On 9 July 2026, Comendador Anthony Bailey, Hon Consul-General of His Majesty The King of Tonga to the Portuguese Republic, attended a reception marking the 21st anniversary of the Accession to the Throne of the Principality’s Head of State, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Prince Albert II acceded to the Monegasque throne in 2005 following the death of his father, Prince Rainier III. His reign has been particularly associated with environmental protection, ocean conservation, marine biodiversity and action on climate change – issues of considerable importance to the Kingdom of Tonga as a Pacific large ocean state.
Relations between the two dynasties are warm and have included meetings between their respective heads of state. On 6 December 2017, His Majesty King Tupou VI visited Monaco, where he was received in private audience by H.S.H. Prince Albert II at the Prince’s Palace in Monte Carlo during His Majesty’s visit to the Principality for the 10th Peace and Sport International Forum.
The two monarch met again during King Tupou VI’s Official Visit to Switzerland in August 2019. His Majesty and Prince Albert II joined H.E. Ueli Maurer, President of the Swiss Confederation, as special guests at the Federal Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival in Zug. Prince Albert II also attended a garden dinner during His Majesty’s visit.
The Kingdom of Tonga and the Principality of Monaco share particular interests in ocean conservation, environmental protection, sustainable development and addressing the effects of climate change on small states.
The reception, held at Forte da Cruz in Estoril, was hosted by H.E. Henrique de Polignac de Barros, Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to the Portuguese Republic, and attended by members of the diplomatic corps and other guests.
Among them was Prince Hussain Aga Khan, internationally renowned wildlife photographer and marine conservationist, who has a longstanding association with the Kingdom of Tonga through his many expeditions to Vavaʻu and his celebrated photography of Tonga’s humpback whales. Also present representing the Portuguese Royal House were The Duke and Duchess of Coimbra.
Official links and social media
Royal Palace of Tonga
Government of the Kingdom of Tonga
Prime Minister’s Office of the Kingdom of Tonga
Consulate-General of the Kingdom of Tonga in Portugal
Government of the Principality of Monaco
Instagram: @palaisprincierdemonaco
#HussainagakhanTonga #Monaco #KingTupouVI #PrinceAlbertII #TongaMonaco
