Centered on the 2012 US tour of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, under the Presidency of Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover and directed by Jean-Christophe Maillot, the celebrations will take place from February 2 through 12 in Costa Mesa, CA and from February 11 through March 31 in New York City to benefit Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.

The acclaimed troupe was founded in 1985 by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover to fulfill a long-held wish (to form a national ballet company in Monaco) of her mother, the Academy Award® winning actress, Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco.

“With myriad cultural, sporting, and lifestyle experiences, the Principality of Monaco has attracted discerning visitors for centuries,” said the Honorable Maguy Maccario, Consul General and Director, North America, Monaco Government Tourist Office.

“Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo exemplifies the Principality’s rich artistic heritage and regal traditions, and we are delighted to invite residents from coast to coast to embark on a magical journey as Les Ballets celebrates a triumphant return to the USA with an exclusive West Coast engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts and then onto New York City’s Joyce Theater in the 30^th anniversary year of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.”

The following events will take place throughout the February tour:

Costa Mesa, California

Under the direction of director-choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo will perform a mesmerizing modern rendition of Prokofiev’s Cinderella from Thursday, February 9 through Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA. Performances are scheduled at:

• Thursday, February 9 – 7:30 pm
• Friday, February 10 – 7:30 pm
• Saturday, February 11 – 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
• Sunday, February 12 – 2:00 pm

Individual tickets are now on sale at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts starting from $13.60 and may be purchased by phone at (714) 556-2787 or online at www.scfta.org.

Throughout the week a number of events will also be open to the public, including Monégasque-inspired treats at participating restaurants, luxury sweepstakes including a grand prize trip to Monaco at South Coast Plaza where an audio-visual and photographic display in their Jewel Court will feature unique items from Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, and an exhibition of Monaco’s artistic legacy. For more details, please visit www.monacotakesus.com.

Audiences can continue their Monégasque cultural journey with a number of exclusive events in the Costa Mesa area, including a Monaco-inspired dinner and a cast after-party on Saturday, February 11, as well as a farewell brunch on Sunday, February 12. The following packages are available for purchase:

• FAIRYTALE WEEKEND: Priced at $750 per person, this package includes a ticket (orchestra seating) to the Saturday evening performance, an invitation to the “Magic of the Arts” dinner and to the cast after-party and the farewell brunch plus an invitation to a VIP cocktail reception hosted by Montblanc and South Coast Plaza on Thursday, February 9.  Also included (but reserved for the first 15 ticket purchasers) is a ticket to attend the ballet rehearsal on Friday, February 10.

• AT THE BALL: Priced at $500 per person, this package includes a ticket to the Saturday evening performance and invitation to the Magic of the Arts dinner and the cast after-party.
• GLASS SLIPPER SOIREE: Priced at $300 per person, this package includes a ticket to the Saturday evening performance and an invitation to the cast after-party.

Space is strictly limited. For more information or to purchase packages, please call 800 753 9696 or email info@visitmonaco.com.

New York, New York

From February 15 through February 19, 2012, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo will present two contemporary productions, Altro Canto I and Opus 40 at each performance from acclaimed director-choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot at The Joyce Theater in New York City. The performance schedule follows:

• Wednesday, February 15 – 7:30 pm
• Thursday, February 16 – 8:00 pm
• Friday, February 17 – 8:00 pm
• Saturday, February 18 – 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
• Sunday, February 19 – 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

Starting at $10, individual tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at The Joyce Theater box office at 175 Eighth Avenue (@ West 19th Street), New York City, by phone at 212-242-0800 or online at www.joyce.org.

Audiences can also experience true Monaco style by attending a number of public and private New York City events held under the High Patronage of Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover, including a free exhibition at the Forbes Galleries called A LEGACY OF GRACE. From February 11 through March 31, 2012, visitors can glimpse Princess Grace’s lasting cultural legacy from the ballet company created in her honor, to the ongoing support of emerging artistic talent through the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, which celebrates its 30^th anniversary in 2012.

Featuring stunning photographs by photo-journalist Marie-Laure de Decker and Monaco-born art photographer Silas Shabelewska, original costumes from Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s wardrobe, Princess Grace video highlights as well as a collection of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA’s 30-year history, the exhibition will be open to the public on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and is reserved for group tours on Thursdays. The Forbes Galleries are located at 62 Fifth Avenue at West 12th Street.

Related events available for purchase (in exclusive packages) include a VIP reception at one of Manhattan’s most breath-taking private townhouses with a chance to mingle with Les Ballets members on Tuesday, February 14 followed by the New York premiere of Altro Canto 1 and Opus 40, and the cast after-party (where guests can bid on luxury silent auction items) on Wednesday, February 15. Packages include:

• AVANT-GARDE EXPERIENCE: Priced at $450 per person, this package includes an invitation to the VIP cocktail reception, a ticket to Les Ballet’s premiere performance of Altro Canto I and Opus 40 on February 15 and the cast after-party. (The first 10 ticket purchasers can attend Les Ballet’s rehearsal on February 16 at The Joyce Theatre at a time to be advised).
• VISIONARY Experience: Priced at $250 per person, this package includes a ticket to the NYC premiere performance on February 15 and an invitation to the cast after-party.

Space is strictly limited. For more information on pricing or to purchase a package, please call 800 753 9696 or email info@visitmonaco.com.

The Consulate General of Monaco and Monaco Government Tourist Office in New York acknowledge and thank their partners and sponsors participating in the 2012 Monaco takes US events including Champagne Paul Goerg, Fairmont Monte Carlo, Forbes Media, Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, Hotel Plaza Athenee (New York), Le Club Diamant Rouge de Monaco, Mr. & Mrs. Juan Pablo Molyneux, Montblanc, Nespresso, Oceania Cruises, Roger Dubuis, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Silas Shabelewska Photography, South Coast Plaza, Swiss International Air Lines, The Wall Street Journal (as of January 10, 2011).  Partners of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: CFM (Crédit Foncier de Monaco) (Official Partner), Suissecourtage Assurances, Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo, and Rolex.

Proceeds raised during Monaco takes US will benefit Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and the Princess Grace Foundation – USA. For more about Monaco takes US events and activities, visitwww.MonacoTakesUS.com; call 800 753 9696 or email info@visitmonaco.com.

Under the Presidency of H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover

Les Ballets De Monte-Carlo
Choreographer-Director Jean-Christophe Maillot

This distinguished company of 50 dancers consistently delights audiences with breathtaking performances on the world’s greatest stages, thus highlighting the Principality’s cultural and artistic virtues. Les Ballets became the official company of the Principality of Monaco in 1985, founded by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover in accordance with the wishes of her mother, Princess Grace of Monaco. Since 1993, under the direction of Jean-Christophe Maillot, the company has continued to delight international audiences with award-winning, awe-inspiring performances.www.balletsdemontecarlo.com

Princess Grace Foundation-USA The Princess Grace Foundation-USA was founded 30 years ago by Prince Rainier III of Monaco as a not-for-profit, publicly-supported organization, in honor of his wife Princess Grace [Kelly]. Headquartered in New York City, the Foundation carries on the legacy of Princess Grace by awarding scholarships, apprenticeships and fellowships to emerging artists in theater, dance and film. Since its inception, the Foundation has bestowed more than 700 Awards, totaling more than $8.5 million in grants.www.pgfusa.org

Consulate General of Monaco & Monaco Government Tourist Office
The only accredited Consulate General of Monaco in North America (www.Monaco-Consulate.com) provides consular services, cultural and general information. The Consulate also organizes exclusive promotional and philanthropic events and activities to benefit charitable endeavors, many of which are held under the patronage of the Princely Family, including the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation-USA. The Monaco Government Tourist Office (www.VisitMonaco.com/us) offers personalized tourism advice and information for individuals, group and business travel as well as access to Le Club Diamant Rouge for VIP travel membership within the Principality of Monaco.

The 29th Annual Princess Grace Awards Gala will take place in the presence of TSH The Prince and The Princess of Monaco, marking their first U.S. visit since their July wedding. The evening will be chaired by Dr. Jon Turk (PGF-USA Trustee) and Carolyn Gusoff Turk. This year’s Awards Gala will be highlighted by the unveiling of a unique tribute to Princess Grace by Montblanc. Presenting Sponsor for the Gala is Hermès; Platinum Sponsor is Noelle and Dick Wolf; Crown Sponsor is Lily Safra; American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Princess Grace Awards Gala and 1-800-Flowers.com is the Official Florist.

The Princess Grace Foundation-USA, a public charity, was formed after the death of Princess Grace in 1982. They present scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships to assist artists at the start of their careers. The Foundation has cultivated a diverse group of nearly 600 artists to date who continue to advance the spectrum of performing arts with innovative, cutting-edge, and vibrant theater, dance, choreography, film, playwriting and design. Since the Foundation’s inception, more than 700 Awards have been given to recipients, totaling more than $8.5 million.

This year, PGF-USA will honor Julie Andrews with the Prince Rainier III Award for her outstanding contribution to motion picture, television and theater arts. This Award is presented to eminent artists who have not only been highly successful in their careers, but have made significant humanitarian contributions to their fields. To date, Mikhail Baryshnikov (2005), Twyla Tharp (2006), George Lucas (2007), Glenn Close (2008), Mandy Patinkin (2009) and Denzel & Pauletta Washington (2010) have received this honor, which includes a grant of $25,000 to the philanthropic organization of their choice and a unique sculpture designed by the artist, Alex Soldier.

“Julie Andrews’ extraordinary artistic talent and distinguished career in theater, television and film has been a beacon of inspiration to countless creative young artists, many of whom we acknowledge at this celebration,” says Hon. John Lehman, Chairman of the Board, Princess Grace Foundation-USA. “In the spirit of Princess Grace, it is with great pleasure that we celebrate the achievements of Ms. Andrews and the creativity, passion and budding talent of our Awards winners.”

Past winners of the Awards for theater, dance and film who distinguish themselves in their artistic disciplines since receiving their initial Princess Grace Awards are eligible to win the Foundation’s Princess Grace Statue Award. This year, Jon M. Chu will be honored for his outstanding achievements. Mr. Chu received his first Princess Grace Award, a Film Scholarship at the University of Southern California, in 2001. In addition to a $25,000 unrestricted cash gift, these Awardees are presented with a bronze statuette of Princess Grace created by the Dutch artist Kees Verkade. To date, fifty-four artists have received this award.

At the Gala, The Montblanc Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco will be premiered in the U.S.- a spectacular, new tribute collection to one of the most remarkable individuals of all time, celebrated for Her iconic, timeless style; Her artistic talent as an Oscar©-winning actress and Her unrelenting commitment to helping others. The Montblanc Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco is a continuation of the privileged relationship the brand has enjoyed with the Principality of Monaco in recent years. Consisting of fine jewelry pieces, timepieces and writing instruments, the Montblanc Collection is true to Princess Grace’s enduring style and sophistication. Feminine and elegant, the pieces from this collection are some of the most exquisite ever crafted in Montblanc’s Ateliers, rich in details and inspired by this icon’s spirit and attention to style.

For the third year in a row, celebrated artist Alex Soldier, known for his mastery of precious miniatures, has created an objet d’art to symbolize the Princess Grace Awards. The Award symbolically combines the three art forms lauded by the Foundation: theater, dance, and film by using precious metals and Swarovski crystal accents. Presented as a sculpture for the Prince Rainier III recipient, this work of art is created for each Princess Grace Award winner to wear as a pin, a special reminder of their Award for the world to see.

The Gala will begin with cocktails, followed by a spectacular opening act; then a 3-course dinner catered by Cipriani 42nd Street; followed by the Awards presentations and finally, dancing to DJ Clockwork in the Chapel Room. At the Gala, guests will have the opportunity to support the Foundation by bidding on an extensive collection of exceptional silent auction lots including leather goods, jewelry and accessories, all spearheaded by the generosity of Montblanc. All auction proceeds will benefit Princess Grace Awards to advance its mission of providing crucial support to emerging artists in America.

2011 PRINCESS GRACE AWARD WINNERS
Each year, the Foundation presents the Princess Grace Awards to artists who show excellence and promise in the areas of theater, dance, and film. Students are eligible for scholarships; emerging artists working in companies qualify for apprenticeships and fellowships. A playwriting fellowship is available for individual artists through a residency at New Dramatists in New York City, which includes the opportunity to have the winning play be licensed and published by Samuel French, Inc. In addition to these, the Foundation also gives honorable mention grants to applicants through Honoraria.

The 2011 Princess Grace Awards winners (listed below) represent 20 colleges, universities, and not-for-profit theater and dance companies throughout the United States. The Awards winners exemplify both classical and experimental artistic disciplines and, while still considered emerging talent, already show exceptional promise in their areas of expertise. The Foundation’s support assists their theater and dance studies, helps pay their artistic fees at non-profit theater and dance companies and helps support their thesis film projects. In addition to the Awards, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA extends general operating monies to companies hosting an Awards winner.

This year’s Princess Grace Awards winners are:

THEATER AND PLAYWRITNG
CarlosAlexis Cruz
Theater Fellowship, Grace Le Vine Award
Miracle Theatre Group

Miriam A. Hyman
Theater Scholarship, George C. Wolfe Award
Yale School of Drama

Matt Jones
Theater Apprenticeship, Robert & Gloria Hausman Award
Alternative Theater Ensemble

Hana Sooyeon Kim
Theater Scholarship, Fabergé Award
University of California, Los Angeles

Sarah Rasmussen
Theater Apprenticeship, Pierre Cardin Award
Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Sadieh Rifai
Theater Fellowship, Gant Gaither Award
American Theater Company

Johnna Adams
Playwriting Fellowship
New Dramatists, Inc.

DANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY
Alisa Alba
Dance Fellowship
The National Institute of Flamenco

Joseph Gorak
Dance Fellowship
American Ballet Theatre

Margaret Mullin
Dance Fellowship
Pacific Northwest Ballet

Jeffrey Van Sciver
Dance Scholarship, Chris Hellman Award
Dominican University/LINES Ballet

Casia Vengoechea
Dance Scholarship
The Julliard School-Dance Division

Frederick “Pete” Leo Walker
Dance Fellowship
North Carolina Dance Theatre

Zoe Scofield
Choreography Fellowship
DiverseWorks ArtSpace

Olivier Wevers
Choreography Fellowship
Spectrum Dance Theater

FILM
Valerie Bischoff
Film Graduate Scholarship
Columbia University

Emily Hyde
Film Undergraduate Scholarship
Pacific Northwest College of Art

Gina Marie Napolitan
Film Graduate Scholarship
California Institute of the Arts

Raul Paz Pastrana
Film Graduate Scholarship, Cary Grant Award
School of Visual Arts

Temra Pavlovic
Film Undergraduate Scholarship, John H. Johnson Award
California Institute of the Arts

Iva Radivojevic
Film Graduate Scholarship
CUNY Hunter College

HONORARIA
R. Davis McCallum
Theater Honorarium
The Public Theater

Jacqueline Burnett
Dance Honorarium
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Nigel Campbell
Dance Honorarium
Luna Negra Dance Theater

Chanel DaSilva
Dance Honorarium
Trey McIntyre Project

Shreyasi Das
Film Honorarium
Rochester Institute of Technology

Nick Twemlow
Film Honorarium
University of Iowa

SPECIAL PROJECT and WORKS IN PROGRESS AWARDS
Special Project Awards and Works in Progress Residencies at the Baryshnikov Arts Center are grants available to past Princess Grace Awards winners and Honoraria recipients for uniquely significant projects that advance their artistic development.

This year’s Special Project Awards and Works in Progress Residencies are:

SPECIAL PROJECT AWARDS
Rose Bond
Regina Garcia
Alex Ketley
Rashaun Mitchell
Jimmy Orrante
Alice Reagan
Amie Siegel
Karolina Sobecka

WORKS IN PROGRESS RESIDENCIES
Charlotte Brathwaite
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
David Neumann

About Prince Rainier III Award Honoree – Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews has been a beloved and much-honored star of stage, screen and television for more than half a century. She was already a Broadway legend when she made her feature film debut in 1964’s “Mary Poppins.” Andrews’ iconic performance in the title role of the magical nanny brought her an Academy Award®, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. The following year, she earned a second Oscar® nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her unforgettable portrayal of Maria Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music.” She received her third Academy Award® nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her “dual” role in “Victor/Victoria.” In addition to her stage and screen work, Julie has dedicated her life to her family and to serving important causes, including Operation USA, an international relief organization with which Julie has traveled to such places as Vietnam and Cambodia. From 1992 to 2006 she was honored as the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), which provides financial and technical support for low-income women in developing countries. Ms. Andrews received her honors as a Dame of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on New Year’s Eve 1999. She was also a 2001
Kennedy Center Honoree.

About Princess Grace Statue Award Winner – Jon M. Chu
Jon M. Chu is the director of Touchstone Pictures/Summit Entertainment’s Step Up 2 The Streets (2008), and Step Up 3D (2010). Combined, these two films have grossed over $300 million theatrically. In 2011, Paramount Pictures released Chu’s third film, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, which has since garnered rave reviews and claimed the title as the highest grossing concert themed film of all time in the U.S. and the third highest grossing documentary of all time. Combining old school story telling with new school technology, Chu has managed to find a style that has been described as both innovative and ambitious. Besides his feature films, Chu is active in the online entertainment world. He is the writer and creator of The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, which is the number one original program for Hulu. With over 20 million hits on his YouTube channel and over 250 thousand followers on twitter, Chu’s success in the online space was recognized with the 2011 Digital Pioneer Emmy Award as well as AdAge’s Vanguard Award for outstanding web series. The webseries has been described as “groundbreaking” by the New York Times and “…by a wide margin, the most beautifully filmed, elaborately staged web series in the history of the medium…” from Advertising Age. Other points of recognition include the Jack Nicholson Directing award, the Princess Grace Award, an MTV Movie award, a Teen Choice Award and a coveted speaking invitation to the world renowned TED conference. Chu is currently in preproduction on the next film in the Paramount Picture’s G.I. JOE franchise that will be released in theaters Summer 2012.

ABOUT THE PRINCESS GRACE FOUNDATION – USA
The Princess Grace Foundation-USA is a not-for-profit, publicly-supported foundation, headquartered in New York City and founded more than 25 years ago by Prince Rainier III of Monaco in honor of his wife, Princess
Grace [Kelly]. The Foundation’s mission, that mirrors Princess Grace’s in Her lifetime, is to support emerging artists in theater, dance and film through the awarding of scholarships, apprenticeships and fellowships. Since the Foundation’s inception, more than 700 Awards have been given to recipients, totaling more than $8.5 million. Some notable Princess Grace Awards recipients in Theater include: 2008 Tony® Award winner for Best Direction of a Play, Anna D. Shapiro; Pulitzer and Tony® Award winning playwright Tony Kushner; and Academy Award® winner Eric Simonson. Film recipients include: Stephen Hillenburg, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants; Greg Mottola, director of Paul, Adventureland and Superbad; and Cary Joji Fukunaga, writer and director of Sin Nombre and Jane Eyre. Dance/Choreography Awards recipients include: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle; American Ballet Theatre’s Gillian Murphy, Ethan Stiefel and Sarah Lane; as well as choreographers Andrea Miller and Dominic Walsh.

About the 2011 Princess Grace Awards Gala
The 2011 Princess Grace Awards Gala is being produced by Scott Mauro of Scott Mauro Entertainment, Inc. for the seventh consecutive year. Tickets for the Gala start at $1,250 for Patron tickets and $2,500 for Benefactor tickets. Tables may be purchased for $15,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000. Approximately 500 guests are expected to attend. Those interested in tickets may contact Tamara Leuchtenburg at Event Associates at 212-245-6570 or tamaral@eventassociatesinc.com. A downloadable invitation and response card and additional
information can be found at www.pgfusa.org. For more information, please visitwww.pgfusa.org.

”Monaco’s consulate and tourist office in New York are once again thrilled to support Antiquorum and Luc Pettavino in his quest for a cure while shining the spotlight on the principality. He, and Monégasques like him, work very hard to spread goodwill and compassion far beyond Monaco’s small borders, always inspiring us to reach for answers to life’s challenges,” said Maguy Maccario, consul general and director of the Monaco Government Tourist Office, who are event sponsors.

Link to photographs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/visitmonaco/sets/72157627537170411/

© Suzanne Vreeland / Consulate General of Monaco

Link to video: http://youtu.be/Ne5lTvyRI84

Through the legacy of American-born Princess Grace, the Principality of Monaco and the United States have shared a long-lasting and enduring friendship. For over fifty years, the Principality has had representative offices in New York City and has collaborated with the United States on numerous business and charitable endeavors, humanitarian causes and cultural exchanges. In addition, Monaco enjoys the reputation as one of America’s beloved tourist destinations. Prince Albert not only attended college in New England but also lived and worked in New York City.

In the days following the attacks, the Consulate General of Monaco in New York conveyed the Principality’s solidarity through a message of support and launched – in cooperation with the Monaco Government – a Solidarity Fund. The local residents, including a large number of Americans living there, and the businesses of Monaco, along with the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, contributed to the Fund. On October 23, 2001, H.S.H. Prince Albert traveled to New York City to present Mayor Giuliani with the proceeds.

“The attacks that occurred on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacks not on New York alone but attacks on freedom-loving people all over the world,” Prince Albert told the Mayor. “The example of the American spirit remains an inspiration to all of us in Monaco. As we join with the United States in this time of sorrow, we hold dear our long-lasting and intimate friendship with America, her people and her ideals.”

This project by Mark Dion, acclaimed New York-based artist, who is also a naturalist, archaeologist and explorer, will comprise a huge cabinet filled with marine curiosities in the Oceanographic Museum and a companion art installation in the Villa Paloma.

Oceanomania, Memories of the Mysterious Seas highlights two significant and quite different maritime events, which form the conceptual framework of this project: Census of Marine Life which was completed in 2010, and the fatal April 2010 explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dion’s perception of, and passion for, the ocean lies behind this project. He poses questions about the evolution of Man’s fascination for the sea in time and space, design, literature and art.

Mark Dion’s exhibition at the Villa Paloma will showcase works by 20 artists including such esteemed names as Lucio Fontana, J.M.W Turner and Alphonse Visconti. These works depict the ocean as a vast territory, ripe for further exploration and new discoveries. Further information on the exhibition and the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM) at www.nmnm.mc

For more information, please contact the Monaco Government Tourist Office (MGTO) at 565 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017; phone (800) 753-9696 or (212) 286-3330; or via e-mail at info@VisitMonaco.com. Information and links are available via the Monaco Government Tourist Office web site at VisitMonaco.com. Follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Never before seen as a collection, more than 600 artifacts will be on display within 2,500 square meters, providing a true “tour of Europe,” which will allow visitors to explore the lives, roles and passions of personalities and couples who have marked the history of their dynasties and their countries.
“This is a truly priceless collection that provides a rare glimpse into the lives of history’s most powerful monarchs, with special focus on legendary sovereign couples,” said Hon. Maguy Maccario, Consul General and Director of the Monaco Government Tourist Office in New York.

HRH The Princess of Hanover (center) officially opened The Magnificence and Grandeur of Royal Houses in Europe exhibition, pictured with curators, Catherine Arminjon and Patricia Bouchenot-Déchin. As Monaco’s foremost cultural ambassador, Princess Caroline has an extensive knowledge and great passion for artistic endeavors in the Principality at every level.

Royal houses featured in the exhibition include:

• SAXONY: Augustus the Strong, prince elector of Saxony
• PRUSSIA: Frederick I , king of Prussia and Sophia Charlotte of Hanover
• BAVARIA: Ludwig I (Louis), king of Bavaria and Therese of Saxe
• AUSTRIA: Franz Joseph I and Elisabeth of Bavaria
• DENMARK: Christian IV, Christian IX and Louise of Hesse-Kassel
• SPAIN: Philip V, king of Spain and Elisabeth Farnese
• TURIN : Victor Amadeus II, king of Sardinia
• PORTUGAL: Louis I (Luis), king of Portugal and Maria Pia
• ENGLAND: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg
• BELGIUM: Leopold I and Louise-Marie of France
• LUXEMBOURG: Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
• FRANCE: Napoleon I, Emperor of the French and Josephine
• SWEDEN: Gustav III and Sophie Magdalena of Denmark
• NORWAY: Haakon VII, first king of Norway
• RUSSIA: Alexander II and Marie of Hesse and by Rhine
• THE NETHERLANDS: Queen Wilhelmina
• POLAND : John III Sobieski
• LIECHTENSTEIN: Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein
• MONACO: Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace

Enriched with portraits, sculptures, art objects, furniture, porcelain, gold and silver work, court costumes and jewelry, each section comes alive through spectacular scenography and the generous loans from the great European collections. Documentary and historical films will also be played throughout the exhibition.

Tickets (12 euros) are now available at ticket@grimaldiforum.mc or from the box office at 10 avenue Princesse Grace or via telephone +377-9999-3000 from Tuesday- Saturday between 12:00pm – 7:00pm, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco is a captivating venue for meetings, conventions, exhibitions and galas. In October 2008, it became one of the first European convention centers to obtain the ISO 14001 environmental management certification.

Special vacation packages including tickets for The Magnificence and Grandeur of Royal Houses in Europe exhibition are available at www.MonacoAuction.com. US visitors can find excellent vacation value by bidding on exclusive packages at MonacoAuction.com, the premier online travel auction marketplace dedicated to luxury travel within the Principality.

For more information, please contact the Monaco Government Tourist Office (MGTO) at 565 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017; phone (800) 753-9696 or (212) 286-3330; or via e-mail at info@VisitMonaco.com. Information and links are available via the Monaco Government Tourist Office web site at VisitMonaco.com. Follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Prince Albert’s best man was his cousin, Mr. Chris Le Vine, and Princess Charlene’s maid of honour was Mrs. Donatella Knecht de Massy.

An exquisite set of wedding jewellery called Océan by Van Cleef & Arpels was specially created for Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene. This pledge of love, offered by the Prince to his Princess, who chose its name, transforms into a stunning tiara.

Click on the headings below for more wedding information:
- Dinner Wedding Menu
- Guest List & Biographies