Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to Monaco for a very special reason.
The Monaco royals invited Prince Edward and his wife Sophie to the principality for a dinner in honour of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.
The awards were started by Prince Edward’s father, Prince Philip, during his time as Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Edward became the patron of both the UK and International Award in March 2023, almost two years after his father’s death in April 2021.
The Monaco royals Albert and Charlene have welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to Monaco. (Instagram/@palaisprincierdemonaco)
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was founded by Prince Philip in the UK in 1956 to encourage self-development of young people.
It has since expanded to 130 countries.
As well as being the award patron, Prince Edward is the chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.
The British royals were in Monaco to attend The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation gala dinner at the Yacht Club de Monaco.
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Princess Charlene with Prince Edward and Sophie atr the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden. (UK Press via Getty Images)
While no photos of the event were made public, the Monaco royal family’s official Instagram page overnight shared a photo of the two royal couple’s meeting.
“Prince Albert and Princess Charlene had the pleasure of welcoming their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh during their visit to the Principality of Monaco,” an accompanying post said.
“A warm exchange reflecting the bonds of respect and friendship between Monaco and the United Kingdom.”
It is not the first time the royals have spent time together, with the group photographed together numerous times over the years.
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The foursome has shared a close relationship since at least 2010. (Getty)
Edward And Sophie, then the Earl and Countess of Wessex, were among the guests invited to the royal wedding of Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock in July 2011.
They had met previously when Prince Albert took the then Charlene Wittstock to attend a viewing of the exhibition Grace Kelly: Style Icon, at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2010, where they were seen greeting and chatting to Albert and Sophie.
In 2012, the four were photographed together prior to the Lunch For Sovereign Monarchs at Windsor Castle.
That same year, they were seen together at the Amber Lounge Fashion Show held at the Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel in Monaco.
In 2013, Princess Charlene of Monaco was pictured walking beside Prince Edward and Sophie, then the Earl and Countess of Wessex, on their way to the banquet following the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden in the royal palace.
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