Prince Albert II names Charles Leclerc Monaco Goodwill Ambassador in prestigious ceremony

The Ferrari driver received the award at a gala held at the Hôtel de Paris, cementing his status as a key figure in Monaco far beyond the racetrack.

At the Goodwill Ambassador Award Gala held at the Hôtel de Paris on Thursday 2 April, Prince Albert II presented Charles Leclerc with the title of “Goodwill Ambassador” from the Monaco Ambassadors Club. This organisation, founded in 1973 on the initiative of Princess Grace, honours individuals each year whose careers and achievements contribute to the Principality’s international reputation.

At the age of 28, the Ferrari driver thus joins a select group of figures recognised for their ability to represent Monaco on the world stage. In recent years, the title has been awarded to businessman and philanthropist John Christodoulou (2022), Francien Giraudi, founder of the charity Les Enfants de Frankie (2023), Italian singer Umberto Tozzi (2024) and entrepreneur Flavio Briatore (2025).

A wedding gift that went viral

The evening wasn’t limited to the award ceremony. Prince Albert II presented the newlyweds with a personalised model of a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa featuring a dachshund wearing a sky-blue scarf – the driver’s signature colour. Social media users immediately spotted a reference to the Stuart Little meme that Alexandra had shared on Instagram after their wedding.

In pictures: Charles Leclerc unveils photos of his civil wedding to Alexandra Saint-Mleux

Charles and Alexandra, who entered into a civil partnership on 28 February, drove through the streets of Monaco in a genuine 1957 250 Testa Rossa as they left the town hall – a moment that the princely gift has captured for posterity.

The bond between Charles Leclerc and the Princely Family goes beyond mere protocol. At the age of 12, the young Monegasque visited the Palace with his father, Hervé, to seek support for his early days in karting. Since then, Prince Albert has followed his career closely, even shedding tears in the stands during his historic victory at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix.