Specialisation

Protection drivers

The missions assigned to drivers are:

• To carry out official trips or support trips, trips by members of the Royal Family
• To carry out official trips during visits of foreign heads of state as well as the authorities representing the Royal Family
• To drive their guests

Regular and specific training is required to remain operational.

The work involves contact with the Royal Family.

Drivers may be called upon in numerous different skill areas, and for this reason, they undertake a variety of training and retraining courses throughout the year. These courses improve their knowledge and understanding of vehicle behaviour on all types of surface.
 

In these practical sessions, drivers are faced with specific situations relating to driving:

• Safe driving at speed
• Countering aggression
• Skids
• Obstacle avoidance
• Emergency braking

Each driver also completes training in close protection for high-profile personalities delivered by the French National Police.

They regularly undertake sport, shooting and first-aid sessions adapted to the specific nature of their work. These are provided by the Palace Guards’instructors.
 

Motorcycle troop, escort and postmaster

The Palace Guards also has a motorcycle troop, trained by the French Gendarmerie at the National Road Safety Training Centre. They are responsible for the daily delivery of post from the Palace and for escorting H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, the Royal Family and heads of state who are visiting the Principality.

The role of the postmaster service is to convey the official correspondence of the Sovereign and His administration within the Principality.

The service ensures the security of the letters and parcels addressed to the Prince, His Family and the various teams at the Palace.

Each of its members receives training in X-ray screening and must hold a motorcycle (A2) licence
 

Divers

 

Since 1978, the Palace Guards’ scuba divers have provided additional maritime security for the Principality’s four kilometres of coastline, including through a number of nautical activities in Monegasque waters.

They are also involved in security for Yacht club of Monaco events.

During these events, the Palace Guard divers are assigned a specially designated vessel and maintain security on the water. They stand ready to intervene below the surface and are equipped with everything they need to rescue a victim.

At the request of the Automobile Club de Monaco, a vessel belonging to the Department of Maritime Affairs, carrying one of their own operators and two Palace Guard divers provide security on the water during the F1 Grand Prix, Historic Grand Prix and E-Prix events.

They are able to:

• Rescue victims on boats in the Port of Monaco and in areas which are not accessible by ambulance (stands, sea walls)
• Transfer the injured to medical points or areas from which they can be evacuated by ambulance
• Oversee boat traffic in the port area

The divers also get involved in underwater scientific observation, working in partnership with the Association Monégasque de la Protection de la Nature (Monegasque Association for Nature Protection) on various experiments in the Mediterranean.

If required, they provide backup for the divers of Monaco’s Fire and Emergency Service, with whom they train regularly.

Grand Prix

 

As a major event on the Formula 1 calendar, the Monaco Grand Prix is one of the events of the year in the Principality, and the Palace Guards is naturally involved.

The Orchestra plays the Monegasque national anthem at the starting line.

The Company’s divers take up position on a barge in the port to prevent any incidents at sea.

Two Palace Guards are positioned on the podium where the winners will take their places.

Two SITCO operators are dispatched to the Race Management Team.

An honour guard is in place at the Prince’s Palace for the Drivers’ Evening.