary last year, the Man and the Biosphere Programme’s vision is to “promote a sustainable connection between people and nature”. This core ideal has evolved into the designation of biosphere reserves, and a number of global projects and initiatives to increase community involvement and engagement. One such project is the UNESCO-MAB Young Scientists Awards.

Created in 1989 and with the purpose of “investing in a new generation of scientists” by “supporting young researchers in their research on ecosystems, natural resources and biodiversity”, the programme has recognised and rewarded 300 young scientists in its 30+ year history – notably, some 45% of which were female – and offers prizes of up to €4,692 per winner.

Entry is open to applicants all over the world, with the objective to encourage young scientists, in particular those from developing countries, to use MAB research, project sites and biosphere reserves in their research. For the first time, six of the seven winners for 2022 were female, from countries such as Bangladesh, Nigeria, Cuba and Oman.

Through its support of the program, Monaco hopes to encourage the younger generation of scientists and to provide the world with a greater understanding of the ocean and environmental issues.

 

 

Photo of the Huascaran Bioreserve Peru, source UNESCO Man and Biosphere

 

Action Innocence Monaco raises record figure at Christmas tree auction

by: Jessica Tatam
14/12/2022

Supported by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, Action Innocence Monaco has celebrated its 20th anniversary with a record-breaking sum of €156,000 raised at its annual charity Christmas Tree Auction in the Hôtel de Paris.

In today’s world, the internet is ubiquitous in all parts of life. This is not just true for adults, but also for children who are being exposed to the internet earlier and earlier. Founded in 2002 with the support and patronage of HSH Prince Albert II and the cooperation of the Direction de la Sûreté Publique of the Principality of Monaco, Action Innocence Monaco was born in response to the ever-growing concern for parents and the wider community around how to educate both parents and children about the hidden dangers of the web, whilst also providing protection for the younger users.

Sponsors are invited to decorate the Christmas trees that go on display in the lobby of the Hôtel de Paris before being auctioned off for the charity. Photo by Monaco Life

In order to meet its objectives, the organisation’s primary means for generating funds is through an annual auction of Christmas trees, created and donated by some of the Principality’s most exclusive boutiques and artists. Each year the lobby of the Hôtel de Paris becomes the home of Action Innocence’s stunning Christmas Tree forest, displayed in full splendour for several days before the auction. This year’s charity event, held at 6pm Tuesday 13th December, broke all previous records, with an impressive €156,000 raised, thanks to the generosity of the contributing businesses and participants in this popular event.

Originally formed under the Action Innocence umbrella foundation in Geneva, in October 2014 the foundation officially became autonomous in its own right. Since year one, Louisette Lévy-Soussan Azzoaglio, President of the organisation, has organised and run the annual auction of Christmas trees to raise much-needed funds, and each year the event has grown in size and popularity, and has now become one of the most anticipated events of the season, featuring stunningly original and beautifully decorated trees, adorned with gifts and put up for sale to the highest bidder.

Photo by Monaco Life

Action Innocence Monaco chose to include just 20 trees in this year’s forest, compared to over 30 last year, in a representation of the foundation’s 20 years of existence. The organisation gave thanks to a list of partners and donors, including Boghossian, Buccellati, Cartier, Ceramiche Sambuco, Chopard, CREM (Club des Résidents Étrangers Monaco), Dionysos Wines, Hôtel de Paris, Hôtel Hermitage, Hôtel Métropole, Isabell Kristensen Couture, Ivanova Valentina Ineos Monaco Limited, L’Astemia Pentita Barolo SRL, Oneteas, Métropole Shopping, Monte Carlo Bay Hôtel Resort,  Repossi Joaillier, Riva Monaco Boat Service, Riviera Monte Carlo, Les Thermes Marins Monte Carlo, and Zegg Cerlati Panerai.

In attendance was HSH Prince Albert as well as Princess Charlene, and during his speech to thank and acknowledge contributors to the event, Action Innocence’s Vice-President Nick Danziger thanked the Prince particularly for his unwavering support of the organisation each year for the past 20 years.