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Royal focus turns to Milan as Prince Albert meets Princess Anne
Princess Charlene was notably absent as Prince Albert of Monaco joined Princess Anne in Milan for high-level meetings
Prince Albert of Monaco attended the 145th session of the International Olympic Committee in Milan this week, appearing alongside Princess Anne as preparations intensify for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.
The high-profile gathering brought together senior members of the Olympic movement to take part in key discussions and formal decision-making sessions.
Both royals have longstanding ties to the Olympic Games. Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, made history as the first British royal to compete in the Olympics when she represented Great Britain in equestrian events at the 1976 Montreal Games.
King Charles' sister, later moved into leadership roles and has been a member of the IOC since 1988, while also serving within the British Olympic Association.
Prince Albert’s connection to the Winter Olympics is equally deep-rooted. An IOC member since 1985, he competed as a bobsledder for Monaco in five consecutive Winter Games between 1988 and 2002. He currently serves as president of the Monegasque Olympic Committee and holds several senior positions within the IOC.
Princess Charlene, herself a former Olympic swimmer who represented South Africa at the Sydney Games in 2000, did not attend the Milan session. Her absence stood out, though she was recently seen with Prince Albert at a cultural and spiritual event in Monaco marking the close of the Sainte-Dévote celebrations.
The Prince’s visit was shared on the couple’s official social media channels, highlighting the importance of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games and the Olympic values of unity, peace and excellence as the countdown to the Winter Games continues.