Prince Albert II took a ceremonial lap of the Circuit de Monaco on Saturday as part of the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, seated aboard a Bugatti Type 41 — better known as the Bugatti Royale — which marks its centenary this year.
The Prince was joined in the vehicle by Christophe Piochon, president of Bugatti Automobiles, and Michel Ferry, vice-president of the Automobile Club de Monaco. The car was driven by the head of the workshop at the Musée National de l’Automobile – Collection Schlumpf in Mulhouse.
The Bugatti Type 41 was conceived by Ettore Bugatti in the 1920s with the stated ambition of producing the most prestigious and powerful car in the world. Fitted with an engine of nearly 13 litres, only six examples were ever built, making it among the most significant automobiles in history.
The Coupé Napoléon
The example present in Monaco is the so-called Coupé Napoléon — also known as the Coupé du Patron — which was Ettore Bugatti’s personal car for many years before being acquired in 1963 by the Schlumpf brothers. It is now considered the centrepiece of the Mulhouse collection and is sometimes described as the Mona Lisa of the automotive world.
Saturday’s appearance follows Prince Albert’s visit to the Musée National de l’Automobile – Collection Schlumpf in October 2024, during which the Sovereign was shown the museum and its holdings.
On public display in Monaco
Following its circuit appearance, the Bugatti Royale will be on public display at the Collection Automobile de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco on Port Hercule from 27th April to 3rd May. It will then appear on the Collection’s stand at the Top Marques salon from 7th to 10th May before returning to Mulhouse.
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Photo credit: Michael ALESI – Palais Princier