THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF PRINCE ALBERT II’S OLYMPIC TORCHES ON DISPLAY TO THE PUBLIC
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco inaugurated an exceptional exhibition at the Grimaldi Forum, a few days before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games. The Monegasque sovereign agreed to present his personal collection of Olympic torches to the public. During this event, the couple appeared more united than ever, notably by posing hand in hand in front of the 2006 torch. Albert and Charlène made their relationship public during the 2006 Olympic Games.
The free exhibition allows you to see the evolution of the torches according to the eras and the host countries (Photo: Eric Mathon / Princely Palace)
Prince Albert II revealing his private collection of Olympic torches
This Thursday, July 18, 2024, eight days before the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympics in Paris, Prince Albert II of Monaco, 66 years old, and Princess Charlène, 46 years old, inaugurated the exhibition “The Olympic flame throughout the time ". This free exhibition, in the Verrière of the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, allows visitors to admire the 40 Olympic torches belonging to the Monegasque sovereign.
La princesse Charlène, le prince Albert II, Louis Ducruet et Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy lors de l’inauguration « La flamme olympique au fil du temps » (Photo : Eric Mathon / Palais princier)
Photo : Eric Mathon / Palais princier
Prince Albert II has a large collection of Olympic torches, the oldest of which is that of 1936. The most recent torch is that of the 2024 Olympic Games, a torch that Prince Albert and his wife themselves held in their hands during the passing of the Olympic flame in Monaco in June.
Le prince Albert II présente sa collection de torches olympiques (Photo : Eric Mathon / Palais princier)
This exhibition opens in the run-up to the Olympics but also in the year 2024 which marks the centenary of the third gold medal obtained in rowing by John B. Kelly Sr, the grandfather of Prince Albert II. Prince Albert should also present the medals to the Olympic champions during the rowing competitions this year, in memory of the victories of his ancestor.
The princely couple holding the 2024 Olympic torch, in the presence of the French ambassador to Monaco, Jean d'Haussonville, brother-in-law of the Count of Paris (Photo: Eric Mathon / Princely Palace)
Exceptional exhibition of Olympic torches since 1936
The exhibition, organized by the Monaco Olympic Committee, is staged by architect Frédéric Genin, who divided the room in two with a 40-meter-long structure to place the torches of the Summer Olympic Games in parallel and winter. “Each torch, in addition to being a masterpiece of engineering, reflects the innovation and aesthetics of its era and the host country of the Olympic Games,” explain the organizers.
For this inauguration, on a theme that particularly unites the princely couple, Albert and Charlène showed themselves to be very complicit and close. Albert II and Charlene held hands and exchanged tender looks and knowing smiles throughout the event. It was at the Turin Olympic Games in 2006 that Albert chose to make his relationship with Charlène public, appearing together in the stands during the competitions. The couple posed hand in hand in front of the 2006 torch.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene hold hands in front of the 2006 Olympic torch, reminding them of the Turin Olympic Games which they attended as a couple for the first time (Photo: Eric Mathon / Princely Palace)
Louis Ducruet, son of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, and Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, granddaughter of Princess Antoinette of Monaco, accompanied the princely couple during this inauguration. Louis and Mélanie-Antoinette are both involved in the sporting life of Le Rocher. Jean d’Haussonville, brother-in-law of the Count of Paris and French ambassador to Monaco, was present at the event.
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene pose in front of the torch from the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, an edition in which Charlene Wittstock participated as a swimmer (Photo: Eric Mathon / Princely Palace)
Princess Charlène radiant at the inauguration of this exhibition dedicated to the Olympic torches owned by her husband (Photo: Eric Mathon / Princely Palace)
The fact that Prince Albert has a personal collection of Olympic torches comes as no surprise. The Olympic Games are a true passion for this sports fan. Prince Albert participated in five editions of the Winter Olympic Games in bobsleigh. His grandfather was a triple gold medalist in rowing and his uncle was a bronze medalist. As for Princess Charlène, a former swimming champion, she also participated in the Olympic Games in 2000.
NICOLAS FONTAINE
ROYAL ARTS VISIONS; THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF PRINCE ALBERT II’S OLYMPIC TORCHES ON DISPLAY TO THE PUBLIC