Albert II, Prince of Monaco VINTAGE ORIGINAL PHOTO FROM
1962 MEASURING
APPROXIMATELY 8 X 10 INCHES
H.S.H. Prince Albert, Alexandre, Louis, Pierre, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux, was born on 14 March 1958.
Picture : Biography
Studies
International
Domestically
A commitment to Sport on a World level
His Highness is the son of Prince Rainier III, Louis Henri-Maxence-Bertrand (31st May 1923 - 6th April 2005) and Princess Grace, née Kelly (Philadelphia, United States, 12th November 1929 - Monaco, 14th September 1982).
H.S.H. Prince Albert II succeeded his father, Prince Rainier III who died on 6h April 2005. On 12th July 2005, at the end of the period of official mourning, the Prince's accession to the throne was celebrated.
Since 1984, H.S.H. Prince Albert had assisted his father in conducting the affairs of State.
STUDIES
1976: H.S.H. Prince Albert II obtained his baccalauréat "with distinction" at the end of his secondary school studies at Lycée Albert 1st in Monaco.
1976 to 1977: familiarisation courses with different branches of the Principality's Government.
1977 to 1981: H.S.H. Prince Albert II studied political science, economics, psychology, English literature, the history of art, anthropology, geology, philosophy, sociology, German and music at Amherst College, Massachusetts, in the United States.
During the summer of 1979, H.S.H. Prince Albert toured Europe and the Middle East with the "Amherst College Glee Club" Choir.
30th May 1981: H.S.H. Prince Albert II graduated in political science. His degree was awarded to him in the presence of his parents, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, and his sister, Princess Caroline.
September 1981 - April 1982: H.S.H. Prince Albert II trained on board the French Navy's helicopter-carrier "Jeanne d'Arc", with the rank of Ship-of-the-Line Ensign (2nd class). His Highness is currently a reserve Lieutenant Commander.
January 1983 to late 1985: training courses with various international groups in the United States and Europe in the fields of communication, financial management and marketing ("Morgan Guaranty Trust", in New York, "Moët-Hennesy", in Paris, "Rogers & Wells" law firm,"Wells Rich and Greene" in New York.
20th September 1996: H.S.H. Prince Albert II received an Honorary Doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of Maynooth in Ireland.
26th October 2000: His Serene Highness was made an Honorary Professor of International Studies at Tarrant County College, Forth Worth, Texas.
19th June 2009: H.S.H. Prince Albert II received the distinction of Commander of the Order of the Academic Palms.
20th October 2009: HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded The Teddy Roosevelt Medal at the United States Congress in Washington.
23rd October 2009: HSH the Sovereign Prince was awarded the « Roger Revelle » prize at the University of California, San Diego.
6th November 2009: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded The Docteur Honoris Causa Insignia of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis University.
22nd September 2010: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was made an Honorary Member of the Geographical Society of Russia.
19th October 2010: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was made an Honorary Member of the Ligurian Academy of Science and Letters and of the Italian Geographical society.
21st October 2010: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was elevated to the rank of Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion by the President of the Replublic of Senegal.
29th March 2011: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded The Docteur Honoris Causa Insignia at The Portalis Law and Political Science Institute of Aix en Provence.
INTERNATIONAL
H.S.H. Prince Albert has travelled all over the world including visits to France, Italy, the United States, Russia, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, and China. In these countries he was received by the principal heads of State and political and economic leaders.
At the same time, he receives credentials from over fifty countries which now maintain diplomatic relations with the Principality.
Since 28th May 1993, the Prince has led the Monegasque delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Since the opening of the 48th Session in September 1993 in New York, His Highness has regularly taken the floor on behalf of the Principality of Monaco.
At the 36th Plenary Assembly of the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) held in the Principality from 21st to 28th September 2001, representatives of the member states unanimously elected Monaco to head the Commission. H.S.H. Prince Albert II, Head of the Monegasque delegation, chairs this Commission.
Created at the beginning of the century on the initiative of Prince Albert I, the CIESM is an intergovernmental body with 23 member states, 20 of which are located along the Mediterranean coast. Its objectives are to promote multilateral international research and facilitate the exchange of information, in particular between countries on the north and south sides of the Mediterranean Sea. The CIESM cooperates with 500 specialised institutes.
On 5th October 2004, H.S.H. the Prince presided over the delegation of Monaco in Strasbourg for the official ceremony of accession of the Principality to the Council of Europe as the 46th member state of that organisation.
In April 2006, H.S.H. Prince Albert II visited the North Pole by dog sled from the Russian base of Barneo 120 kilometres away. This journey was the opportunity for him to pay tribute to his great-great grandfather, Prince Albert I of Monaco, a pioneer of modern oceanography, who, in 1906, set out to Spitzberg, in the archipelago of Svalbard, the most successful of his four Arctic exploration campaigns.The trip also helped to raise the world's awareness of the planetary challenges which, in the short term, represent risks related to climate change and the dangers of industrial pollution.
In June 2006, H.S.H. the Prince set up the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation dedicated to protecting the environment. It encourages sustainable and fair management of natural resources and places man at the centre of its projects. It supports the implementation of innovative and ethical solutions in three broad areas: climate change, water and biodiversity.
In January 2009, Prince Albert II of Monaco undertook a three week scientific journey in the Antarctic. He visited a large number of scientific stations and rejoined the South Pole in the company of the explorer Mike Horn. They made a film of this journey "Antarctique 2009, Terre en Alerte" [Antarctic 2009, Earth on Alert] which was presented to the Principality's inhabitants in April 2009.
DOMESTICALLY
H.S.H. Prince Albert II has proved to be particularly concerned with the Principality's economic development in a spirit of ethics and transparency. He is committed to a policy of developing facilities and conducting major works, enabling in particular the construction of a new hospital (the Princess Grace General Hospital), the creation of community facilities (hotel school, new secondary school) on "abandoned" railway tracks and the launch of many operations, accommodating social housing and offices.
Various initiatives have been conducted with a view to promoting economic activity and making company operations more transparent while maintaining a high level of ethics:
creation of the legal status of Limited Liability Company,
introduction of the offence of tax fraud into Monegasque criminal law,
introduction of the general principle of the criminal liability of people,
adoption of systems to combat money laundering, organised crime and corruption.
H.S.H. Prince Albert is committed to carrying out an exemplary policy in his country in terms of the environment, by favouring the development of public transport, ecological vehicles, renewable energies and high environmental quality buildings.
In the field of Human Rights, during the first years of the reign of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, several important legislative modifications emerged, in particular:
the introduction and regulation of custody, the establishment of a judicial system for telephone taps, the restructuring and rationalisation of temporary detention procedures and the reorganisation of the in absentia procedure,
the strengthening of the judicial protection of individuals, their personal data and their private life, as part of the exponential growth in new technologies,
the reaffirmation of the principle of freedom of expression for the media and the organisation of a system of responsibility within the respect of basic human rights and public order,
the modernisation of the law on education (integration of handicapped children) and the increased protection of child rights,
the introduction of the principle of freedom of association and different laws on the transfer of nationality aimed at perfect equality between men and women.
A COMMITMENT TO SPORT ON A WORLD LEVEL
HSH the Prince participated in five Olympic Games, from Calgary in 1988 to Salt Lake City in 2002, as a member of the national bobsleigh team. A member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985, He is President of the Monegasque Olympic Committee.
He is Honorary President of the International Union of Modern Pentathlon and the International Athletics Foundation.
He is also a member of the Honorary Board of the International Paralympic Committee.
Birth date: March 14, 1958
Birth place: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Birth name: Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi, His Serene Highness, the Hereditary Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux
Father: Prince Rainier III
Mother: Princess Grace, formerly the actress Grace Kelly
Marriage: Charlene Wittstock (July 1, 2011-present)
Children: with Charlene Wittstock: Princess Gabriella Therese Marie and Prince Jacques Honore Rainier; with Nicole Coste: Eric Alexandre Stephane; with Tamara Rotolo: Jazmin Grace Rotolo.
Education: Amherst College, BA, 1981
Military service: French Navy
Other Facts
He is interested in environmental issues, alternative energy and hybrid vehicles.
An avid athlete, he has competed in five Winter Olympics (1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002) in the sport of bobsledding but has not won any medals.
He has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985.
His two oldest children are not in line for the throne, because they were born out of wedlock.
Timeline
March 31, 2005 - Monaco's Crown Council transfers the regency of the tiny kingdom to Prince Albert, the heir to the throne, saying that Prince Rainier can no longer carry out his duties as monarch.
April 6, 2005 - Prince Rainier III dies of organ failure and Prince Albert becomes Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco.
July 6, 2005 - Publicly acknowledges paternity of his son, Alexandre, born to Nicole Coste, a flight attendant from Togo.
July 12, 2005 - Part one of the formal investiture as Monaco's ruler is Mass at St. Nicholas Cathedral, marking the end of the mourning period for Prince Rainier.
November 17, 2005 - Part two of the formal investiture is the enthronement ceremony at St. Nicholas Cathedral.
April 16, 2006 - Travels to the North Pole by dogsled to highlight global warming.
June 1, 2006 - Acknowledges paternity of his daughter, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, born to an American former waitress, Tamara Rotolo.
March 2, 2007 - Presides over the opening ceremony in Paris of International Polar Year, a research program with a focus on the Polar Regions involving 50,000 scientists from 63 countries.
January 28, 2008 - Is named as one of the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) "Champions of the Earth."
April 22 2008 - Receives the UNEP award which recognizes individuals who show extraordinary leadership on environmental issues.
January 5-14, 2009 - Completes an expedition to the South Pole evaluating climate impact on Antarctica along the way. He is the only head of state to have visited both poles.
June 23, 2010 - The palace announces Prince Albert's engagement to Charlene Wittstock, 32, a former Olympic swimmer and school teacher from South Africa.
July 1, 2011 - Prince Albert marries Charlene Wittstock in a civil wedding ceremony in the throne room of the Palace of Monaco.
July 2, 2011 - A second wedding, a religious ceremony including Mass, is held in the main courtyard of the Palace of Monaco. The ceremony is broadcast to the 3,500 invited guests who could not fit inside the palace.
October 2013 - Loans pieces of his private collection of Olympic torches for the Russian exhibition of Olympic torches.
October 7, 2013 - Is one of the first torch bearers for 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.
December 14, 2015 - Prince Albert is presented with the 2015 Global Advocate Award by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for his work on climate change research and environmental conservation efforts.
October 2016 - Buys his mother's childhood home in Philadelphia, with the idea of turning it into a museum or offices for foundation work.
About Monaco
Monaco is a sovereign principality, meaning it is ruled by a prince.
It is the second smallest country in the world, after the Vatican. At 2.02 sq km (77 sq miles), Monaco is about half the size of New York's Central Park.
It sits on the French Riviera and is bordered on three sides by France. It is a popular tourist destination, famous for its casino and luxury hotels.
Monaco is also the capital of the principality. The official language is French. The other major languages spoken are English and Italian.
Monegasque, a mixture of the French Provencal and Italian Ligurian dialects, is also spoken there.
Biography
H.S.H. Prince Albert, Alexandre, Louis, Pierre, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, was born on 14 March 1958.
Studies
International
Domestically
A commitment to Sport on a World level
His Highness is the son of Prince Rainier III, Louis Henri-Maxence-Bertrand (31st May 1923 - 6th April 2005) and Princess Grace, née Kelly (Philadelphia, United States, 12th November 1929 - Monaco, 14th September 1982).
H.S.H. Prince Albert II succeeded his father, Prince Rainier III who died on 6h April 2005. On 12th July 2005, at the end of the period of official mourning, the Prince's accession to the throne was celebrated.
Since 1984, H.S.H. Prince Albert had assisted his father in conducting the affairs of State.
STUDIES
1976: H.S.H. Prince Albert II obtained his baccalauréat "with distinction" at the end of his secondary school studies at Lycée Albert 1st in Monaco.
1976 to 1977: familiarisation courses with different branches of the Principality's Government.
1977 to 1981: H.S.H. Prince Albert II studied political science, economics, psychology, English literature, the history of art, anthropology, geology, philosophy, sociology, German and music at Amherst College, Massachusetts, in the United States.
During the summer of 1979, H.S.H. Prince Albert toured Europe and the Middle East with the "Amherst College Glee Club" Choir.
30th May 1981: H.S.H. Prince Albert II graduated in political science. His degree was awarded to him in the presence of his parents, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, and his sister, Princess Caroline.
September 1981 - April 1982: H.S.H. Prince Albert II trained on board the French Navy's helicopter-carrier "Jeanne d'Arc", with the rank of Ship-of-the-Line Ensign (2nd class). His Highness is currently a reserve Lieutenant Commander.
January 1983 to late 1985: training courses with various international groups in the United States and Europe in the fields of communication, financial management and marketing ("Morgan Guaranty Trust", in New York, "Moët-Hennesy", in Paris, "Rogers & Wells" law firm,"Wells Rich and Greene" in New York.
20th September 1996: H.S.H. Prince Albert II received an Honorary Doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of Maynooth in Ireland.
26th October 2000: His Serene Highness was made an Honorary Professor of International Studies at Tarrant County College, Forth Worth, Texas.
19th June 2009: H.S.H. Prince Albert II received the distinction of Commander of the Order of the Academic Palms.
20th October 2009: HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded The Teddy Roosevelt Medal at the United States Congress in Washington.
23rd October 2009: HSH the Sovereign Prince was awarded the « Roger Revelle » prize at the University of California, San Diego.
6th November 2009: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded The Docteur Honoris Causa Insignia of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis University.
22nd September 2010: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was made an Honorary Member of the Geographical Society of Russia.
19th October 2010: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was made an Honorary Member of the Ligurian Academy of Science and Letters and of the Italian Geographical society.
21st October 2010: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was elevated to the rank of Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion by the President of the Replublic of Senegal.
29th March 2011: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded The Docteur Honoris Causa Insignia at The Portalis Law and Political Science Institute of Aix en Provence.
13th February 2012: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was appointed Grand Croix of the National Order of Mali
17th February 2012: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was appointed Grand Officier of the National Order of Burkina Faso
8th December 2015: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was appointed Commander of the Ordre National du Mérite Maritime
1st March 2016 : H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco received the distinction of Membre de la Légion de Marathon
27th March 2017: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded The Docteur Honoris Causa Insignia from the University Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris
5th May 2017 : H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded The Docteur Honoris Causa Insignia from the State University of Moldavia
9th October 2017: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded The Docteur Honoris Causa Insignia in ecology of the sea, from the University of Palermo (Sicilia)
6th March 2018 : H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded in Monaco with the 2018 European Medal of Tolerance by the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation (ECTR)
16th May 2018 : H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was awarded The Docteur Honoris Causa Insignia in Sciences and Techniques of navigation from the University of Naples "Parthénope"
INTERNATIONAL
H.S.H. Prince Albert has travelled all over the world including visits to France, Italy, the United States, Russia, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, and China. In these countries he was received by the principal heads of State and political and economic leaders.
At the same time, he receives credentials from over fifty countries which now maintain diplomatic relations with the Principality.
Since 28th May 1993, the Prince has led the Monegasque delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Since the opening of the 48th Session in September 1993 in New York, His Highness has regularly taken the floor on behalf of the Principality of Monaco.
At the 36th Plenary Assembly of the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) held in the Principality from 21st to 28th September 2001, representatives of the member states unanimously elected Monaco to head the Commission. H.S.H. Prince Albert II, Head of the Monegasque delegation, chairs this Commission.
Created at the beginning of the century on the initiative of Prince Albert I, the CIESM is an intergovernmental body with 23 member states, 20 of which are located along the Mediterranean coast. Its objectives are to promote multilateral international research and facilitate the exchange of information, in particular between countries on the north and south sides of the Mediterranean Sea. The CIESM cooperates with 500 specialised institutes.
On 5th October 2004, H.S.H. the Prince presided over the delegation of Monaco in Strasbourg for the official ceremony of accession of the Principality to the Council of Europe as the 46th member state of that organisation.
In April 2006, H.S.H. Prince Albert II visited the North Pole by dog sled from the Russian base of Barneo 120 kilometres away. This journey was the opportunity for him to pay tribute to his great-great grandfather, Prince Albert I of Monaco, a pioneer of modern oceanography, who, in 1906, set out to Spitzberg, in the archipelago of Svalbard, the most successful of his four Arctic exploration campaigns.The trip also helped to raise the world's awareness of the planetary challenges which, in the short term, represent risks related to climate change and the dangers of industrial pollution.
In June 2006, H.S.H. the Prince set up the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation dedicated to protecting the environment. It encourages sustainable and fair management of natural resources and places man at the centre of its projects. It supports the implementation of innovative and ethical solutions in three broad areas: climate change, water and biodiversity.
In January 2009, Prince Albert II of Monaco undertook a three week scientific journey in the Antarctic. He visited a large number of scientific stations and rejoined the South Pole in the company of the explorer Mike Horn. They made a film of this journey "Antarctique 2009, Terre en Alerte" [Antarctic 2009, Earth on Alert] which was presented to the Principality's inhabitants in April 2009.
DOMESTICALLY
H.S.H. Prince Albert II has proved to be particularly concerned with the Principality's economic development in a spirit of ethics and transparency. He is committed to a policy of developing facilities and conducting major works, enabling in particular the construction of a new hospital (the Princess Grace General Hospital), the creation of community facilities (hotel school, new secondary school) on "abandoned" railway tracks and the launch of many operations, accommodating social housing and offices.
Various initiatives have been conducted with a view to promoting economic activity and making company operations more transparent while maintaining a high level of ethics:
creation of the legal status of Limited Liability Company,
introduction of the offence of tax fraud into Monegasque criminal law,
introduction of the general principle of the criminal liability of people,
adoption of systems to combat money laundering, organised crime and corruption.
H.S.H. Prince Albert is committed to carrying out an exemplary policy in his country in terms of the environment, by favouring the development of public transport, ecological vehicles, renewable energies and high environmental quality buildings.
In the field of Human Rights, during the first years of the reign of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, several important legislative modifications emerged, in particular:
the introduction and regulation of custody, the establishment of a judicial system for telephone taps, the restructuring and rationalisation of temporary detention procedures and the reorganisation of the in absentia procedure,
the strengthening of the judicial protection of individuals, their personal data and their private life, as part of the exponential growth in new technologies,
the reaffirmation of the principle of freedom of expression for the media and the organisation of a system of responsibility within the respect of basic human rights and public order,
the modernisation of the law on education (integration of handicapped children) and the increased protection of child rights,
the introduction of the principle of freedom of association and different laws on the transfer of nationality aimed at perfect equality between men and women.
A COMMITMENT TO SPORT ON A WORLD LEVEL
HSH the Prince participated in five Olympic Games, from Calgary in 1988 to Salt Lake City in 2002, as a member of the national bobsleigh team. A member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985, He is President of the Monegasque Olympic Committee.
He is Honorary President of the International Union of Modern Pentathlon and the International Athletics Foundation.
He is also a member of the Honorary Board of the International Paralympic Committee.
Since 2007, He is Patron of the International Organization Peace & Sport " l'Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport" and Patron of the World Olympians Association since 2011
2014 - Chairman of the IOC Sport and Environment Commission.
Civil status and distinctions
His Serene Highness Prince Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre, Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux, was born on March 14th, 1958.
His Highness is the son of Prince Rainier III, Louis Henri-Maxence-Bertrand, (Monaco May 31st, 1923 - April 6th, 2005) and the Late Princess Grace Patricia Kelly, (Philadelphia U.S.A. November 12th, 1929 - Monaco September 14th, 1982).
His Godfather was the late Prince Louis de Polignac, and his Godmother was the late Queen Victoria-Eugénia of Spain.
H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince is :
Grand Cross of the Order of Grimaldi, April 18th , 1958 ;
Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles, March 13th, 1979 ;
Colonel of the Carabineers, November 11th, 1986.
Prince Albert II of Monaco married Ms Charlene Wittstock on 1 & 2 July 2011, she became Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco.
On decembre 10th, 2014 were born a son, Jacques Honoré Rainier and a daughter, Gabriella Thérèse Marie.
Missions and responsabilities
On Thursday the 31st of March 2005, in accordance with the Statutes of the Sovereign Family and after informing H.S.H. Crown Prince Albert - the Secretary of State convoked the Council of the Crown. The Council of the Crown determined that His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III was not able to carry out his functions of State and declared that H.S.H. Crown Prince Albert would act as Regent from that point on.
On the 6th of April 2005, H.S.H. Prince Albert II succeeded his father, the Prince Rainier III who died on this day following a series of afflictions to his heart, lung and kidneys which had required his hospitalization since the 7th of March.
Since 1984, H.S.H. Prince Albert, work alongside with His Father in the management of State affairs.
In other respects, The Prince is responsible for activities in various sectors :
Monte-Carlo Television Festival and Imagina :
H.S.H. Prince Albert was named, by Sovereign Order on June 1st, 1988, Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Monte-Carlo International Television Festival. In this respect, His Highness supervises the preparation and direction of this annual event as well as "Imagina": a festival of computer generated images.
Environment :
In the environmental sector, His Highness closely follows the Principality's Environmental Groups and Associations in their battle against different kinds of pollution, with such actions as the annual Electric Vehicle Show, "Méditerranée Propre" (Clean Mediterranean), etc.
Within the framework of Environment Day on July 30th, 1991, and in introduction to the United Nations' Environment Committee meeting which took place just before the 1992 Rio Summit, His Highness underlined the responsibility of one and all with regard to problems linked to the environment.
Sport :
Practicing numerous sporting disciplines from a very young age, the Prince now assumes the chairmanship of various Federations and Organizations :
He has been Chairman of the Monegasque Swimming Federation (Fédération Monegasque de Natation) since October 10th, 1983.
His Highness personally follows the activities of this federation which organizes an International Swimming Meeting every year.
He has been Chairman of the Monaco Yacht Club since May 15th, 1984. His Highness takes a close interest in the club's multiple activities : its sailing school, international sailing and motorboat races, including the Monaco-New York "Transat" race in 1985, but also the yearly maxi-yacht meeting, "Monaco Classic Week", which traditionally takes place in September.
He has chaired the Monegasque Athletics Federation since July 17th, 1984.
His Highness supervises the organization of the annual "Grand Prix IAAF - Herculis" Meeting, which takes place in August in the Louis II Stadium.
In 1986, the Prince was named Honorary President of IAF (International Athletic Foundation).
In 1987, the Prince was Honorary Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 2nd "Small European States" Games.
On April 10th, 1987, under the impetus of Prince Albert, the Monegasque Bobsleigh, Toboggan and Skeleton Federation was formed.
H.S.H. Prince Albert was Honorary Chairman of the 101st Session of the International Olympic Committee which took place in Monaco in September 1993, during which the city of Sydney was chosen to host the Year 2000 Summer Olympics Games.
The Prince has chaired the Monegasque Olympic Committee since April 1994.
In 1997, Prince Albert II was named Honorary President of UIPM (International Modern Pentathlon Union).
He has chaired the Monegasque Federation of Modern Pentathlon since December 1999.
On November 30th 2004, His Serene Highness was named Honorary President of World Beach Volleyball, by the International Volleyball Federation.
Activities within the International Olympic Committee :
Prince Albert II
In June 1985, His Highness was co-opted into the International Olympic Committee during its 90th Session in Berlin.
In 1988, Prince Albert II was chosen to be the International Olympic Committee observer to sailing events at Pusan, for the Seoul Olympics.
In December 1988, His Highness was named as Vice-President of the Athletes Commission of the International Olympic Committee by its President, Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch.
In 1990, he became a member of the Coordination Commission for the 1996 Atlanta Games.
In December 1999, Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch again called upon the Prince, naming him as representative for Athletes within the Commission of Admission of the I.O.C.
I.O.C. Athletes Commission representative on the Marketing Commission.
Prince Albert is member of the Nomination Commission and member of Turin 2006 Olympic Games Coordination Commission.
In the Cultural Field :
H.S.H. Prince Albert II has assumed :
The Deputy-Chairmanship of the Princess Grace Foundation of Monaco. This institution, founded by Princess Grace in 1964, has a triple vocation :
a) On a cultural level, the Foundation supports the Princess Grace Classical Dance Academy, both directly and through scholarships awarded to young talented dancers as well as to students of the Prince Rainier III Academy of Music.
In 1984, the Foundation was responsible for the establishment of the « Princess Grace Irish Library », whose collections are open to students and those researching literature and Irish History.
b) On a secondary level, the Foundation supports local artisans through two shops : one located in the Old Town (le Rocher), the other located in the district of Monte-Carlo.
c) Finally, the Foundation undertakes benevolent activities, principally in favour of infants, on both a local and an international level. Its main thrust is that of aiding the families of children handicapped through illness. This takes the form of intervention "in situ" (theatre workshops, fitting-out of premises) and the support of medical research via a special open-end investment trust.
The Deputy Chairmanship of the "Princess Grace Foundation - U.S.A. », since 1982.
The Foundation was founded to perpetuate the memory and the engagement of Princess Grace in the artistic domain. Each year, during a Gala event in New York, the Foundation awards scholarships to talented young people in different artistic fields : those of dance, music, theatre and cinema.
The Honorary Chairmanship of the "Friends of the Monte-Carlo Opera" Association, since November 1993.
The Honorary Chairmanship of the National Monegasque's Committee of the UNESCO International Plastics Arts Association since 31st August 1999.
In the Economic Field
Le Prince Albert IIAs well as following the activities undertaken by the Government and various economic agencies of the Principality, His Highness takes a very close interest in the initiatives of local associations.
Prince Albert is Honorary Chairman of Monaco's "Jeune Chambre Economique" (Junior Chamber of Commerce). This association, founded in 1963, aims to contribute to the economic, social and cultural progress of the community, following the principles of freedom, respect for the individual and tolerance.
In the Field of Humanitarian Action :
H.S.H. Prince Albert II was named, by Sovereign Order, on December 17th, 1982, Chairman of the Monegasque Red Cross.
His Highness has participated in, and followed:
- multiple international aid programs,
- activities on a national level,
- ad hoc emergency aid programs.
Since 1982, Prince Albert has been Honorary Chairman of the association "Monaco Aide et Présence" (M.A.P.), founded in 1979 under the auspices of Princess Grace.
Following the participation by the Prince in the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1985 and 1986, M.A.P. built, at Agadès in Nigeria, a dispensary inaugurated in April 1988, which carries his name.
Since then, the establishment has been added to, with the construction of a maternity ward and a pathology laboratory, and has become the most important health care center in Northern Nigeria.
Other humanitarian activities have been carried-out in Brazil, Madagascar, former Yugoslavia, Romania, Sri Lanka, India and at the doorstep of Monaco on an ad hoc basis.
The Prince has, on many occasions, taken it upon to make field visits. In the first day of March 2005, He visited "Princess Grace Orphanage" in Sri Lanka and some areas hits by the tsunamis in December 2004.
His Highness is also :
Honorary Member of the International Institute for Human Rights since September 3rd, 1986.
Member of the Support Committee for W.W.F. France since March 1990.
Patron of the association "Outward Bound France" since March 1992. This association aims to train young people according to the concept of « learning through actions ».
His Serene Highness is also Patron of the association "Outward Bound Monaco" since its creation in October 2004.
Albert II[1][2] (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958) is the reigning Prince of Monaco and head of the princely house of Grimaldi. He is the son of Prince Rainier III and Grace, Princess of Monaco, formerly Grace Kelly, the American actress. Prince Albert's sisters are Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and Princess Stéphanie. In July 2011, Prince Albert married Charlene Wittstock.[3]
Prince Albert II is one of the wealthiest royals in the world, with assets valued at more than $1 billion,[4] which include land in Monaco and France. Although Prince Albert does not own the Prince's Palace of Monaco, he does own shares in the Société des bains de mer de Monaco, which operates Monaco's casino and other entertainment properties in the principality.[5][6]
Contents
1 Early life
2 Sports career
3 Accession
4 Reign
5 Personal life and relationships
5.1 Marriage
5.2 Children in the line of succession
5.3 Children born out of wedlock
5.3.1 Jazmin Grace Grimaldi
5.3.2 Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste
5.3.3 Other alleged children
6 Succession issues
7 Environmental issues
7.1 Year of the Dolphin
7.2 Jardin Animalier
7.3 Expedition to Antarctica
7.4 CITES and bluefin tuna
7.5 Roger Revelle Prize
8 Awards
9 Commemorative coins
10 Other roles
11 Titles, styles, honours and awards
11.1 Titles and styles
11.2 Military appointments
11.3 Honours
11.3.1 National orders
11.3.2 Foreign orders
11.3.2.1 Dynastic orders
11.3.3 Other awards
12 Ancestry
13 Arms and monograms
14 See also
15 References
16 External links
Early life
Prince Albert with his mother in 1972
Albert was born in the Prince's Palace of Monaco. He has ancestry from Italy, Ireland, Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Mexico, Belgium, and Monaco and is American[7]-Monegasque by birth; he renounced American citizenship in his early adulthood. He was baptized on 20 April 1958, by Monsignor Jean Delay, archbishop of Marseille, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Monaco, before being presented at the balcony of the Palace to the people of Monaco.[8] His godmother was the Spanish queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain, and his godfather was Prince Louis de Polignac (1909–1996).[9] Albert graduated with distinction from the Lycée Albert Premier, in 1976.
He was a camper and later a counselor for six summers at Camp Tecumseh,[9] on Lake Winnipesaukee, Moultonborough, New Hampshire, in the 1970s. He spent a year training in various princely duties and enrolled at Amherst College, in western Massachusetts, in 1977 as Albert Grimaldi, studying political science, economics, music, and English literature; he also joined Chi Psi fraternity.[9] He speaks French, English, German, and Italian.[9]
He spent mid-1979 touring Europe and the Middle East with the Amherst Glee Club, and also undertook an exchange program with the University of Bristol, at the Alfred Marshall School of Economics and Management in 1979. He graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. [10]
Prince Albert's mother died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident in 1982. She was aged 52.[11] In 2017, in In Depth interview with Graham Bensinger, the Prince stated that his mother's death was a traumatic event for him and the family. He also revealed that his father was "never the same man" after the loss.[12]
Sports career
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Sport
Country Monaco
Sport Bobsleigh
Event(s) 4-man, 2-man
Retired 2002
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002
Albert was an enthusiastic sportsman, participating in cross country, javelin throwing, handball, judo, swimming, tennis, rowing, sailing, skiing, squash and fencing. He is a patron of Monaco's football team, AS Monaco.
Albert competed in the bobsleigh at five consecutive Winter Olympics for Monaco, taking part in both the two-man and four-man events. In the two-man bobsleigh Albert finished 25th at the 1988 games in Calgary, 43rd at the 1992 games in Albertville, and 31st at the 2002 games. In the four-man bobsleigh Albert finished 27th in 1992, 26th at the 1994 games in Lillehammer, and 28th at both the 1998 games in Nagano and the 2002 games in Salt Lake City.[13] Albert was Monaco's flag bearer at the 1988, 1994, and 1998 Winter Olympics.[13] Albert has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985, and his maternal grandfather, John B. Kelly Sr., and maternal uncle, John B. Kelly Jr., were both Olympic medalists in rowing.[13] Albert has been the patron of the World Olympians Association since 2012.[14] In 2017 Albert gained OLY post-nominal status under his competition name of Albert Grimaldi rather than his royal title.[15]
Albert took part in the 1985 Paris–Dakar Rally, but did not finish it.[citation needed] He also became a judo black belt.[16]
Accession
On 31 March 2005, following consultation with the Crown Council of Monaco, the Palais Princier announced that Albert would take over the duties of his father as regent since Rainier was no longer able to exercise his royal functions.[17] On 6 April 2005, Rainier died and Albert succeeded him as Albert II.
The first part of Prince Albert II's enthronement as ruler of the Principality was on 12 July 2005, after the end of the three-month mourning period for his father.[9] A morning Mass at Saint Nicholas Cathedral presided over by the Archbishop of Monaco, the Most Reverend Bernard Barsi, formally marked the beginning of his reign.[18] Afterward Albert II returned to the princely palace to host a garden party for 7,000 Monégasques born in the principality. In the courtyard, the Prince was presented with two keys of the city as a symbol of his investiture[19] and he made a speech.[20] The evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display on the waterfront.[18]
The second part of his investiture was on 19 November 2005. Albert was enthroned at Saint Nicholas Cathedral.[21] His family was there in attendance, including his elder sister Princess Caroline with her husband Ernst, Prince of Hanover and three of her four children, Andrea, Pierre and Charlotte; as well as his younger sister Princess Stéphanie, his paternal aunt Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy, his godson, Jean-Léonard Taubert-Natta de Massy, and his cousin Elisabeth-Anne de Massy. Royalty from 16 delegations were present for the festivities throughout the country. The evening ended with an opera performance in Monte Carlo.[21]
Reign
Prince Albert with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 4 October 2013.
Prince Albert continues the policy – initiated by previous rulers of Monaco – of strengthening environmental awareness. In July, 2005, just like his great-great-grandfather Albert I, he travelled to Spitsbergen. During this trip, he visited the glaciers Lilliehöökbreen and Monacobreen. Prince Albert II also engaged in a Russian Arctic expedition, reaching the North Pole on Easter, 16 April 2006.[22] As a result, he is the first incumbent head of state to have reached the North Pole.
Prince Albert is the Vice-Chairman of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, an American charity founded in 1982, after his mother's death, which supports emerging artists in theatre, dance, and film, as Princess Grace did in her lifetime.
In 2006, Prince Albert created the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which continues the Principality of Monaco's commitment by supporting sustainable and ethical projects around the world. The foundation focus on three main challenges: climate change and renewable energy development; combating the loss of biodiversity; and water management (improving universal access to clean water).[23] Albert is also a global adviser to Orphans International.
On August 27, 2015, Prince Albert apologized for Monaco's role in facilitating the deportation of a total of 90 Jews and resistance fighters, of whom only nine survived. "We committed the irreparable in handing over to the neighboring authorities women, men, and a child who had taken refuge with us to escape the persecutions they had suffered in France," Albert said at a ceremony in which a monument to the victims was unveiled at the Monaco cemetery. "In distress, they came specifically to take shelter with us, thinking they would find neutrality."[24]
Personal life and relationships
Monégasque princely family
Great coat of arms of the house of Grimaldi.svg
HSH The Prince
HSH The Princess
HSH The Hereditary Prince
HSH The Countess of Carladès
HRH The Princess of Hanover
HSH Princess Stéphanie
vte
Prior to Albert's marriage, there was much discussion of his continual bachelor status. Although he had received much press attention for dating well-known fashion models and actresses, his apparent disinclination to marry gave rise to rumours that he was homosexual. Prince Albert has consistently denied suggestions of homosexuality, most notably in a 1994 interview published in the French magazine Madame Figaro. "At first it was amusing", he said, "but it becomes very irritating in the long term to hear people say that I am homosexual".[25]
Albert is close friends with the artist Nall and owns some of his works.[26]
In October 2005, the German magazine Bunte reported that Prince Albert was dating Telma Ortiz Rocasolano, a sister-in-law of the Prince of Asturias (who is now the king of Spain). However, in November 2005, the Prince instructed his lawyer, Thierry Lacoste, to commence legal proceedings against the French newspaper France Dimanche for violation of privacy and false information regarding the story.
In 2016, Albert purchased his mother's childhood house in the East Falls district of Philadelphia. Upon acquiring Grace Kelly's childhood property, he stated the home might be used as a museum space or as offices for the family's Princess Grace Foundation.[27] Although Prince Albert does not directly own the Prince's Palace, he does own – in addition to his mother's childhood home – personal homes in both La Turbie[28][29] and Marchais.[30]
Prince Albert, a well-known automotive enthusiast, owns vehicles like the BMW Hydrogen 7,[31] the Lexus LS 600h,[32] the Lexus RX 400h,[32] and the Toyota Prius PHV.[32][33] He also owns a Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X, a 14-passenger leisure jet, currently stationed at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport.[34][35]
Marriage
Further information: Wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene during a 2012 visit to Kraków, Poland.
Prince Albert married former South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock on 1 July 2011. They announced their engagement on 23 June 2010.[36] They had been seen together since 10 February 2006, when Prince Albert was accompanied by Wittstock to the opening ceremony of the Torino Olympics. They were seen again together at the Monaco Grand Prix. The Prince and Wittstock attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and both the "Bal de la Rose", and Princess Grace Awards Gala in 2009. They also attended the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics. As a couple, they also attended the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling in Stockholm four days before their own engagement was announced and the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton on 29 April 2011. The wedding took place over two days: the civil marriage ceremony took place on 1 July 2011, followed by the religious ceremony on 2 July 2011.[37] Twins Gabriella Thérèse Marie, Countess of Carladès and Jacques Honoré Rainier, Hereditary Prince of Monaco were born to Prince Albert and Princess Charlene on 10 December 2014.[38]
Children in the line of succession
On 10 December 2014, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene welcomed their first and second child, twins Gabriella Thérèse Marie and Jacques Honoré Rainier. The twins were born at Princess Grace Hospital in La Colle, Monaco. Jacques, as his father's heir-apparent, bears the titles Hereditary Prince of Monaco and Marquis of Baux while Albert has granted Gabriella the title of Countess of Carladès.
Children born out of wedlock
Jazmin Grace Grimaldi
In 1992, an American woman, Tamara Rotolo, filed a paternity suit against the prince, claiming that he was the father of her daughter, whom she named Jazmin Grace Grimaldi. Prince Albert was also listed as the child's father on the Riverside County, California, birth certificate, according to The Desert Sun. The case went to trial in 1993 and was eventually dismissed by Superior Court Judge Graham Anderson Cribbs, who refused jurisdiction and found that there was "insufficient connection between [Prince] Albert and the State of California to justify hearing a suit [in California]"[39] and in doing so essentially accepted the submissions of the Prince's lawyer, Stanley Arkin, on that point.
On 31 May 2006, after a DNA test confirmed the child's parentage, Prince Albert admitted, in a statement from his lawyer, that he is Jazmin's father. He also extended an invitation for the girl to study and live in Monaco.[9]
Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste
In May 2005, Nicole Coste, a former Air France flight attendant, originally from Togo (West Africa), claimed that her youngest son, whom she named Alexandre Coste, was Prince Albert's son, and that this was proven by DNA tests conducted by Swiss technicians working on orders from the Monegasque government. She further claimed the prince had signed a notarised certificate confirming paternity but that she had not received a copy of it. The French weekly Paris Match published a ten-page interview with Coste and included photographs of the prince holding and feeding the child. Coste also told Paris Match that she was living in the prince's Paris apartment, and receiving an allowance from him while pretending to be the girlfriend of one of his friends in order to maintain privacy. She also said that the prince had last seen the boy in February 2005. A spokesman for Prince Albert had no comment, though upon news of Coste's claims, the prince's lawyer, Thierry Lacoste, announced that "A judicial strategy will be determined within the next few days".
In mid-May 2005, Lacoste announced that as a result of the international publicity over the revelations of the prince's son, Prince Albert was suing the Daily Mail, Bunte, and Paris Match for delving too deeply into his private life.
On 6 July 2005, a few days before he was enthroned on 12 July, Prince Albert officially confirmed via his lawyer Lacoste that the 22-month-old was his biological son.[40]
Other alleged children
In an earlier paternity suit, Bea Fiedler, a German topless model whom the Daily Telegraph described as a "sex-film star", claimed her son Daniel was the prince's son. This suit was reportedly dismissed. A blood test, which was refused by the judge, did not prove that the prince was the father of Fiedler's son.[41]
Succession issues
As Rainier III's health declined, his son's lack of legitimate children became a matter of public and political concern owing to the legal and international consequences. Had Prince Albert succeeded his father and died without lawful heirs, it would have triggered Article 3 of the 1918 Franco-Monegasque Treaty, according to which the Principality of Monaco would become a protectorate of the French Republic.[46] Prior to 2002, Monaco's constitution stipulated that only the last reigning prince's "direct and legitimate" descendants could inherit the crown.
On 2 April 2002, Monaco promulgated Princely Law 1.249, which provides that if a reigning prince dies without surviving legitimate issue, the throne passes to his legitimate siblings and their legitimate descendants of both sexes, according to the principle of male-preference primogeniture.[47] Following Albert's accession, this law took full effect in 2005 when ratified by France, pursuant to the Franco-Monégasque Treaty regulating relations between the Principality and its neighbour. Prince Albert's sisters and their legitimate children thereby retained the right to inherit the Monegasque throne, which they would have otherwise lost upon the death of Prince Rainier.
Under the current constitution, neither Jazmin, nor Alexandre, are in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne as they are not Prince Albert's legitimate children, and he emphasised their ineligibility to inherit the throne in statements confirming his paternity.[22][40] Monegasque law stipulates that any non-adulterine illegitimate child is legitimised by the eventual marriage of his/her parents, thereupon obtaining the rights to which that child would have been entitled if born in lawful marriage. Thus Alexandre would have become Monaco's heir apparent under current law if Albert were to marry his son's mother. But in a 2005 exchange with American reporter Larry King, Albert stated that this would not happen.[48]
Prior to the birth of Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques, Prince Albert's elder sister, Caroline, Princess of Hanover, was heir presumptive and, according to the Grimaldi house law, bore the traditional title of Hereditary Princess of Monaco.[49] Following their birth, she is now third in line.
In the spring of 2015, it was revealed in the magazine 'Ici Paris'[50] that Prince Albert had undergone surgery for a malignant skin cancer. Questions were raised in terms of succession as his heir, Prince Jacques, was barely four months old.
Environmental issues
Albert rides through a river on a guided tour in the Shoshone National Forest in the U.S., September 2013
Year of the Dolphin
The year 2007 was declared as (International) Year of the Dolphin by the United Nations and United Nations Environment Programme.[51] Prince Albert served as the International Patron of the "Year of the Dolphin", saying "The Year of the Dolphin gives me the opportunity to renew my firm commitment towards protecting marine biodiversity. With this strong initiative we can make a difference to save these fascinating marine mammals from the brink of extinction."
Jardin Animalier
The Zoological Garden of Monaco (Jardin Animalier) was founded by Prince Rainier in 1954. Rainier was petitioned unsuccessfully for many years by Virginia McKenna, founder of the Born Free Foundation, to release a pair of leopards at the zoo.[52] Prince Albert met McKenna after his accession to the throne, and agreed to release the leopards as well the zoo's hippo and camel.[9] He intends to convert the Jardin into a zoo for children.[52]
Expedition to Antarctica
In January 2009, Prince Albert left for a month-long expedition to Antarctica, where he visited 26 scientific outposts and met with climate-change experts in an attempt to learn more about the impact of global warming on the continent.[53] During the trip he stopped at the South Pole, making him the only incumbent head of state to have visited both poles.[54][55]
CITES and bluefin tuna
Prince Albert II at the 5th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts and Islands. UNESCO, Paris (2010)
In June 2009, Prince Albert co-authored an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal with Charles Clover, the author of The End of the Line, a book about overfishing and ocean conservation issues that had recently been made into a documentary by Rupert Murray. In the piece, Prince Albert and Clover note that bluefin tuna has been severely overfished in the Mediterranean, and decry the common European Union practice of awarding inflated quotas to bluefin fleets.[56] Albert also announced that Monaco would seek to award endangered species status to the Mediterranean bluefin Thunnus thynnus, (also called the Northern bluefin) under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). If upheld by the voting CITES delegates, this proposal would effectively ban the international trade in Mediterranean bluefin. This was the first time a nation had called for the inclusion of Mediterranean bluefin under CITES since Sweden[56] at the 1992 CITES Conference, which was vehemently opposed by Japan who eventually threatened retaliation through trade barriers.[57] Sweden withdrew its proposal.
On 16 July 2009, France declared that it too would seek to have Mediterranean bluefin listed as an endangered species.[58] Only hours later, the United Kingdom followed suit.[59]
Roger Revelle Prize
On 23 October 2009, Prince Albert was awarded the Roger Revelle Prize for his efforts to protect the environment and to promote scientific research.[60] This award was given to Prince Albert by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California.[61] Prince Albert is the second recipient of this prize.[62]
Awards
In 1996, Prince Albert received the Eagle Award from the United States Sports Academy. The Eagle Award is the Academy's highest international honor and was awarded to Prince Albert for his significant contributions in promoting international harmony, peace and goodwill through the effective use of sport.[63]
In October 2017, Prince Albert received the Lowell Thomas Award from The Explorers Club, a non-profit group that promotes scientific exploration. The award is presented by the President of the Club on special occasions to groups of outstanding explorers. The Club cited Prince Albert's dedication to the protection of the environment, and that he was the first head of state to reach both the North and South poles.[64]
Prince of Monaco Albert II. on October 14, 2019 at the Comenius University in Bratislava, he received the honorary title "doctor honoris causa" for activities in the field of protection of natural and cultural heritage and in removing the consequences of climate change.
Commemorative coins
As Monaco's head of state, Prince Albert II is depicted on coins, including collectors' coins, with very rare exceptions. One of the most recent examples is the €5 silver Prince Albert II commemorative coin, the first commemorative coin with his effigy on it, minted in 2008. On the obverse, the prince is depicted in profile with his name on the top of the coin. On the reverse, the Grimaldi coat of arms appears; around it, the words "Principauté de Monaco" (Principality of Monaco) also appear along with the nominal monetary value of the coin.[65]
Other roles
President, Monaco Red Cross
President, Comité Olympique Monégasque
Honorary President, Association Mondiale des Amis de l'Enfance
Honorary President, The Automobile Club de Monaco
Honorary President, The Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo
Honorary President, Jumping International de Monte Carlo
Honorary Board Member, International Paralympic Committee [66]
Patron, Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Patron, Peace and Sport Organization
Senator, Junior Chamber International
Trustee, Al Oerter Foundation/Art of the Olympians[67]
Titles, styles, honours and awards
Titles and styles
Styles of
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Personal standard of Prince Alberto II of Monaco.svg
Reference style His Serene Highness
Spoken style Your Serene Highness
Alternative style Sir
14 March 1958 – 6 April 2005: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux
31 March 2005 – 6 April 2005: His Serene Highness The Prince Regent of Monaco
6 April 2005 – present: His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco
As the prince, his official shortened title is "His Serene Highness Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco"; this does not include the many other styles claimed by the Grimaldi family.
Military appointments
Monaco Monaco: Colonel of the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (11 November 1986 – 6 April 2005)[2][68]
France France: Capitaine de frégate de la Marine Nationale (2 April 1992 – present)[2][69]
Honours
Main article: List of honours of the Monegasque Princely Family by country
National orders
Grand Master and Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles (Grand Cross, 13 March 1979; Grand Master since 6 April 2005)[70]
Grand Master of the Order of the Crown (since 6 April 2005)
Grand Master and Grand Cross of the Order of Grimaldi (Grand Cross, 18 April 1958; Grand Master since 6 April 2005)[70]
Grand Master of the Order of Cultural Merit (since 6 April 2005)
Foreign orders
Albania: National Flag Order (16 October 2018)[71]
Bulgaria: 1st Class decoration of the Order of Stara Planina (26 November 2004)[70][72]
Burkina Faso: Grand Officer of the National Order of Burkina Faso (17 February 2012)[73]
Costa Rica: Grand Cross with Gold Star of the National Order Juan Mora Fernández (es, 2003)[70]
Croatia: Knight Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav (7 April 2009)[73]
El Salvador: Grand Collar of the Order of the Liberator of the Slaves José Simeón Cañas (es, 2002)[70]
France: Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (2006)[70]
France: Grand Cross of the Ordre National du Mérite (25 July 1997)[70]
France: Commander of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (19 June 2009)[70][74]
Germany: Grand Cross special class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (9 July 2012)
Holy See: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre (27 January 1983)[70]
Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (12 December 2005)[70][75]
Jordan: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (before 07/2011)[70]
Lebanon: Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit (before 07/2011)[70]
Lithuania: Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great (15 October 2012)[76]
Mali: Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali (12 February 2012)[73]
Netherlands: Recipient of the King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal
Niger: Grand Cross of the National Order of Niger (March 1998)[70]
Panama: Grand Cross of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa (2002)[70]
Peru: Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun (2003)[70]
Poland: Member 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2012)[77]
Romania : Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (2009)[70][78]
San Marino: Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Agatha (2010)[70]
San Marino: Collar of the Order of San Marino (2015)
Senegal: Grand Officer (May 1977),[70] later Grand Cross (2012)[74] of the Order of the Lion
Slovakia: Grand Cross (or 1st Class) of the Order of the White Double Cross (2017)
SMOM: Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion (15 October 1997)[70]
SMOM: Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion (31 July 2011)[79]
SMOM: Collar of the Order pro merito Melitensi (15 October 2009)[70][80]
Tunisia: Grand Cordon of the Order of 7 November (September 2006)[70][81]
Sweden: HM King Carl XVI Gustaf 50th Anniversary Medal (30 April 1996)[82]
Sweden: Recipient of the 70th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (30 April 2016)
Dynastic orders
House of Savoy: Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1 March 2003)[83]
Kingdom of Montenegro House of Petrović-Njegoš: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Danilo I
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Two Sicilian Royal Family: Knight of the Order of Saint Januarius (7 November 2017)
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Two Sicilian Royal Family: Bailiff Knight Grand Cross with Collar of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George (7 November 2017)
Other awards
FIODS: Medal of the International Merit of Blood (12 March 1994)
Pahang: College of Darjah Kerabat Diraja Pahang (7 November 1997)
France: Grand Prix Humanitaire de France (6 March 2007)
Logo upmc sorbonne.png Pierre and Marie Curie University: Doctor Honoris Causa (23 March 2017)[84]
Finland University of Lapland: Doctor Honoris Causa (19 February 2019)[85]