Paris, France – Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène joined the historical commemorative event marking the WWI Armistice centenary dating to November 11, 1918.
Invited to this commemorative weekend by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the royal couple of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene was welcomed to the event by French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves le Drian and the French Minister of Culture Franck Riester. The couple attended a dinner at the Musée d’Orsay in the presence of 60 heads of state.
The next day, Prince Albert II and his wife Princess Charlène of Monaco traveled by motorcade to the Arc de Triomphe where the International Ceremony for the 11th of November was being held in honor of all those fallen during WWI.
3,400 people were present for the spectacle, all braving inclement weather conditions. The homage included excerpts from soldiers’ journals, songs, musical performances, and a speech from Emmanual Macron. The ceremony was closed with the piece Boléro de Ravel, interpreted by the Orchestre des Jeunes de l’Union Européenne.
Prince Albert went on to attend an official lunch organized by l’Elysée for the heads of state. At the same time, Princess Charléne visited the Château de Versailles for a lunch hosted by France’s first lady Brigitte Macron. The luncheon for the partners of heads of state was accompanied by a visit to the palace and a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Prince Albert II was also present for the inauguration of the first Paris Forum for Peace, which took place in the Grande Halle de la Villette. The Prince’s speech during the event reminded the audience of Monaco’s historical position as a defender of peace among men.