Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene will travel to Spain for her first official visit to the country alongside His Serene Highness Prince Albert II on Monday, June 1, as Monaco and Spain celebrate 150 years of diplomatic relations.
The princely couple is expected to begin the visit in Madrid at the Real Jardín Botánico, where they will inaugurate an exhibition highlighting the historical and cultural connections between the Principality and Spain. The event forms part of a wider programme marking a century and a half of formal ties between the two nations.
While Prince Albert has undertaken numerous engagements in Spain over the years, the visit carries particular significance for Princess Charlene, who has maintained a relatively discreet international schedule since becoming Princess of Monaco in 2011. The trip will therefore mark her first official appearance in Spain in her role as Princess Consort.
The visit also reflects the long-standing relationship between the Grimaldi family and Spain’s royal and cultural circles. Princess Grace and Princess Caroline both maintained close links with the country through official events, charity initiatives and social engagements over several decades.
Spanish media reports suggest the programme will focus primarily on cultural diplomacy and bilateral relations, though details of additional engagements have yet to be confirmed.
It remains uncertain whether King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will join the visit formally. Spain’s royal agenda is expected to be particularly busy in the coming weeks ahead of the anticipated visit of Pope Leo XIV later in June.
The anniversary celebrations come at a time of increasingly close cooperation between Monaco and Spain in areas including environmental policy, maritime affairs and cultural exchange.
Image courtesy of Eric Mathon – Palais Princier