Albert & Charlène in South Africa

TSH The Prince and Princess of Monaco yesterday completed a visit to South Africa, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban (COP17) and a meeting with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in Cape Town.

The couple arrived on December 6th, residing at the Oyster Bay Hotel for the duration of their visit. Prince Albert then headed over to the Durban International Convention Centre for the High Level Segment of COP17, where he spoke about climate change and its effects on the environment. The segment was attended by the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary, Christina Figueres.

The Prince joined up with his wife the following evening, for the Climate Action Networking Reception at the Moses Mahbida Stadium honouring Professor Wangari Maathai, the founder of the Billion Tree Campaign. Professor Maathai, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who passed away in September, founded the campaign in 2004, to encourage people and countries to plant new trees to benefit the environment. Prince Albert is patron of the Billion Tree Campaign.

On December 8th, the couple were in Cape Town for their meeting with Archbishop Emeritus Tutu. During the meeting, Prince Albert and Princess Charlène presented the Archbishop Emeritus with a cheque for 1,000,000 South African Rand (ZAR) to go towards the Giving Organisation Trust. Princess Charlène is co-patron of the Trust, alongside Archbishop Emeritus Tutu. A portion of the money will be donated by the Trust to the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation. They  also attended an event which presented the Polaris Climate Change Observatory project of the International Polar Foundation.

Click here to read more about the visit.

Filed under Monaco
Tagged Albert II of Monaco, Archbishop Emeritus Tutu, Climate Change, Conference, Donations, Environment, HIV/AIDS, Patronage, Princess Charlène of Monaco, South Africa, United Nations, Working Visit.