Lady Monika Bacardi was among the guests at the Opéra Garnier in Monaco for the 20th anniversary gala of the Fondation Prince Albert II, held in the presence of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène. She arrived at the celebration fresh from a string of international engagements, having recently attended the Venice Film Festival and the amfAR gala.
Her presence at the Monegasque gala reflects a longstanding involvement rather than a passing appearance. For years, Lady Monika Bacardi has been active in the Principality’s scientific and philanthropic circles. She sits on the Development and Fundraising Committee of the Fondation Prince Albert II and serves as President of the Association des Amis du Centre Scientifique de Monaco, an organization that supports research in marine, polar, and medical biology while encouraging young researchers and new collaborations between institutions. Her work traces a throughline between science, the environment, and philanthropy themes that also ran through the evening’s celebrations.
The gala itself brought together an eclectic guest list, including honorees Monica Bellucci and Richard Gere, along with Isabelle Huppert, Eva Herzigova, Catrinel Marlon, and Aurélien Muller. Performances by Christina Aguilera, Plácido Domingo, and Sister Sledge punctuated the evening’s most memorable moments.
Over the past two decades, the Fondation Prince Albert II has backed more than 830 projects worldwide, with a focus on combating climate change and protecting biodiversity and water resources paying particular attention to the Mediterranean, polar regions, and less-developed countries. In his remarks, Prince Albert II reflected on the motivation behind founding the organization, recalling that a head of state’s influence carries weight only when it is placed in service of a cause meant to outlast a single reign.
The evening, which featured a menu by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno and an auction conducted by Simon de Pury, combined glamour with a concrete sense of purpose. For Lady Monika Bacardi, the gala offered another opportunity to bridge her worlds cinema, science, and philanthropy in step with the Principality’s continued commitment to placing environmental protection at the center of international dialogue.
