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 Click here for more photos at Daylife.com For the first time, Princess Charlene of Monaco has something in the tiny principality that bears her name.
On Wednesday, she and husband Prince Albert II opened the Princess Charlene Home for Children, a shelter intended for youths having family problems.
Dressed in a red coat, Her Serene Highness toured the facility with Monaco’s sovereign by her side. They checked out the dorms, the den, and even played a game of fooseball.
A photo of the Princely couple on their wedding day hangs in the shelter along with an abstract picture of Charlene.
On Thursday, Monaco celebrated the feast day of its patron saint, Devote. The celebrations are a big part of the tiny principality’s heritage, so its Princely family would obviously take part in them.
 Click here to view gallery at Daylife.com In the evening, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene – who marked her 34th birthday Wednesday – lit a fisherman’s boat on fire with torches on the beaches of Monaco. With them was Albert’s sister, Princess Caroline and her youngest daughter, Princess Alexandra.
This is done to commemorate the burning of a ship on the beach of Monaco, when the captain was caught after stealing the relics of Sainte Devote. Burning a fisherman’s boat has been a tradition since Prince Louis II began it in 1924.
The next morning, there was a mass held at the cathedral. Albert and Charlene then appeared on the palace balcony before the bishop and Monegasque priests.
One should remember that during her July 2nd wedding ceremony, Charlene placed her bouquet at the shrine of Sainte Devote. That is part of the tradition in Monaco.
For future reference, Albert and Charlene will be traveling to the United States in late February to attend the Academy Awards. Keep an eye out that day to see how the Princess of Monaco lights up the red carpet!
Sources: Pure People
One of Monaco’s most exciting events, the 36th International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, opened Thursday at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille. With Princess Stephanie as its president, and most of her family in attendance, the Circus Festival got off to a joyous start.
 Click here for photos of the opening day With her two daughters, Pauline Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb, by her side, plus Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, Her Serene Highness inaugurated this year’s festival. The first competition show took place Thursday and will run until Tuesday. There will be circus performances, parades through Monaco, and a charity soccer match. After the competition, each winner will perform up until January 29th.
In the days leading up to the opening day, Princess Stephanie visited a circus exhibition at Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum. She also spoke to the newspaper, Nice Matin, about keeping the love of the circus in the family.
“I do not lie when I say that I am part of this large family in which my children and I can always count on. We have the same values, those people loyal and rights of self-transcendence to give dreams to people. The best quality of the circus, it’s true. It leaves its problems at home, it does not complain. In a sanitized world, computerized, self-centered, the circus continues with its values,and that is what saves us. And I would fight all my life to defend the true values,” Stephanie said.
New this year for the circus festival is the New Generation, which celebrates the youth involved in the entertainment. The Princess is the president of this event while her eldest daughter, Pauline, will be the president of the jury. It will be held in the first week of February.
“It was a bit of our vocation to support a festival for young artists who will be moved on the track alike,” Stephanie told Nice Matin. “It will be a real show, with a numberof animals performed by children, which is unique. A troupe of acrobats from Monaco and the school students trail of blue, our only regional school that does a great job, will also attend. Perhaps some of these artists will return one day to the “big” festival.”
Princess Stephanie first served on the jury of the International Circus Festival in 1974 when she just was nine years old.
Sources: Nice Matin, Monte Carlo Festival
The Prince of Monaco was unanimously voted by the International Olympic Committee and the World Olympic Association to be the latter’s patron on Thursday. Prince Albert II is a five time Winter Olympian and has been an IOC member since 1985.
 Click here for pics of Prince Albert II WOA president Joël Bouzou said: “It is a tremendous honour for the World Olympians Association to have His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco as the new patron of our organization. He is an Olympian and a true humanist who has always believed that the values of sport can change lives and can change society for the better.”
“His involvement and advocacy will greatly increase our influence and will make a huge difference to convince new stakeholders that Olympians across the globe can and should contribute to improve the world in which we live. I can’t thank him enough for his support.”
Albert now succeeds the late Juan Antonio Samaranch as the WOA’s patron. Samaranch was once president of the IOC.
This news comes as the Prince is at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria from Friday, January 13th to January 22nd.
Sources: Sports Pro Media
 Check out more photos here Dozens of Monegasque children gathered at the royal palace for the annual handing out of presents by their Sovereign, Prince Albert II and his wife, Princess Charlene.
The couple were the only royals this year doing this tradition. But no matter, Albert and Charlene appeared to have loads of fun interacting with the kids while giving them their gifts.
Earlier in the week, Prince Albert stopped by a senior citizens’ home to give out gifts to the residents.
Source: Pure People
 Check out more photos here The eldest son of Monaco’s Princess Caroline became a member of an unorthodox order Monday.
27 year old Andrea Casiraghi is now part of the Order of the Golden Tankard. Begun in 1963 by Bernard Marchand, the Order celebrates none other than beer. It’s mission is to “defend and illustrate” the cultural and gastronomic quality beer.
Andrea’s uncle, Prince Albert II, is patron of the Order and was present for his eldest nephew’s installment as a member.
Andrea received a medal and a big handshake from Monaco’s sovereign Prince.
The event was held at the Hotel de Paris, which has been showcasing the annual gathering since 1993. Besides celebrating its newest member, the Order spent the night testing wine and beer.
Many Belgians were attendance, which is natural since Belgian beer is quite popular worldwide.
Source: Pure People
Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco returned to South Africa earlier this week for a series of events to attend. The country is Charlene’s homeland and it is where the couple spent a good part of their honeymoon following their July wedding.
 See more photos of the couple in Durban here On Tuesday, the couple attended the United Nations Climate Change conference (COP17) in Durban. There, the Prince gave a speech as part of the COP17′s opening.
The next day, Albert was among 200 who received the Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from the MTN Group at the Business Leaders Network Reception, also in Durban. As part of winning the RECs, the Prince is to donate his to rural areas in KwaZulu Natal, a province of South Africa. The RECs are about the same as one megawatt-hour (MWh) of green electricity, which is enough energy for a family of four residing in an urban area for about a year. Since people in rural places use less electricity, it is expected the RECs will last longer for them.
Also on Wednesday, Albert and Charlene a UNEP event called “One Billion Trees” at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. For this occasion, a tribute was made to 2004 Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai, who was on the board of directors of this foundation.
For Thursday, the Prince and Princess met with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whom they previously met back in July. This time, they met to discuss ways to run various charities Charlene is setting up in South Africa. The couple also took the time to give Tutu a check to the Giving Organization Trust. The Trust will give the money to 10 charities including the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation in Cape Town.
While meeting with the Archbishop, Albert and Charlene met with local children, who entertained the royals by singing, “If You’re Happy And You Know It, Clap Your Hands.”
Also on Thursday, the couple attended the presentation of the Polaris project by the Polar International Foundation at the Clock Tower.
Source: 4-traders.com, Palais de Monaco, OryxMedia,
December 1st marks World AIDS Day and those dedicated to fighting the disease were on hand to spread awareness or raise money for those inflicted.
 Click here for more Princess Stephanie photos Monaco’s Princess Stephanie was one of them. All week, she has been preparing for World AIDS Day. On Monday, she met with Monaco’s Harley motor club to deploy three counterpanes to pay tribute to people who died from AIDS. The counterpanes were sent to the Names Project AIDS Memorial quilt in the United States.
For Thursday evening, Together with her brother, Prince Albert II, and sister-in-law, Princess Charlene, Stephanie was present for the annual auction at the Hotel Meridien Beach Plaza which raises funds for her charity, Fight AIDS Monaco.
Going under the hammer at the auction was such artwork as a nude sketch by Robert Redford, a large photo of Albert and Charlene from their July wedding day, and even a bust of the Princess herself made by Benatov. That one went for about €100,000.
The previous night saw the same royal trio go to the Sporting Club of Monaco to collect funds from the principality’s casinos. Initiated by Prince Albert last year, the point is to get a percentage of several slot machines from the Casino Café de Paris and Sun Casino Jackpots to go to several of Monaco’s charity associations. Chances are, some of that money went Princess Stephanie’s Fight AIDS Monaco.
“I am a dynamic woman,” Stephanie told Point de Vue recently. “I am living her day to the fullest, and still has many things to live. That’s it! ”
Indeed she does!
Source: Pure People, Getty Images, Le Figaro
This week an important one for the Principality of Monaco as its citizens get ready for National Day Saturday. Since Tuesday, the people and its princely family have been preparing and taking part in events leading up to its major holiday.
 Click here for more photos from Thursday On Tuesday, Prince Albert II presented medals and distinctions at the royal palace, followed by a reception.
The next day, there were more medals given out, this time for the Princess Grace hospital and those in public service.
For Thursday, Prince Albert and his wife, Princess Charlene, and younger sister, Princess Stephanie, took part in the annual gift giving to the country’s elderly at the Red Cross in Monte Carlo. This is always a great time for senior citizens to see their royals close up and have a chat with them.
Later, His Serene Highness gave out the Medals for Physical Education and Medals of the Ministry of Sport. Towards the evening, in the Throne Room, there was the Presentation of the Orders of St Charles and Grimaldi.
For Friday, Prince Albert will give out more medals, plus give two recipients the La Légion d’Honneur. That will be followed by a diplomatic corps reception and a diplomatic dinner at the Hermitage Hotel.
Also at nightfall, there will be a fireworks display and a bonfire on the Avenue de la Porte Neuve and on the Ramparts.
Then comes the big celebration on Saturday!
Source: City Out Monaco
Wednesday night saw Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco arrive in Toronto, Canada to inaugurate an exhibition dedicated to Albert’s late mother, Princess Grace.
 Click here to see more photos of their arrival The exhibit, called “Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess” is located at the Toronto International Film Festival Lightbox, and it features her personal correspondence, famous fashions, films and lots of memorabilia.
“She would have been deeply touched, I think, by the tribute that is paid to her,” Prince Albert II said, adding audiences will be able “to discover my mother beyond Princess Grace’s legendary image.”
“Of course you see the glamour, her incredible sense of style and taste, but you also discover some of her personal correspondence, some of the artifacts, some of the objects that were part of her everyday life,” the Prince told CBC News Wednesday evening.
“I think it’s a great insight into the great personality that she was, the incredible generosity of her heart and spirit.”
Albert and Charlene toured the exhibit before going to a cocktail reception which had photos and videos of the Hollywood actress turned European royal projected on some of the walls. Another wall showed the magazine covers Grace made.
Also at the exhibit is a replica of Grace’s legendary wedding dress, worn during her 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier III. The original is too delicate to travel, and is housed in Philadelphia where she was born.
Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess is part of a worldwide tour that has stopped in London and Moscow. Toronto is only place North America could see the exhibit. It will run until January 22nd. After that, it will go to Australia.
Sources: CBC, Globe and Mail
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