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Exploring the unique principality as it hosts the Monaco Grand Prix, going behind the scenes of the royal palace preparing for a glamorous event hosted by Prince Albert.

In this first episode, director Michael Waldman explores how this extraordinary country operates. He meets everyone from Prince Albert and his staff in the palace to wealthy widow Monika Bacardi, who takes him on a tour in her chauffeur-driven classic Rolls Royce. Waldman then goes trackside with former F1 winner David Coulthard and team owner Eddie Jordan during the Monaco Grand Prix.

As visitors flock in for the Grand Prix weekend, Waldman speaks to the harbour-masters responsible for guiding yachts worth millions to their moorings, and to Sylvie, a housekeeper to the stars at the iconic Hotel de Paris whose job it is to tend to the every whim of the VIP guests. It is also a busy time for the parking valets at the hotel, who have to cope with their demanding guests and their supercars. Where once discretion ruled, for the YouTube generation, showing off is now everything.

In Monaco, helicopter is the taxi of choice. Quentin Rayard, trainee air traffic controller at the heliport, is a Monegasque citizen rather than a wealthy expat. He says he is lucky because rent is subsidised for citizens and they also have employment priority. The show meets him during the week of the Grand Prix, a particularly busy time with between 600 and 800 flights per day, over five times the standard summer traffic.

Meanwhile back at the palace, Prince Albert and his wife Princess Charlene are hosting the exclusive annual Grand Prix party for special guests, and the film goes behind the scenes of the preparations for National Day, which culminates in an extravagant lunch.

Monaco is keen to keep its reputation as one of the most glamorous places in the world but needs to attract a new generation of millionaires. The episode follows the prince鈥檚 friend Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies as she hosts the Monaco Influencers Awards, with the aim of appealing to the jet-set Instagram generation.

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59 minutes

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Last on

Thu 27 Oct 2022 23:00

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:04

    Henry Mancini

    Snowfall

  • 00:13

    James LaBrie

    Agony

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Fred Sirieix
Series Producer Michael Waldman
Director Michael Waldman
Producer Ruth Overend
Executive Producer Bridget Boseley
Executive Producer Jonathan Smith
Executive Producer Richard Gort
Executive Producer Sunil Patel
Production Manager Samantha Wilkinson
Editor Paul van Dyck
Composer Lindsay Wright
Production Company Spun Gold TV
Production Company Whisper TV

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