A Royal Night Out: Inside the Monaco Red Cross’s 75th-Anniversary Gala
Friday night in Monaco saw one of the principality’s annual charity galas, the Croix-Rouge Monégasque (Red Cross Monaco), roll out—and because it’s Monte Carlo, it was certainly not your average fundraiser.
Let’s start with the venue: the Salle des Etoiles, or the Monte-Carlo Sporting, which, counter to what it might suggest, is not a sports arena but a resplendent concert and entertainment hall built in 1974; its retractable glass windows overlook the Monte Carlo Bay and the mega yachts that are constantly passing through. Then consider the guest list: it was crowned by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, President of the Monaco Red Cross, and H.S.H. Princess Charlène, Vice-President of the Monaco Red Cross.
Lastly, there is the charity itself, which, for all its magnanimity, has glamorous roots. Grace Kelly was president from 1958 until her death. The organization has been under the tutelage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II since 1982.
