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Monaco

Prince Albert of Monaco’s car collection reopens to the public

After a three month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Cars Collection of HSH The Prince of Monaco is open once again.

The Prince’s private collection of cars re-opened its doors on Monday with the appropriate health and safety measures in place. According to the collection’s Facebook page, masks are required for staff as well as guests from six years of age, and there will be a clearly laid out path for visitors to follow.

Antibacterial hand gel will be made available throughout the space, and guests must respect a minimum distance of 1.5 metres per family. Benches will not be available and access to sanitary facilities will be limited.

Located on the Terraces of Fontvieille, the collection was founded in the 1950s by Prince Rainier III and features nearly one hundred automobiles.

 “It is not a car museum but a personal collection of vintage cars of all ages and countries. Popular or prestigious, they have marked their time and I liked them,” Prince Rainier said.

As an avid car collector himself, Prince Albert II has continued to add to the collection following his father’s death.

Highlights from the Princely Family include the Lexus that Prince Albert and Princess Charlene rode in on their wedding day in July 2011, Princess Grace’s Renault Floride from 1959, and Prince Rainier’s 1956 Chrysler Imperial.

When it comes to classic cars, guests can check out a stunning selection of vintage models like a 1903 De Dion Bouton, a 1914 Napier T78, a 1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, and a 1928 Lincoln Type L, along with a range of vehicles from the 1940s-1960s and beyond.

Visitors also can learn more about Monaco’s racing history by viewing racing cars from the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco and the Rally of Monte Carlo.

Later this summer, the collection will hold an auction to benefit sick children.

“In July, there will be an Artcurial auction which will be at the Hôtel Hermitage, but we are the ones who ‘house’ the cars going on sale,” Valérie Closier, director of the collection, told Monaco Info. “We’re going to hold an auction to raise money for the children at the L’Archet Hospital in Nice, an auction of helmets which have been customised by big artists.”

Tickets to visit the Cars Collection of HSH The Prince of Monaco are available in advance online and cost €8 for adults and €4 for children; for more information visit the collection’s official website.

About author

Kristin was Chief Reporter for Royal Central until 2022 and has been following the British royal family for more than 30 years. Kristin has appeared in UK and U.S. media outlets discussing the British royals including BBC Breakfast, BBC World News, Sky News, the Associated Press, TIME, The Washington Post, and many others.