Diplomacy meets summer social with Institute for Education

Back for its 11th year, the Institute for Education hosted its annual summer social at Congressional Country Club on Aug. 27, bringing together diplomats, government officials, nonprofit leaders and longtime friends of the organization for an afternoon of conversation and camaraderie. 

Amid the buffet lunch spread and the sipping of Sea Breezes cocktails on the Great Lawn, IFE Founder and CEO Coach Kathy Kemper organized a special segment to the afternoon: a fireside chat featuring new author Kiyomi Buker discussing her book, World-Class Social Skills, moderated by Gwenda de Moor, social secretary to the ambassador at the Embassy of Belgium.

Buker’s book discusses what she has learned working in diplomacy and navigating Washington’s social circles over the years during her time as senior advisor and social secretary to the ambassador at the Embassy of Japan. 

Roughly 50 people attended this year’s summer social, with 16 countries represented. 

Photos courtesy of IFE.

The Embassy of Monaco remembers Princess Grace

The legacy of famed actress Grace Kelly was celebrated in a special ceremony hosted by the Embassy of Monaco on the National Mall earlier this month. 

Kelly, who won an Oscar for best actress in The Country Girl (1954) and is known for her performances in the Alfred Hitchcock films Rear Window (1954) and To Catch a Thief (1955), became Monaco’s Princess Grace when she married Prince Rainier III in 1956, until her death in 1982. 

The Embassy of Monaco teamed up with Smithsonian Gardens and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA to honor the late princess on Sept. 1, with the dedication of a historic swan bench and the presentation of Princess Grace roses in the Smithsonian Gardens. 

“In 1955, Grace Kelly was playing the role of a young princess about to marry a crown prince in the film titled The Swan, and MGM released this film here in the United States on April 18, 1956, which was the exact date of the wedding ceremony to Prince Rainier in Monaco,” said Monegasque Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle. 

Chris Le Vine, chairman of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA and the late princess’ nephew, also attended the event and reflected on her love of flowers and the dedication of Monaco’s Princess Grace Rose Garden in 1984. 

“Princess Grace loved gardens. She loved gardens and she wrote a book called ‘My Book of Flowers,’ where she talked about the gardens in the palace and the gardens around Monaco,” said Le Vine. 

The dedication was especially symbolic for Monaco this year, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III’s wedding and 20th anniversary of the Embassy of Monaco in DC.

The gathering took place as part of Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 initiative, celebrating the United States’s 250th birthday with events designed to reflect on pivotal moments in America’s past and preserve a shared future. Ambassador Maccario Doyle spoke on the significance of US-Monaco relations in today’s world. 

“We are proud to join America in the celebration of its 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as we also commemorate the 20th anniversary of our full diplomatic relations with the United States, followed by the opening of our embassy here in Washington,” said Ambasador Maccario Doyle, and shared that Princess Grace’s legacy “helped build lasting bridges between our two countries.”

Following the outdoor program, the Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building opened their doors for a public program, including a presentation and conversation exploring Princess Grace’s life and legacy, followed by a reception. 

Photos courtesy of the Embassy of Monaco.

Meridian welcomes 14 new envoys to the nation’s capital

On Sept. 15, Meridian International Center hosted its biannual Welcome to Washington event, celebrating the newest chiefs of mission to the nation’s capital. The event was the first for Meridian’s new CEO David Bohigian, who spoke on the importance of building relationships that strengthen bilateral cooperation. 

“I want you to make new friends tonight,” said Bohigian. “I want you to have colleagues that you’ll have lifetime relationships that start here.”

The fourteen new ambassadors recognized included:

• Constância Adelina Gaspar, of the African Union
• Basile Ikouebe, of the Republic of Congo
• Jakub Kulhánek, of the Czech Republic
• Hannes Hanso, of Estonia
• Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo, of Indonesia
• Magzhan Ilyassov, of Kazakhstan
• Edil Baisalov, of Kyrgyzstan
• Patrick Hemmer, of Luxembourg
• Marco Micallef, of Malta
• Wilbard Hellao, of Namibia
• Aïssatou Clémence Baré, of Niger
• Roelf Meyer, of South Africa
• Marlon Mohamed-Hoesein, of Suriname
• Esen Muhammedovich Aydogdyyev, of Turkmenistan

Photos by Angelique Gingras.

Soirée Suisse builds champions at Swiss Embassy

The Embassy of Switzerland opened its grounds Sept. 16, for its annual Soirée Suisse, bringing together diplomats, government officials, business leaders and other guests for the garden reception. This year’s theme, “Building Champions Together,” put a distinctly Swiss emphasis on collaboration, with Ambassador Ralf Heckner encouraging guests to spend the evening meeting people and building new connections.

The evening began on the embassy’s stone terrace before moving into the garden, where flags, candles and string lights framed the reception. The formal program unfolded under the main tent, against a backdrop featuring the Swiss cross and a painted Alpine peak, with Swiss and American flags flanking the stage.

Across the grounds, “Swiss Impact” appeared in displays ranging from cars to the pool, while exhibitions and food stations extended throughout the garden.

The Swiss influence continued onto the menu. Beef tenderloin was served with peppercorn sauce alongside a savory onion tart in flaky pastry, while a raclette station offered the evening’s most unmistakably Swiss attraction. Cheese was melted directly from the wheel and scraped onto plates as guests moved through the garden. Chocolate truffles and sweet meringue provided dessert, with wine served throughout the evening.

The “champions” theme extended beyond the menu. The embassy featured displays highlighting Swiss sports, culture and heritage, giving guests a look at the country’s traditions beyond the familiar imagery of mountains and watches.

A special moment if the evening was the presentation of the 2026 Embassy of Switzerland Gallatin Award to Swiss NBA player Clint Capela, which not only celebrated his accomplishments on the basketball court, but also his part in strengthening the ties between Switzerland and the US through sports.

As the formal portion of the evening came to a close, the atmosphere shifted from speeches to music. Guests took to the dance floor beneath red and magenta lights, closing the evening in an unforgettable celebration. 

Photos by Annie Leatherman.