She added, personally: “Albert, you know that I am always by your side, along with the Monégasques. We are standing with you, with all our hearts, to protect Monaco and its future under your leadership. We love you, we support you, and we thank you for being there for all of us.” She concluded, raising a toast: “Let’s raise our glass to our Prince—to you, Albert!”
Following her speech, 10 members of the Prince’s Carabinieri—Monaco’s military guard—performed a moving a cappella version of the Monégasque anthem. Prince Albert sang along from his seat, visibly touched.
Around 800 distinguished guests attended the soirée, dressed in black-tie attire and dripping in jewels, gathering beneath the retractable roof of Monte-Carlo’s famed Salle des Étoiles ballroom, with its panoramic views of the Riviera. Tables, decorated with 5,000 bushels of vibrant red and pink flamingo flowers, set the stage for a four-course meal by chef Thierry Saez Manzanares: caviar tartlets, seafood platters, wagyu steak, and a white chocolate–raspberry crisp for dessert.
Just before dessert, the gala’s anticipated charity raffle began, hosted by French ballet dancer Aurélie Dupont and journalist Harry Roselmack. Coveted prizes included a two-night stay in a sea-view suite at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, a Lady Dior lambskin handbag, Repossi diamond jewels, and an Audemars Piguet timepiece.
“What I love most about the Monaco Red Cross Gala is the event itself—the preparations, the guests in their gala outfits, the raffle prizes, the dinner, where I meet people from Red Cross organizations around the world,” said Gottlieb, who wore a custom black-and-white Elisabetta Franchi gown inspired by a dress worn by her grandmother, Princess Grace. “And seeing the generosity of people in raising funds for the Monaco Red Cross.”
A few minutes before midnight, Prince Albert officially opened the dance floor. He and Princess Charlene swayed hand-in-hand to Coldplay’s “Everglow,” soon joined by Ducruet, Chevallier, and other guests. Then, as the Salle des Étoiles’s retractable roof opened to reveal the night sky, a fireworks display lit up the Riviera.
The evening closed with a performance by British rocker Billy Idol, who played over 10 of his biggest hits. Well past 1 AM, Prince Albert, Princess Charlene, and Gottlieb were still on the dance floor, singing along to “Eyes Without a Face.” At one point, Idol asked the crowd, “Do you want to have some fun tonight?” Prince Albert cheered back, “Yeah!”
The 2025 Monaco Red Cross Gala ended as both a dazzling night and a testament to the principality’s ongoing commitment to compassion and generosity. For Gottlieb, her role on the organization’s board is more than tradition—it’s her personal passion.
“The Red Cross Gala is very important to me—not only as a member of the royal family but especially since joining the board in charge of the Youth and Future section,” she said, as she approaches her 27th birthday this week. “Charity has always been very important to me; it plays a major role in my daily life.”
