These photos show one of the happiest moments in Prince Albert’s entire life. These pics are from the Monaco Grand Prix, which was held over the weekend. Charles Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the first native-born Monegasque F1 driver to win the title in Monaco. While many F1 drivers and international athletes live in Monaco (taking advantage of the “no income tax” thing), almost none of them were actually born in Monaco. His Serene Highness Prince Albert actually cried tears of joy at the trophy presentation.
The Monaco Grand Prix was an emotional rollercoaster of a day for Prince Albert of Monaco. When Charles Leclerc won the title on home soil yesterday, making him the first Monegasque to win the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo since the Formula One championship started in the 1950s, he wasn’t the only emotional one. Prince Albert, 66, was also teary-eyed as he hugged the 26-year-old after he made the biggest win of his career yet.
The royal was one of the first to congratulate the F1 winner as he climbed out of his car and Albert to ditched formalities to give Charles a warm hug. Moments later, Albert popped open an extra large bottle of champagne and swigged it straight from the bottle as Princess Charlene cheered him on.
Charles had an appointment at the Grimaldi Palace for the post-race dinner with Prince Albert and his royal family the night before the race – a tradition in Monaco. The next day, Albert, along with Charlene and their twins, Princess Gabriella, and Prince Jacques, both nine, travelled to the Circuit de Monaco to watch the live action. And when Charles claimed the title for his country, Prince Albert couldn’t help but get emotional.
The 26-year-old driver later accompanied the royal family to the balcony, where he and Albert sprayed bottles of champagne before sipping the bubbles straight from the bottle.
I know we rarely cover Formula 1 stuff, but I thought this was cool. Leclerc is very popular among his colleagues and fans, and he always reps Monaco well on the global stage. Albert knows the Leclerc family well and Albert was just swelling with nationalistic pride. Charlene looked really happy too! Charlene and Albert brought their kids out as well.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
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- F1 Grand Prix of Monaco At Circuit De Monaco podium. Featuring: Prince Albert II of Monaco, Charles Leclerc of Monaco Where: Monte-Carlo, Monaco When: 26 May 2024 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY. NO TABLOIDS WEB & PRINT, BILDZEITUNG OUT, BILD.DE OUT, NO DAILY MAIL, NO DAILY MAIL GROUP, NO VOICI, NO CLOSER.**
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- F1 Grand Prix of Monaco At Circuit De Monaco podium. Featuring: Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene Where: Monte-Carlo, Monaco When: 26 May 2024 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY. NO TABLOIDS WEB & PRINT, BILDZEITUNG OUT, BILD.DE OUT, NO DAILY MAIL, NO DAILY MAIL GROUP, NO VOICI, NO CLOSER.**
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- F1 Grand Prix of Monaco At Circuit De Monaco podium. Featuring: Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene, Mohammed Ben Sulayem Where: Monte-Carlo, Monaco When: 26 May 2024 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY. NO TABLOIDS WEB & PRINT, BILDZEITUNG OUT, BILD.DE OUT, NO DAILY MAIL, NO DAILY MAIL GROUP, NO VOICI, NO CLOSER.**
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- F1 Grand Prix of Monaco At Circuit De Monaco podium. Featuring: Prince Albert II of Monaco, Charles Leclerc of Monaco Where: Monte-Carlo, Monaco When: 26 May 2024 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY. NO TABLOIDS WEB & PRINT, BILDZEITUNG OUT, BILD.DE OUT, NO DAILY MAIL, NO DAILY MAIL GROUP, NO VOICI, NO CLOSER.**
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- F1 Grand Prix of Monaco At Circuit De Monaco podium. Featuring: Prince Albert II of Monaco, Charles Leclerc of Monaco Where: Monte-Carlo, Monaco When: 26 May 2024 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY. NO TABLOIDS WEB & PRINT, BILDZEITUNG OUT, BILD.DE OUT, NO DAILY MAIL, NO DAILY MAIL GROUP, NO VOICI, NO CLOSER.**
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- F1 Grand Prix of Monaco At Circuit De Monaco podium. Featuring: Prince Albert II of Monaco Where: Monte-Carlo, Monaco When: 26 May 2024 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY. NO TABLOIDS WEB & PRINT, BILDZEITUNG OUT, BILD.DE OUT, NO DAILY MAIL, NO DAILY MAIL GROUP, NO VOICI, NO CLOSER.**
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- F1 Grand Prix of Monaco At Circuit De Monaco podium. Featuring: Prince Albert II of Monaco Where: Monte-Carlo, Monaco When: 26 May 2024 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY. NO TABLOIDS WEB & PRINT, BILDZEITUNG OUT, BILD.DE OUT, NO DAILY MAIL, NO DAILY MAIL GROUP, NO VOICI, NO CLOSER.**
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- Monte Carlo F1 Grand Prix Featuring: Princess Charlene of Monaco Where: Monte-Carlo, Monaco When: 26 May 2024 Credit: IPA/INSTARimages **UK, USA AND AUSTRALIA RIGHTS ONLY**
Charles was the first Monegasque driver to win a modern F1 race. The last time someone from Monaco won a grand prix race in Monaco was in 1931, Louis Chiron.
It was not an interesting race to watch but it was fantastic to see him win at home. I had tears when he was talking about his dad. It’s too bad he passed away before he got to see it but I’m sure he is proud of Charles, wherever he is.
With you @eden75 for me quali is always more exciting than actual race in Monaco. Always seems to come down to starting position and a significant amount of luck re tire management around crashes and safety cars.
So great to see Charles get the win after previous repeated “own goal” errors by Ferrari under Binotto.
Monaco is too small for the cars now, and you’re right, barring an incident, the quali results are it. I have been watching F1 since I can remember, and Monaco used to be a great race; tight track, quick cars, lots of action. Not now unfortunately. It’s just one that is on the calendar for nostalgia, that’s it.
It was nice to see Charles finally get this one tho. Ferrari really did screw him over in previous races.
Rumor has it that they want to hire Binotto at Aston Martin and I can’t help but scream “Nooooooooo”! Have they not learned from the “we are checking…” incidents in Ferrari pre-Vasseur? Poor Alonso will have a heart attack
Alonso would have Bino tossed in no time. Stroll might be there because he is Daddy’s boy, but Fernando is the boss, without a doubt.
Honestly here’s hoping. Alonsito did not sign on until he is 45 to be managed by a guy who can’t even watch the race properly
Alonso has too much race experience on his own to bother with that crap. He has told engineers and team principals to get stuffed before, so I imagine that it would happen again. The man watches the race from the screens and knows what is going on with the other drivers and his team mate as well as they do, and knows his race probably better than his engineer. I don’t think it would be a problem if they do bring him on. Bino would screw up once and that would be it.
i was weeping too. his backstory makes this win all the more sweet and amazing. good for leclerc.
unrelated, but: i’ve always read the monaco royal family stuff kinda nonchalantly when i’ve come across it on this site.
however, a couple of months ago i read an article on the grimaldis and their shady dealings in bloomberg + i also recently found out about the so-called dossiers du rocher that’ve been exposing them and their principality of corruption , etc.. i don’t think people realise just how fascinating these people actually are.
i’d say they’re way more intriguing than the british royals at this point.
i hope they get more coverage on this site, like the sussexes do, because there’s a lot going on with these people rn .
Thanks for covering Formula One, I know you don’t do it much but the gossip is amazing, once people are introduced to the cast of characters. Anyway I watched this ceremony live and I was hoping you would cover it. In addition to the obvious emotions of Albert and Charles, I noticed that Charlene behaved in a royally professional and poised way that you don’t see with that other family. Whatever she’s been through, she’s learned to be good at the job. And for anyone wanting to know more about F1, I recommend watching Drive to Survive on Netflix.
I love F1 too, I’m always happy when it’s covered here! Especially since the drivers are all so gossipy and dramatic, there’s always something to cover. I watched the race and the ceremony too – I had written to my friends that this is the one time Charlene looked happy, and Albert even participated in the champagne chaos afterwards, which he never does. And honestly, while it was overall a boring race, after the nightmare number of accidents that occurred in lap one, we’re just lucky no one got hurt and the only damage was Checo & the Haas’ cars and Ocon’s ego.
Take Drive To Survive with a grain of salt, but yes, if you are just learning, it is a start.
There are several very good documentaries on all of the platforms about F1 and it’s roots. Those would be a better place to start I think.
Here is a short list of some of the good ones. Also, If you’re looking to branch out from F1 (I love all motor racing, F1 just happens to be my fav) Ford V Ferrari is a great movie about the Le Mans and Ford’s entry into it. Since Ford is making the come back into F1, it is a good layman’s insight into how they got the racing bug.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-best-formula-1-films-and-documentaries-to-watch/4983459/
Andrea Casiraghi used to be my man, but lately he’s a bit off.
Andrea was my teenage crush to end all crushes. Gosh, he was beautiful! Hope everything is okay with him
Thanks for covering some Formula One news. The Grimaldis are an interesting family worthy of their own soap opera – infidelity, children in and out of marriages, lots of spice. I followed Stephanie for a long time since she is my age.