Royal devotion – Princess Charlene and Prince Albert are more united than ever
A seat at a table at Le Gala de la Croix Rouge – or the Red Cross Gala, if you don't speak French as the principality's Benoni-raised princess has learnt to do – will set you back €1,400 (about R29,400). But people do cough up – and this year there was something extra special for the guests to get excited about.
Prince Albert II, the leader of the tiny enclave on the shores of the Mediterranean, was marking the 20th anniversary of his reign – and who better to honour him than his wife.
READ MORE | SEE | Monaco royals celebrate 20th anniversary of Prince Albert's reign
Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene, who was once looked down upon for not speaking French and struggled to be accepted by notoriously snobbish Monégasques, took to the stage to deliver a moving speech in the local lingo to the black-tie-and-ballgown crowd.
'Today marks exactly the 20th anniversary of your accession,' she told her husband, who was seated among 800 guests in the famed Monte-Carlo's Salle des Étoiles ballroom on 12 July.
'Twenty years ago, you took the reins of the principality, and since that day, you have guided Monaco with wisdom, courage and determination. Your wish for unity and serenity for Monaco has been your guideline.'
Charlene (47) then added her own personal touch for her 67-year-old husband.
'Albert, you know I am always by your side, along with the Monégasques. We are standing with you with all our hearts to protect Monaco and its future under your leadership.'
We love you, we support you and we thank you for being there for all of us
Princess Charlene
The former South African Olympic swimmer lived up to her style-queen credentials in an ethereal light-blue silk gown by Elie Saab paired with a dazzling diamond necklace.
It was an outfit befitting the prestigious event, which has a history stretching back 70 years.
From 1949 to 1958, Albert's father, Prince Rainier III, chaired the event, and from 1958 to 1982, the honour fell to his mother, Hollywood screen icon Grace Kelly – and thanks to her connections, it attracted acting royalty in the form of Elizabeth Taylor and Gregory Peck, and the likes of former US First Lady Jackie Onassis.
Princess Grace's granddaughter, Camille Gottlieb, paid tribute to her in an Elisabetta Franchi dress similar to one the Oscar-winner wore in the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie Rear Window.
'This ball is an opportunity for us to come together around a cause that's dear to us and touches us deeply,' said Camille (27), who was there with her mom Princess Stéphanie (60) and brother Louis Ducruet (37).
Following Charlene's speech, 10 members of the Prince's Carabinieri – Monaco's military guard – performed a moving version of the country's anthem, which saw a visibly touched Albert joining in.
A few minutes before midnight, he officially opened the dance floor with his wife to Coldplay's Everglow, and the evening closed with a bang with a performance by veteran English rocker Billy Idol, who played over 10 of his biggest hits.
For guests, it was a night to remember. 'The gala is one of the biggest drawcards in Monaco,' one said afterwards. 'And Albert's anniversary made it all the more special.'
READ MORE | 'Breach of trust': New controversy rocks Monaco royals as former wealth manager claims tax fraud
When Albert took over the principality after his father died, it was largely seen as a tax haven for the super-rich – a principality that lived up to writer William Somerset Maugham's description of it being 'a sunny place for shady people'.
Rainier focused on transforming Monaco into an upmarket tourist destination, developing luxury hotels and glitzy casinos. He also ensured owning property in the principality came with stringent bank-account checks – you had to have a certain level of wealth to own a slice of this seaside pie.
Things aren't all that different in that regard today – sports cars still line the streets, designer shops glitter on litter-free roads, and heaven help dog owners if their pooches relieve themselves anywhere other than fenced-off poo-parks.
But Albert's vision is more encompassing than the financial success of his country. He's passionate about the environment and is the only head of state to have travelled to both the North and South Poles to highlight the dangers of global warming.
He's deeply committed to the welfare of his countrymen and women and in his first year as ruler founded his Prince Albert of Monaco Foundation, a global non-profit organisation committed to preserving the health of the planet.
In a recent interview, Albert said he wanted to ensure a future Monaco that's 'proud of its values and its past, serene, prosperous, responsible and united'.
He likened leadership to sport. 'You can train very thoroughly and prepare for every scenario, but there are always unforeseen events – and you have to respond as best as possible.
What drives me is my love for my country, my sense of duty and the trust the Monégasques place in me
Prince Albert
'Governing means anticipating, but also facing challenges with loyalty and resolve. In Monaco's history, we've always found ways to secure our future – even in tough and uncertain times. If we stay united, enthusiastic, innovative and supportive, we'll have one of the happiest futures possible.'
Part of that future are his 10-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella with Charlene. And for Jacques, his son and heir, he hopes to 'hand down to him a principality that is neither quite the same nor entirely different'.
Supporting Albert along the way is Charlene, who remains a steady rock by his side despite constant divorce rumours.
On 2 July they celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary, an occasion marked by an Instagram post of the couple at the Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco earlier this year.
The princess certainly seems to have put behind her annus horribilis of 2021, which saw her stuck in South Africa with ongoing medical issues and beset by rumours that her marriage was on the rocks.
There was also speculation she wasn't happy in her role as princess, and felt ostracised and lonely in Monaco and longed to be back in South Africa.
But these days, she and Albert seem more united than ever, and she appears to be throwing all her weight into helping him run Monaco instead of coming back regularly to SA.
'Charlene is emotionally more invested in Monaco now,' a source close to her told YOU. 'It appears she's far more comfortable now than ever in her role as princess.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
MasterChef used to be a hug of a show, now it is just uncomfortable viewing
If telly and food have one thing in common, it's the importance of comfort. French onion soup, shepherd's pie, sticky toffee pudding; all classic comfort foods. As a three-course meal, they might be accompanied by some nice comfort viewing, like the BBC's cookery contest MasterChef, an hour-long hug of a show that returns this week. But, in the wake of allegations made against presenter Gregg Wallace and his co-anchor John Torode, which have resulted in the corporation severing ties with both men, this usually reassuring series is tinged with a strange, bitter aftertaste. When reports about Wallace's alleged misconduct broke last November, the BBC was still filming its latest competition, the 21st series of the show to air since it was revived in 2005. Wallace immediately announced that he would step aside from presenting during the investigation, with chef and former MasterChef: The Professionals judge Anna Haugh taking his place in the final episodes. Last month, following the conclusion of the investigation, Wallace was sacked, with his co-host, Australian-born chef Torode, also axed after scrutiny on the show's workplace culture unearthed an instance of racist language. This series – already filmed (and largely edited) by the time Wallace and Torode received their P45s – looked doomed. Yet, despite one contestant, Sarah Shafi, requesting that the show be scrapped (she eventually agreed to be edited out of it instead), the BBC has gone ahead with the broadcast. It makes for uncomfortable viewing. MasterChef is not thrill-a-minute television. It is a gentle, reliable programme that viewers have on in the background while doing the washing up after dinner. Recent series have run for 24 episodes, broadcast in three-episode tranches over a couple of months, meaning that the contestants – alongside Wallace and Torode – spend much of the late summer living in our houses. With Wallace and Torode both appearing here, condemned yet oblivious, that easy, ambient watching feels marred. Wallace cuts a distinctive figure on TV. Now, his broad, toadish smile evokes not just his cheeky greengrocer persona but the long index of allegations about inappropriate behaviour. Viewers (even Wallace's defenders) will be preternaturally alert to any sense that he is straying towards that dreaded 'banter'. 'Your girlfriend is a Disney princess?!' he marvels at a young cook at one point. 'Yeah,' the contestant replies. 'It's a tough life, Gregg.' Clearly no line is crossed in an exchange like that, yet the reports that have surfaced over the past year have transformed that genial rapport into a warning sign. An amber flag, if you will. 'Oh God, that was stressful,' a young challenger, Thea, says, pulling a face after a brief interaction with Wallace at the kitchen counter. It is the light, breezy comment that contestants have always made, yet it is also something that you can imagine being spoken in a more troubling context. Some viewers would never notice that, while others' minds will be drawn to it. It is indicative of the tension facing the BBC. There was no easy way out of this mess. To abandon the series would be to privilege the BBC's reputation over the hard work of not only the contestants, but a large cast and crew who stretch far beyond the show's two hosts (though when the credits roll and 'John Torode MBE' and 'Gregg Wallace MBE' get top billing, it is a salient reminder of how deeply embedded in the establishment bad behaviour is). Airing this series was a risk, yet the most striking thing is the uncanny normality of these new episodes. The allegations were looming, and yet filming went on. The result is something that, on the surface, feels inoffensively bland. An illustration, then, of how a toxic culture can seemingly hide in the plainest of plain sight.
Eater
2 hours ago
- Eater
Miami Restaurant Openings to Know for August 2025
is an award-winning food and spirits writer with nearly two decades of experience. She is the editor of Broken Palate and the former food editor of Miami New Times. Having trouble keeping up with all the new establishments popping up? Here are some noteworthy restaurants opening around Miami this August. A Fort Lauderdale steakhouse with Floridian roots opens in Coral Gables Daniel's Miami takes over the former Fiola space with a classic steakhouse menu that utilizes local Florida ingredients like Swank Farms tomatoes, Florida-raised prime rib, and Sunshine Provisions sausage. This is the second Daniel's location, with the flagship Fort Lauderdale restaurant earning a place in the 2025 Florida Michelin Guide. Mediterranean fare by a seasoned executive chef Led by executive chef Camila Olarte (Los Fuegos by Francis Mallman, the Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller, and the French Laundry), Cleo offers Eastern Mediterranean fare at the Balfour Hotel in Miami Beach's South of Fifth neighborhood. Inspired by dishes from Greece, the Levant, and Morocco, the menu features wagyu beef kebabs, house-baked pita with eggplant moutabel, and a shareable grilled branzino. Korean barbecue and hot pots in Pembroke Pines KPOT, the all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue chain, opened in Pembroke Pines. In addition to smoky meats, the menu includes hot pots and a full-service bar. Diners can prepare their own meals on tabletop grills and individual hot pot burners. 28 flavors of ice cream in a nostalgic setting Founded in 2005, Wall's Old Fashioned Ice Cream opened a second location on Sunset Drive for its 20th anniversary. The ice cream shop offers 28 flavors of ice cream, shakes, sundaes, malts, and more in a nostalgic setting. A tavern pizza pop-up finds a permanent home Fratesi's Pizza, which gained a loyal following by popping up at bars and restaurants around town, has opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Downtown Miami. Fratesi's specializes in tavern pizza, known for its super-thin, almost cracker-like crust and cheese that melts around the pizza's perimeter. Standbys include the Demon Pig Boy (pepperoni and pickled hot peppers) and the Demon Pig Girl (sausage and banana peppers), and there are vegetarian and vegan options. Shishito peppers from El Turco Express. El Turco Express A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant opens a fast casual version El Turco opens El Turco Express at the Central Fare Collective. This fast-casual version of the original Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient offers Turkish fare such as kebabs and hummus. For lasagna lovers only First, there was Cotoletta, the Coconut Grove restaurant that serves only one main dish (veal alla Milanese). Then came Little River's San Lorenzo, which offers either a meat or a seafood dinner option. Now, 84 Magic Hospitality brings you 3190, the Coconut Grove restaurant that offers lasagna ($15) served two ways: the 'Si Papa,' a classic Bolognese lasagna named after executive chef Giulio Rossi's daughter's response to an offer of his signature dish, and a vegetarian pesto version. There's also tiramisu for dessert, and a list of Italian wines. New York City Mediterranean hotspot opens in Midtown Miami New York City's Amavi opens a Midtown Miami spot, showcasing the restaurant's Mediterranean fare. Menu items include a whole branzino finished tableside, pasta made in-house daily, and lamb chops with pomegranate molasses. Wabi Sabi transforms into Midorie Restaurateur Alvaro Perez-Miranda closed his much-loved Wabi Sabi last month to quickly transform it into Midorie. The restaurant's minimalist yet artistic dining room allows patrons to draw their attention to the pristine sushi made with seafood flown in from Japan's fish markets. The restaurant also offers donburi (Japanese bowl meals), and a $100 omakase that's an exceptional value.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Brad Pitt Is Reportedly Risking It All As Angelina Jolie Cries Foul In Winery Court Battle
Brad Pitt remains adamant about fighting against his ex-wife Angelina Jolie over their French winery, Chateau Miraval. The "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" co-stars have been at odds over the vineyard for years, with their differences stemming from the actress' stake sale without her former beau's consent. Now, sources claim the actor won't drop the lawsuit anytime soon. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were once hailed as one of the greatest power couples in the entertainment industry until their 2016 separation. Their divorce was finalized last December, but their winery issue continues to be a problem. Brad Pitt Accused Of 'Plotting To Bankrupt' Angelina Jolie According to a source, Jolie is gearing up for what may become another year of legal drama after a judge dismissed her attempts to toss Pitt's lawsuit out of court. They claimed she was overwhelmed by her ex-husband's refusal to drop the case, saying: "She's said she'll fight this to the bitter end if she has to,' said the source. 'But there's no doubt – it's taking a toll." The source told RadarOnline the "Tomb Raider" star had lamented about her problems to a close pal, accusing Pitt of attempting to bankrupt her by dragging the legal battle. "It's the last thing I need right now. I'm tired, stressed, and emotionally exhausted," she allegedly told her pal. The Actor's Children Are Reportedly On Their Mother's Side While Jolie allegedly suspected Pitt was retaliating against her with the lawsuit, a source close to the actor shared a different narrative. They argued that he wasn't seeking revenge but working to protect his stake in the winery. "He sees this as protecting something deeply personal. Chateau Miraval is a symbol of his legacy. He won't hand it over without a fight," the source declared. Regardless of his reasons, Pitt has faced significant losses for refusing to back down from the winery case. An insider with knowledge about the Jolie-Pitt family dynamic claimed the father of six had lost his relationship with his kids over the case. "They're watching this, and it's pushing them further away from Brad. They see it as an attack on their mother, and they're siding with her," the informant said about Pitt's estrangement from his children. Pitt Moved To Depose Jolie's Company Over The Vineyard Sale The battle for the former couple's Chateau Miraval vineyard started after Jolie sold her share of the property to a third party in 2021. The Blast shared that her actions did not sit right with Pitt, who argued that the sale was done without his consent. The Hollywood veteran stressed that he had been in talks with Jolie over the sale of her stake, but she went behind his back to do business with someone else. Days earlier, Pitt filed a motion to depose Nouvel LLC, his ex-wife's company that oversaw the purchase of her winery share. The legal move comes months after Pitt and Jolie finalized their years-long divorce last December. Jolie's attorney addressed her feelings following the news in a statement, claiming the mother of six was "exhausted" but "relieved" to end her chapter with Pitt. The 'F1' Star Wants To Reconnect With His Kids Jolie wasn't the only person relieved to be done with the divorce drama, as The Blast covered Pitt's alleged reaction. A source claimed he was happy to conclude that chapter of his life, stressing that the separation had dominated his life for years. The hardest part for Pitt was his estrangement from his kids, per the source, who claimed the actor longed for a reconciliation. "The case is over, but there are no winners. To have that behind him is a relief," they explained. "But on the other hand, it's been hard for him because he doesn't have a great relationship with his kids," the source added. Although Pitt hoped to reconnect with his kids, recent reports noted he was interested in starting a new family with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. Brad Pitt Reportedly Clashing With Longtime Partner Over Future Kids The Blast covered the reported drama between Pitt and de Ramon, sharing that an insider claimed they were at an impasse over their future. They labeled the jewelry designer "an old-fashioned gal at heart," noting she needed the actor's commitment before babymaking. The source alleged that de Ramon wanted a ring while Pitt had a "go with the flow" approach to their relationship. As for the entertainer's desire to father new children, the insider alleged that it wasn't tied to his estrangement from his kids with Jolie. Surprisingly, Pitt and de Ramon's disagreement over their relationship came weeks after they presented a united front at the "F1" movie premiere in New York City. They looked head over heels for each other, unable to keep their hands to themselves as they posed for pictures. How long will Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie continue to butt heads in court over their winery?
