{"id":326629,"date":"2025-11-24T13:11:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T11:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/2025\/11\/prince-albert-ii-hosts-portuguese-president-marcelo-rebelo-de-sousa-for-historic-visit\/"},"modified":"2025-11-24T13:11:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T11:11:16","slug":"prince-albert-ii-hosts-portuguese-president-marcelo-rebelo-de-sousa-for-historic-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2025\/11\/prince-albert-ii-hosts-portuguese-president-marcelo-rebelo-de-sousa-for-historic-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Prince Albert II hosts Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for historic visit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa\u2019s visit marks the start of strengthened cooperation between the two States, more than a century after ties were forged by two oceanographer sovereigns.<\/strong><\/p>

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On Friday, the Prince’s Carabinieri stood motionless under a clear morning sky in the Cour d’Honneur of the Prince\u2019s Palace. Despite the November chill, the atmosphere was celebratory as they welcomed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, who arrived with his delegation to make history: never before had a Portuguese head of state carried out an official visit to the Principality.<\/p>\n\n

At precisely 10.15 am, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene welcomed their guest at the foot of the Palace steps. The national anthems rang out under the direction of Colonel Tony Varo, Superior Commander of the Public Force, before the two heads of state reviewed the military detachment. The high-level meeting crowns eighteen years of strengthening bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2007. \u201cFor the Portuguese community, it is an immense source of pride that the president is visiting Monaco. His visit shows that our presence is truly recognised<\/em>,\u201d Pedro, a 25-year-old Portuguese resident in Beausoleil, said.<\/p>\n\n

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Princess Charlene wore a dress by Emilia Wickstead \u00a9 Benjamin Godart \u2013 Monaco Tribune<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Decorations exchanged and framework agreement signed<\/h3>\n\n

The day was marked by several key moments. After the bilateral meeting in the Salon de Famille, the two sovereigns exchanged decorations in the Salon des Glaces. Prince Albert II promoted Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to the rank of Grand Cross in the Order of Saint-Charles, while the Portuguese president presented the Princely Couple with the Grand Collar and the Grand Cross of the Order of Christ. Far from symbolic gestures, these distinctions represent mutual recognition between two States united by their commitment to ocean preservation.<\/p>\n\n

The official luncheon preceded the signing of a cooperation framework agreement, negotiated since 2018. Signed in the presence of Isabelle Berro-Amad\u00e9\u00ef, Government\u2013Counsellor-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and In\u00eas Domingos, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, the text outlines exchanges in areas as varied as culture, education and marine conservation.<\/p>\n\n

A tribute to the pioneers of oceanography<\/h3>\n\n

In the afternoon, the delegations travelled to the Saint-Martin Gardens, where a photographic exhibition titled \u201cSouverain Oc\u00e9anographe\/Sovereign Oceanographer\u201d lines the railings. Twenty-three images retrace the scientific legacy of Albert I, presented alternately by Thomas Fouilleron, Director of the Archives and Library of the Palace, and Vincent Vatrican, Director of Monaco\u2019s Audiovisual Institute.<\/p>\n