Laurent of Belgium, Charles of Bourbon-Siciles and Albert II of Monaco met in Paris
These are unexpected reunions that we attended on December 6, 2022 in Paris. Three friends met in the City of Light. Prince Albert II of Monaco was traveling to the French capital to make a series of visits in homage to his great-grandfather, Prince Albert 1er. During this pilgrimage, the Sovereign Prince had the joy of meeting two friends, Prince Laurent of Belgium and Prince Charles of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies.
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Reunion between princes in Paris, in memory of Prince Albert 1er of Monaco
On December 6 and 7, 2022, the Sovereign Prince Albert II was in Paris to conclude his series of visits across the continent, in the footsteps of his ancestor, the explorer, adventurer and scientist prince, Albert 1st of Monaco. After trips to Spain, Portugal, Norway and Germany, Prince Albert visited France.
Prince Albert 1st considered France his second homeland. He was also born in Paris in 1848 and died in the capital in 1922. He carried out many activities there and had acquired a private mansion at 10 avenue du President Wilson to stay there during his stays in Paris. . The building now serves as the seat of the nunciature. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, an avenue was named in his memory in 1932.
During his stay in Paris, Prince Albert II had the pleasure of attending a special session at the Academy of Sciences of the Institut de France. Prince Albert I had been made a foreign associate member of the Academy. To conclude this year 2022 dedicated to the centenary of the disappearance of Albert 1st, the Academy wished to pay tribute to him by organizing a special session, in the presence of eminences of the institution.
Prince Laurent of Belgium and Prince Charles of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies at the Academy of Sciences
Prince Albert II also had the pleasure of meeting Prince Laurent of Belgium, accompanied by his friend, Prince Charles of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies. King Philippe’s brother posed with the delegation and the sovereign prince, before going to the large session hall to attend the tribute ceremony. Prince Charles of Bourbon-Siciles, Duke of Castro, is a close friend of the two princes. The three princes are also of the same generation. Albert II is 64 years old, while Laurent and Charles were born in 1963 and will both celebrate their 60th birthday next year.
The session was performed by the Chancellor of the Institut de France, Xavier Darcos, in the presence of Patrick Flandrin, President of the Academy of Sciences, Eric Karsenti, biologist, Laure Saint-Raymond, mathematician and Philippe Taquet, paleontologist.
Prince Albert II is at the origin of the meeting between Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla. The Monegasque prince had arranged this meeting by introducing his two friends. Prince Charles and Princess Camilla married in 1998 and are parents to two daughters, Princesses Maria Carolina and Maria Chiara. The Two Sicilies family participates in the life of the Principality, both during festive events and during charitable events. recently, the two Bourbon-Sicily princesses took part in the No Finish Line charity race received by Prince Albert II.
The Duke of Castro is also a close friend of Prince Laurent of Belgium. For example, they celebrated New Year’s Eve together almost a year ago. The two families also spend the summer holidays together and Prince Laurent is the godfather of Princess Maria Carolina. The Belgian royal family descends from Louis XIV like the family of Bourbon-Siciles. The Belgian royal family also descends from Louis-Philippe 1st of the French and his wife, Queen Marie-Amélie, born Princess of Bourbon-Siciles and daughter of King Ferdinand 1st of the Two Sicilies.