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Berlin, 10 July 2026. On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the accession to the throne of Prince Albert II and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Principality of Monaco and Germany, Honorary Consul Bernhard J. Stempfle attended a reception hosted by Monaco’s Ambassador to Germany, Lorenzo Ravano.

Around 300 guests gathered at the Waldorf Astoria in Berlin, including Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Principality of Monaco, Christoph Israng, Director for Europe at the German Federal Foreign Office, more than 70 ambassadors, as well as figures from the worlds of business, finance and culture, and friends of the Principality. Several of Monaco’s Honorary Consuls in Germany were also present.

In her address, Isabelle Berro-Amadeï emphasised the stability of relations between the two countries and the diversity of their cooperation. As a recent example, she referred, among other things, to the inauguration of a Monaco-themed area at Europa-Park, Germany’s largest tourist attraction. She also highlighted the shared values of both countries, in particular their commitment to multilateralism.

Christoph Israng paid tribute to cooperation in the fields of science and ocean protection, as well as to German-Monegasque success stories, including in sport with German sailor Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia.

Diplomatic relations between the Principality and Germany were first established in October 1951. At that time, a legation was set up, which was elevated to the rank of embassy in August 1983. Monaco’s Ambassador to Germany, Lorenzo Ravano, today coordinates a consular network of six Honorary Consuls in Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Potsdam, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart, who contribute to the reputation and visibility of the Principality in Germany.

Rust, 29 June 2026. Honorary Consul Bernhard J. Stempfle attended the official opening of the new Monaco-themed area at Europa-Park in Rust. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Europa-Park CEO Roland Mack inaugurated the new attraction, which introduces the Principality of Monaco to a broad European audience in a unique way.

The new themed area is a fine example of the unifying power of cultural exchange. It brings Monaco's history, traditions and identity to life for millions of visitors through attractions including racing cars from the Prince's collection, Formula One simulators and a virtual aquarium offering insights into Monaco's Oceanographic Museum. A highlight of the new themed area is the integration of Silver Star, one of Europe's tallest and fastest roller coasters. One of the highlights of the evening – and a special surprise for Prince Albert II of Monaco and his family – was the unveiling of Place Grimaldi de Monaco, the square at the heart of the new themed area.

The new Monaco area therefore contributes to fostering mutual understanding between people and to strengthening the ties between Monaco and Germany. As a place where people from across Europe come together, Europa-Park also highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation and Europe's rich cultural diversity.

Düsseldorf, September 9, 2025. Late summer in North Rhine-Westphalia was marked by political and international exchange. Honorary Consul Bernhard J. Stempfle attended the summer reception hosted by Minister President Hendrik Wüst for the Consular Corps as well as the parliamentary summer festival hosted by André Kuper, President of the State Parliament.

The Minister President’s invitation to the MS Poseidon in Bonn was accepted by 100 representatives of consular and diplomatic missions of foreign states in North Rhine-Westphalia. Among the guests were Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal, European and International Affairs, Media, and Head of the State Chancellery, as well as Honorary Consul Bernhard J. Stempfle.

In his speech, Minister President Wüst emphasized the importance of continuous and trusting exchange with the Consular Corps: “Through diplomatic relations and friendships, spaces for understanding and solidarity are created – values that we must uphold especially in turbulent times.” He also thanked the consuls for their good cooperation: “With understanding and the willingness to approach one another, we jointly set a positive example of lived international partnership.”

At the parliamentary summer festival, more than 450 participants gathered at the State Parliament: representatives of all three branches of government, chairpersons and members of the parliamentary groups, members of the state government, representatives of the judiciary, as well as personalities from business, media, churches, religious communities, associations, organizations, and volunteer groups.

In his address, Kuper highlighted the importance of personal encounters: “Institutions alone do not make a vibrant democracy. What it takes is the glue that holds everything together – people coming into conversation with each other, putting what connects us at the forefront. Especially in challenging times, this exchange is indispensable.”

At the joint initiative of H.E. Mr. Lorenzo Ravano, Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to Germany (also accredited to Austria and Poland), and Mr. Christian Dorda, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Vienna, the Embassy held its traditional consular meeting on 30 May 2025, with the participation of the Honorary Consuls from Germany, Austria and Poland.

These meetings are of great value, as they offer an opportunity for warm and insightful exchanges on developments in the Principality, its bilateral relations with the three countries concerned, and enable the Embassy to outline its strategic vision for the year ahead.

In light of the dynamic political landscape — with snap parliamentary elections in Germany, a new government in Austria, and presidential elections in Poland — discussions on political, social, and economic matters proved especially engaging.

In addition, the visit provided opportunities for exchange with the International German Club of Monaco, whose approximately thirty members had likewise travelled to the Austrian capital.

A festive highlight of the stay was a gala dinner held in the Marble Hall of the iconic Hotel Sacher.

Essen, August 14, 2024. The representatives of the approx. 100 consular and diplomatic missions of foreign states in North Rhine-Westphalia accepted the invitation of Minister President Hendrik Wüst to Villa Hügel in Essen. Among the guests at the special reception for the NRW Consular Corps was Honorary Consul Bernhard Stempfle as well as the Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media and Head of the State Chancellery, Nathanael Liminski.

At the summer reception, Minister-President Wüst paid tribute to the significant commitment and valuable exchange with the Consular Corps in NRW: “Wars, crises and conflicts shake our global and European order. Trusting international cooperation and close friendships across national borders are therefore more important today than ever. Peace can no longer be taken for granted - even in Europe - as the last two years have brutally shown us. That is why we must always seek dialog and show that our democratic societies thrive on consensus and compromise,” said Minister-President Hendrik Wüst.

“In North Rhine-Westphalia, we are closely connected with our partners. The Consular Corps builds bridges and is of particular importance for trusting cooperation and maintaining our friendships. Our partnerships and transnational dialog are particularly important when things get stormy at international level. One thing is certain for me: we will only be able to meet the enormous challenges we face if we work together.”

Hamburg, April 25, 2024. A detailed replica of the Principality of Monaco on a 36-square-meter area at a scale of 1:87 can now be visited at “Miniatur Wunderland” in Hamburg's Speicherstadt. Prince Albert II and his family inaugurated the new section, which impresses with a live Formula 1 race among the 245 replicated buildings – including the Prince's Palace, the Casino, the Fairmont Hotel, and the Oceanographic Museum. 8,500 sensors make the world's first autonomous miniature Formula 1 race possible.

The inauguration of this extraordinary Monaco model was attended by Monaco's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Isabelle Berro, Ambassador Lorenzo Ravano, Honorary Consul Bernhard J. Stempfle, and other Monegasque consuls in Germany and Austria. The evening, dedicated to German-Monegasque friendship, made it clear that the replica, which after seven years of construction now includes 50,000 figures and 1,500 trees, builds a visible cultural bridge between the two countries. It allows visitors to experience the Principality in a unique way and learn more about its attractions.

The following day, the attending diplomatic representatives of Monaco came together for the "Annual Consular Meeting" of the Monegasque Embassy at the premises of the internationally renowned creative and advertising agency Jung von Matt. The agency's co-founder, Holger Jung, is the Honorary Consul of Monaco in Hamburg. Here, Foreign Minister Isabelle Berro presented, among other things, the strategic directions of Monaco's foreign policy.

Dernau, December 20. The reconstruction work in the Ahr Valley, which is being supported by a donation from the "Club Allemand International de Monaco" (CAI), among others, is showing encouraging progress. Honorary Consul Bernhard Johannes Stempfle handed over a symbolic cheque for 10,000 euros to the municipality of Dernau in October 2021 – exactly three months after the flood disaster, which affected 90 percent of the 1,800 local residents – to help rebuild the village square.

A lot has happened since Stempfle’s visit. The square has been renovated and refurbished to such an extent that the Dernau St. Martin's market could be held there again in mid-November, for example. This marks a positive milestone on the way to revitalizing the community.

The completely renewed paving, the new walls and flower beds as well as the lovingly designed planting show what the donations have already achieved. The reconstruction fund of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate has made this possible, while the CAI's donation played a key role in speeding up the process.

The next steps are already being planned with a pergola (roofing) and a toilet room. The timetable envisages the square being fully completed in spring 2024. The new village square will not only become a central meeting place for the community, but also a symbol of solidarity.

Düsseldorf, December 6, 2023: An evening of international exchange: Bernhard J. Stempfle, Honorary Consul of the Principality of Monaco in North Rhine-Westphalia, took part in the state parliament's Advent reception for the consular corps. André Kuper, President of the State Parliament of NRW, emphasized the importance of such meetings in view of the numerous crises worldwide. NRW is committed to making a positive contribution through cooperation and community spirit. In this context, Kuper welcomed two personalities who are particularly committed to this goal: Dr. Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner, former Minister for Federal and European Affairs, and Stefan Engstfeld, current Chairman of the State Parliament's Committee on European and International Affairs. The new Doyenne of the Consular Corps in NRW, the Consul General of Portugal, Lidia Nabais, expressed her thanks for the commitment of the state government and the state parliament, which is reinforced by many stable personal relationships.

Monaco, November 19, 2023: Selected diplomats and state dignitaries gathered in the Principality to celebrate Monaco's national holiday. Taking part in this year's "Fête du Prince": Bernhard Johannes Stempfle, Honorary Consul of the Principality of Monaco in North Rhine-Westphalia, and his wife Karin Stempfle.

The day before the celebrations, the focus was on German-Monegasque relations. The honorary consuls in Germany came together with the members of the International German Club of the Principality of Monaco (Club Allemand International de la Principauté de Monaco, "CAI") for a get-together. Saturday evening saw the official kick-off at the Yacht Club de Monaco with the traditional Spectacle Pyrotechnique, a large fireworks display over the marina.

The national holiday itself began with the "Te Deum", the hymn of praise followed by a prayer for the sovereign, in the Notre-Dame-Immaculée cathedral, followed by the "Prise d'Armes" military parade. The celebrations ended with a cultural highlight at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo: Jonas Kaufmann, one of the greatest tenors of our time, performed a tribute to Caruso, who was artistically active in Monaco.

Düsseldorf/Berlin, 8 August 2023: In his function as Honorary Consul of the Principality of Monaco, Bernhard Johannes Stempfle, Managing Director Finance & Infrastructure of Messe Düsseldorf, attended two receptions in the summer of 2023. The Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco, Lorenzo Ravanao, and his wife Claudia Ravano were invited to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin on 7 July. The occasion was the anniversary of the accession of Prince Albert II of Monaco.

This was followed on 8 August by the premiere of the Parliamentary Summer Party of the State Parlia-ment of North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf. The President of the Landtag, André Kuper, invited guests for the first time to this exchange between politics, culture, business and the international com-munity.

Düsseldorf, December 2, 2022 - Prince Albert II has received the honorary award of the German Sustainability Award for his foundation, which also works with Messe Düsseldorf to promote marine conservation. The Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco is one of the world's largest and most effective environmental foundations and has supported 720 projects worldwide with around 92 million euros since its establishment in 2006. Together with the German Ocean Foundation and Messe Düsseldorf, it presents the annual "ocean tribute" award at boot Düsseldorf, which honors special commitment to marine conservation. Prior to the presentation of the German Sustainability Award, Prince Albert II visited the Drei-Scheiben-Hochhaus in Düsseldorf with Ambassador Lorenzo Ravano and Honorary Consul Bernhard Stempfle, among others.

Düsseldorf, January 27, 2022. Exactly 77 years ago, the Allied troops arrived at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. On the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Bernhard Johannes Stempfle, Honorary Consul of the Principality of Monaco in NRW, is also making a statement against the forgetting and participates in the #WeRemember campaign of the World Jewish Congress. "Hatred and collective silence significantly paved the way to the Holocaust," says Stempfle. "During the Covid Crisis, we are seeing an increase in racism, far-right slogans and conspiracy theories. We must counter this to create a better future."

Dernau, October 14, 2021 – Bernhard J. Stempfle visited the municipality of Dernau exactly three months after the flood disaster in the Ahr valley. There he presented Mayor Alfred Sebastian with a symbolic donation check from the "Club Allemand International de Monaco" (CAI) in the amount of 10,000 euros, which will go towards the renovation of the village square.

"The damage is still considerable," Stempfle describes his impressions. According to the municipality, around 90 percent of the 1,800 inhabitants have been affected, and several people have died. "In the village itself, houses including beautiful half-timbered houses have been and are being demolished, especially when heating oil has leaked and contaminated the walls," Stempfle reports.

Beatrix Freifrau von Dellingshausen and Patrick Wetzel, co-presidents of the CAI, emphasize how important this commitment is to them and the entire association: "Charity is expressly one of our goals. As an organization that bridges the gap between Germany and Monaco, it is natural for us to help in this emergency situation."

Since its founding in 1973, the CAI has donated more than 3.5 million euros – including to various Monegasque institutions such as the Red Cross, the Prince Albert II. Foundation, the Princess Charlene Foundation, the Princesse Grace Hospital or humanitarian associations such as Mission Enfance or AMAPEI.