More than 300 people attended the now traditional 'Hugues Capet Prize Award' on 28 January 2003, at Pierre Cardin-owned Residence Maxim's in Paris. This year, the Prize was awarded to Sabine Melchior-Bonnet for her outstanding "Louis et Marie-Adelaide de Bourgogne", published by Robert Laffont.

The atmosphere of this prestigious evening, chaired by Madame la Comtesse de Paris was extremely friendly and gathered socialites and arts personalities. The two sponsors of the evening came to Paris especially for the event: H.R.H. Monseigneur the Duc of Calabre, arriving from Rome, and Michael Wilde, Vice Chief Executive Officer, COUTTS, from Geneva.

After the welcoming introduction by Jacques-Henri Auclair, Madame la Comtesse de Paris warmly congratulated Sabine Melchior-Bonnet, who was genuinely delighted. Then, Michael Wilde and H.R.H. Prince Charles de Bourbon-Siciles, handed her out her awards, worth EUR 4,500 in total. Finally, Sabine Melchior-Bonnet thanked all the attendees of the event, who in turn congratulated them.

In addition to the people already mentioned, the brilliant attendance included : H.R.I. the Princesse Vin-Thuÿ, HH.RR.HH. la Princesse Chantal de France and the baron F-X of Sambucy de Sorgue, the Princesse Marina of Bourbon-Parme, the Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans, the Prince Axel de Bourbon-Parme, the Prince Fayçal Bey of Tunisie, H.R. the Duchesse Rixa de Oldenbourg, the Duc and the Duchesse de La Rochefoucaul, the Duc and the Duchesse d'Uzès, thePrincesse Charnaz Hechmati, the Prince Benoît zu Solms, the baron and the baronne Pierre Grouvel, Philippe de Saint-Robert, Wladimir Volkoff, the Professeur Cabrol, Monique Taittinger, Alexandra de Castries et Pierre Pujo.

After a touching performance of Schubert's Ave Maria by singer Nadia Tzvetkova, in the honour of Madame la Comtesse de Paris and Sabine Melchior-Bonnet, the delighted guests could taste the excellent 'Maxim's champagne' and delicious canapes from 'Marine Reception' ...

Tous droits réservés.