The Principality is in mourning alongside the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment of Montauban following the death of Malizia, a bald eagle with deep ties to Monaco…
The 10-and-a-half-year-old raptor, weighing 4.5 kilograms with a wingspan of 2.10 metres, died of pancreatitis on August 17 despite veterinary care. Malizia was the only raptor mascot in the French Army and had become a familiar presence in the Principality since her donation by Princess Caroline of Hanover in 2016.
The Rainier III Zoo, which had often hosted Malizia, expressed “great sadness” at her passing, recalling her regular visits and extending condolences to Corporal Fabien, her handler, and the regiment. The eagle’s loss is felt keenly, not only as a military mascot but also as a symbolic bridge between Monaco and Montauban.
Over the years, Malizia participated in numerous official ceremonies in the Principality, most notably during Monaco’s National Day celebrations. She once caused a stir by briefly perching on the roof of Princess Stéphanie’s apartments and made her final appearance this February in the Palace Square during the changing of the guard, where she stood proudly beside Corporal Fabien.
The name “Malizia,” chosen by Princess Caroline, patron of the regiment since 2012, paid tribute to François Grimaldi, nicknamed “François la Malice,” founder of the Grimaldi dynasty in the 13th century. Each of her appearances carried this historical resonance, linking modern ceremonies to centuries of tradition.
The regiment underlined that Malizia “embodied the pride, agility and audacity of the sapper-paratroopers” and announced that, in time, a successor will be chosen to continue her legacy.
Image: Manuel Vitali/Communications Department
