Exactly sixty-five years ago, on October 23, 1960, Monaco played host to one of the most significant diplomatic visits in its modern history. President Charles de Gaulle, then leader of the French Republic, arrived in the Principality to be received with full honours by Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace.
The visit came at a pivotal moment in post-war Europe. France, under de Gaulle’s leadership, was asserting its new identity as the Fifth Republic, while Monaco — small but strategically placed on the Mediterranean — was developing rapidly under Rainier’s modernising vision. The encounter symbolised not only cordial relations between Paris and Monaco but also a delicate balance of independence and interdependence that has defined their ties for centuries.
Crowds lined the streets of Monte-Carlo as the presidential motorcade made its way from the border to the Prince’s Palace. The visit included an official reception, a military parade, and a banquet at the palace, where Princess Grace — then only four years into her new life as a royal — was photographed beside President de Gaulle.
Behind the ceremony, however, lay the quiet weight of diplomacy. France and Monaco had recently weathered negotiations over taxation and sovereignty, with de Gaulle keen to reaffirm France’s influence in the region. The warm exchange between the two heads of state served to reinforce a relationship that, though occasionally tested, remained vital for both nations.
Today, the black-and-white photographs of that October day capture more than just a state visit — they mark a moment of poise and partnership in a changing Europe. Sixty-five years on, the images remind us of an era when diplomacy wore white gloves and a handshake could still make history.
Images courtesy of G. Lukomski – Archives of the Prince’s Palace
