Principality of Monaco and Spain never so united in promoting environmental actions.
- M Abti
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
On June the 1st and 2nd, 2026, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco embarked on an official, historic visit to Madrid, Spain, on June 1 and 2, 2026. The trip commemorated the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Monaco and Spain, while also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Spanish branch of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
The Spanish Royal Family hosted the Monegasque Princely Couple during the two-day diplomatic affair. The highly anticipated visit marked the first official trip to Spain for Princess Charlene since her marriage to Prince Albert II of Monaco, and provided the first opportunity for her to meet Queen Letizia on Spanish soil.
A key focus of the two-day visit was Environmental Conservation, highlighted by the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation's Spanish branch, combined with the celebrations of 20 years of activity to protect Planet Earth. The Foundation is actively dedicated to researching Climate Mitigation solutions, advancing Renewable Energy, and preserving Biodiversity. The Madrid event recognised the Spanish chapter's decade-long commitment to supporting these global ecological initiatives.
On Monday, the 1st June 2026, the Princely Couple traveled to the Real Jardín Botánico in Madrid. They were officially welcomed by H.R.H. King Felipe VI and H.R.H. Queen Letizia of Spain. Together, the royal and princely couples viewed commemorative exhibitions that highlighted five centuries of shared cultural history and the opening of the first Monegasque diplomatic mission in Spain.
On Tuesday, the 2nd June 2026, the focus shifted to environmental preservation. Prince Albert II of Monaco participated in a special program commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Spanish branch of His Foundation. Created in Madrid in 2016 and chaired by Carol Portabella, the branch has played a vital role in advancing the Sovereign Prince's international ecological initiatives, through key partnerships with institutional, scientific, and academic stakeholders,
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco visited IE University (Universidad Instituto de Empresa) to address recipients of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Scholarships for Sustainability, highlighting the critical role of youth in tackling global environmental challenges. The institutional event emphasised human-centric and collaborative leadership as a vital driver for a greener, more sustainable future.
The afternoon session at IE University, themed Leading the Future Through Collaboration: Talent, Innovation and Opportunity, gathered global leaders to discuss the impact of specific training in environmental management. The Sovereign Prince was officially welcomed by Santiago Íñiguez de Onzoño, President of IE University, and Diego del Alcázar Benjumea, Chief Executive Officer.
During the event, Prince Albert met with the alumni of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Scholarships for Sustainability. Introduced by Manuel Muñiz, Rector of the IE Foundation, the group included five international changemakers, notably: Cecilie Vand Pedersen (Denmark); Paloma Petrova (Bulgaria); Valentino Cáceres (Peru); Yelyzaveta Adova (Ukraine); Margherita Storchi (Italy).
Established through an alliance between the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the IE Foundation, the scholarship program provides tuition support for clever students in full-time Master's programs focused on environmental and social transformation. The initiative prioritises developing leadership skills and promoting entrepreneurial projects that focus on climate action and biodiversity preservation.
IE University recently hosted a dynamic session on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in collaboration with South Summit, a leading global innovation and networking platform that connects startups, investors, and corporations to generate business opportunities, represented by its Founder, María Benjumea. The event featured global startup finalists presenting innovative climate, ocean, energy, and health solutions.
The rendezvous concluded with a further section named The Importance of Collaboration in Driving and Advancing Sustainability where Romain Ciarlet, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince's Foundation, showcased collaborative projects like ReOcean and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF), while a group of sustainability leaders, like Juan Naya (CEO of ISDIN), Carmen Navarro (Grupo Español de Crecimiento Verde), and Valentín Alfaya (Ferrovial) shared practical insights into executing successful sustainability and innovation initiatives.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco pointed out: « Spain has long stood among Europe’s leaders in environmental action, through its renewable energy, its care for ecosystems, and the strength of its science. It was that shared conviction that, ten years ago, gave rise to the Spanish branch of my Foundation. (...) The environment is not one issue among many, to be left to a handful of specialists. Our relationship with the natural world shapes everything we do: how we produce, how we travel, how we build, and how we live. (…)
For many years, much of the business world treated the environment as a cost, a burden, an obstacle to growth. Today, it knows better. It understands that the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of action. The transition is no longer a constraint. It is an opportunity: for innovation, for growth, for reinvention ».
Carol Portabella, President of the Spanish branch of Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation words resonated: « Sustainability can only be built through collaboration and shared commitment. We need to create spaces capable of connecting young people, companies, institutions, and civil society in order to turn awareness into action and move toward a more balanced and responsible future model ».
Romain Ciarlet, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, concluded: « Ten years after its inauguration, the Spanish branch of the Foundation fully reflects our ambition to build lasting bridges between institutional, economic, academic and philanthropic stakeholders. Thanks to the commitment of Carol Portabella and all the partners mobilised in Spain, we have been able to develop concrete initiatives in support of biodiversity, youth and public awareness. This anniversary visit marks a new step in strengthening our collective action for planetary health ». ***
✒️ Maurice Abbati
Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.
Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy
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