12,000 Children Sing in Madagascar as Prince Albert II Opens a College Bearing His Name

Published by Prinz Mario-Max zu Schaumburg-Lippe

Prince Albert II of Monaco standing with Father Pedro Opeka, Donatella Campioni and schoolchildren in blue uniforms at Akamasoa in Madagascar, with thousands of students gathered behind them - Photo: Palais princier

Photo: Palais princier

MADAGASCAR – Twelve thousand children. One prince. And a brand new college with his name on it. Prince Albert II of Monaco arrived in Madagascar on Thursday morning, October 29, 2026, travelled straight to Akamasoa, and walked into a welcome no palace ballroom could match – 12,000 schoolchildren in blazing blocks of blue, orange, yellow and pink, singing Malagasy songs, dancing traditional dances, performing for him and running an athletics race under a brilliant blue sky.

A Story by Award Winning Managing Editor His Highness Dr. Prince Mario-Max zu Schaumburg-Lippe.

The photograph released by the Prince’s Palace is pure joy. Albert, smiling in a navy suit, stands above the sports field with Father Pedro Opeka, the white-bearded founder figure of Akamasoa, and Donatella Campioni in a summery floral top. Three children stand in front, two in bright blue school coats, grinning for the camera, while behind them the crowd simply never ends – thousands of pupils in colour-coded ranks stretching to a four-storey school house at the far side of the field.

Photo: Palais princier

Madagascar is the first stop of a journey of a few days in Africa. At the airport the Sovereign was welcomed by Madagascar’s Minister for Public Security. But the heart of the day belonged to Akamasoa. Accompanied by Father Pedro and by Donatella Campioni, President of Monaco Aide et Presence, the Prince inaugurated the College Prince Albert II and unveiled a commemorative plaque.

Here is the number behind the emotion. Monaco Aide et Presence has supported Father Pedro and Akamasoa since 1995. That is 31 years of loyalty – older than every single pupil on that field. This was no flying visit. This was family coming home.

After the plaque came the moment the children will retell at dinner. The Prince went into a classroom, sat with the pupils and asked them about their school journey and their future. Earlier this month the same instinct was on show at home, when Albert and Charlene opened the new Creche Ida nursery in Monaco, and when the palace prepared its National Day presents for Monaco’s seniors. Toddlers, teenagers, grandparents – Albert works every generation, and on Thursday 12,000 teenagers answered him in song.

The palace called the visit a day of education, youth and commitment to the future of Madagascar’s children. The pictures call it something simpler. A party, a promise, and a prince who stayed to listen.

12.000 Kinder singen – Albert II eroeffnet in Madagaskar ein College mit seinem Namen

MADAGASKAR – Was fuer ein Empfang! Fuerst Albert II. von Monaco ist am Donnerstagmorgen, 29. Oktober 2026, in Madagaskar gelandet – und in Akamasoa warteten 12.000 Schueler auf ihn. In leuchtendem Blau, Orange, Gelb und Pink sangen sie madagassische Lieder, tanzten traditionelle Taenze, fuehrten Stuecke auf und liefen sogar ein Leichtathletik-Rennen, alles fuer ihren hohen Gast.

An seiner Seite: Pater Pedro Opeka, der weissbaertige Gruender von Akamasoa, und Donatella Campioni, Praesidentin von Monaco Aide et Presence. Der Verein unterstuetzt Pater Pedro und die Gemeinschaft von Akamasoa seit 1995 – seit 31 Jahren! In Akamasoa weihte der Fuerst das College Prince Albert II ein und enthuellte eine Gedenktafel, an der die Kinder nun jeden Schultag vorbeigehen.

Und Albert blieb. Er besuchte ein Klassenzimmer, sprach mit den Schuelern ueber ihren Weg und ihre Zukunft. Bildung, Jugend und Einsatz fuer die Kinder Madagaskars – so fasste der Palast den Tag zusammen. Die Bilder sagen es schoener: 12.000 Kinder, ein strahlender Fuerst und eine Schule, die seinen Namen traegt.

Der Autor ist Award Winning Hollywood Managing-Journalist Seine Hoheit und Exzellenz Dr.iur. Mag.iur. PRINZ MARIO-MAX ZU SCHAUMBURG-LIPPE, MAS, LL.M.

Prinz Mario-Max ist der Sohn der hochfürstlichen Würdenträger Seine Hoheit Dr. h. c. Prinz Waldemar zu Schaumburg-Lippe und Ihrer Hoheit Dr. Prinzessin Antonia zu Schaumburg-Lippe. Seine Großmutter ist Ihre Königliche Hoheit Prinzessin Feodora von Dänemark. Die Familie ist die königlich-dänische Nachoder Linie der Prinzen zu Schaumburg-Lippe, die Gründerfamilie von Hamburg, Lübeck und Kiel.

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