Albert II, Prince of Monaco

Albert II(Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi;born 14 March 1958) isPrince of Monaco, reigning since 2005.
Born at thePrince's Palace of Monaco, Albert is the second child and only son ofPrince Rainier IIIandPrincess Grace. He attended theLycée Albert Premierbefore studyingpolitical scienceatAmherst College. In his youth, he competed inbobsleighduringWinter Olympicfinals before retiring in 2002. Albert was appointedregentin March 2005 after his father fell ill, and became sovereign prince upon the latter's death a week later. Since his accession, he has been outspoken in the field of environmentalism  and an advocate ofocean conservation,and adoption ofrenewable energysources to tackle globalclimate change,and foundedPrince Albert II of Monaco Foundationin 2006, to directly raise funds and initiate action for such causes and greaterecological preservation.
With assets valued in 2010 at US$1 billion, Albert owns shares in theSociété des Bains de Mer, which operates Monaco'scasinoand otherentertainmentproperties in the Principality.In July 2011, Prince AlbertmarriedSouth African Olympic swimmerCharlene Wittstock.He has four children, 2 of them illegitimate, the other 2 legitimate:Jazmin, Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste,Gabriella, andJacques.
Prince Albert was born in thePrince's Palace of Monacoon 14 March 1958, as the second child ofPrince Rainier IIIandPrincess Grace. At the time of his birth, he was heir apparent to the throne. Albert was a dual citizen of both the Principality of Monaco and the United States of America by birth, before renouncing his American citizenship in his early adulthood.He wasbaptizedon 20 April 1958, byMonsignorJean Delay,Archbishop of Marseille, in theCathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Monaco.His godparents were Prince Louis dePolignacandQueen Victoria Eugenie of Spain.
Albert spent a year training in princely duties before enrolling atAmherst College, inMassachusetts, in 1977 as Albert Grimaldi. He joinedChi Psifraternity and lived in the Alpha Chi Lodge. Albert spent mid-1979 touring Europe and the Middle East with theAmherst College Glee Club, and also undertook an exchange program with theUniversity of Bristol, at the Alfred Marshall School of Economics and Management, in 1979. He graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree inpolitical science.He speaks French, German, Italian, and English.From September 1981 to April 1982, Albert trained on board theFrench Navy'shelicopter cruiserJeanne d'Arc, attaining the rank of Ship-of-the-Line Ensign (2nd class), and is currently a reserveLieutenant Commander.From 1983 to 1985, he took training courses with companiesJ.P. Morgan & Co,Louis Vuitton,Rogers & Wells, andWells, Rich and Greenein the United States and Europe, studying financial management, communication, and marketing. Since May 1993, the Prince has led the Monegasque delegation to theGeneral Assembly of the United Nations. In 2004, the Prince presided over the delegation of Monaco inStrasbourg, France, for the official accession of the Principality onto theCouncil of Europe.
Prince Albert's mother, Princess Grace, died at age 52 as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident in 1982. In 2017, the Prince stated during an interview that his mother's death was a traumatic event for him and his family, revealing that his father was "never the same man" after the loss.
Albert was an enthusiastic sportsman, participating in cross country, javelin throwing, handball, judo, swimming, tennis, rowing, sailing, skiing, squash and fencing.  He became a judoblack beltin 1985.
Albert competed in thebobsleighat five consecutiveWinter Olympicsfor Monaco, taking part in both the two-man and four-man events. In the two-man bobsleigh Albert finished25th at the 1988 gamesin Calgary,43rd at the 1992games in Albertville, and31st at the 1994 games. In the four-man bobsleigh Albert finished27th in 1992,26th at the 1994 gamesin Lillehammer, and 28th at both the1998 games in Naganoandthe 2002 games in Salt Lake City.Albert was Monaco's flag bearer at the 1988, 1994, and 1998 Winter Olympics.He also took part in the1985 Paris–Dakar Rally, but did not complete it.Albert has been a member of theInternational Olympic Committeesince 1985, and his maternal grandfather,John B. Kelly Sr., and maternal uncle,John B. Kelly Jr., were both Olympic medalists inrowing.In 2017 Albert gainedOLYpost-nominal status under his competition name of Albert Grimaldi.
On 31 March 2005, following consultation with theCrown Council of Monaco, thePalais Princierannounced that Albert would take over the duties of his father asregentsince Rainier was no longer able to exercise his princely functions.
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.A morningMassatSaint Nicholas Cathedralpresided over by theArchbishop of Monaco, the Most ReverendBernard Barsi, formally marked the beginning of his reign.Afterward, Albert returned to the 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, and subsequently gave a speech.The evening ended with a fireworks display on the waterfront.
The second part of his investiture took place on 19 November 2005. Albert was enthroned at Saint Nicholas Cathedral.The Princely family was in attendance, including his elder sister,Princess Carolinewith her husbandErnst, Prince of Hanoverand three of her four children,Andrea,PierreandCharlotte; as well as his younger sisterPrincess Stéphanie, his paternal auntPrincess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy, his godson,Jean-Léonard Taubert de Massy, and his cousinElisabeth-Anne de Massy. Royalty from 16 delegations were present for the festivities throughout the country. The evening ended with a dedicated performance at theOpéra de Monte-Carlo.
As Rainier III's health declined, Albert'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 the1918 Franco-Monegasque Treaty, according to which the Principality of Monaco would become aprotectorateof the French Republic.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-preferenceprimogeniture.
Under the current constitution, neither Jazmin nor Alexandre are in theline of succession to the Monegasque throneas they are not Prince Albert II'slegitimatechildren, and he emphasised their ineligibility to inherit the throne in statements confirming his paternity.Monegasque law stipulates that anynon-adulterineillegitimate child islegitimisedby 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'sheir apparentunder current law if Albert were to marry Alexandre's mother. In a 2005 exchange with American reporterLarry King, Albert stated that this would not happen.
Prior to the birth of Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques, Prince Albert's elder sister,Caroline, Princess of Hanover, washeir presumptiveand, according to the Grimaldihouse law, bore the traditional title of Hereditary Princess of Monaco.Following their births, she is now third in line.
In the early years of his reign, Prince Albert oversaw multiple judicial and legal reforms, including the regulation ofcustody, protections of the privacy of the individual in the face of technological growth,freedom of the press, legislative gender equality, and the protection of children's rights and disabled students.In July 2005, in echo ofAlbert I, his great-great-grandfather, he travelled toSpitsbergen, Norway. During this trip, he visited the glaciersLilliehöökbreenandMonacobreen. Prince Albert also engaged in a RussianArcticexpedition, reaching the North Pole onEaster, 16 April 2006.
Since his ascension, the Prince has overseen the construction of various community facilities, includingsocial housing, railway infrastructure, educational institutes for thehospitality industry, and secondary education. He currently heads an initiative to promote ethical economic activity, criminal liability, the adopting of systems to combat money laundering and organized crime, and the introduction oftax fraudinto Monegasque criminal law.In 2006, Prince Albert created thePrince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which continues Monaco's commitment to supporting sustainable and ethical projects around the world. The foundation's focus has three main objectives: climate change and renewable energy development, combating theloss of biodiversity, and improving universal access to clean water.In July 2011, Albert married South African Olympic swimmerCharlene Wittstock.
On 27 August 2015, Prince Albert apologized for Monaco's role in facilitating the deportation of a total of 90 Jews and resistance fighters to the Nazis in 1942, 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 theMonaco Cemetery. "In distress, they came specifically to take shelter with us, thinking they would find neutrality."
Between 2006 and 2022, Albert's chief of cabinet was Georges Lisimachio.In June 2023, Albert dismissedClaude Palmero, the manager of the Prince of Monaco's assets who had been serving for over two decades.Albert said of the decision, "I exercised my right to choose the asset manager of my choice. Events have shown how much this decision was the right one." Palmero proceeded to sue Albert for €1 million and leaked information of the palace's spending to the French media.
In 2016, Albert purchased Princess Grace's childhood home inEast Falls,Philadelphia, which was originally built by her fatherJack Kelly Sr.. Upon acquiring it, he stated the house might be used as a museum space or as offices for thePrincess Grace Foundation.Prince Albert does not have direct ownership of thePrince's Palace, but does possess personal homes in bothLa TurbieandMarchais.
Albert, a well-known automotive enthusiast, owns vehicles like theBMW Hydrogen 7,theLexus LS 600h,theLexus RX 400h,and theToyota Prius PHV.He also owns aDassault AviationFalcon 7X, a 14-passenger leisure jet, currently stationed atNice Côte d'Azur Airport.
Albert was close friends with the artistNalland owns some of his works.
On 19 March 2020, amid theCOVID-19 pandemic in Europe, it was announced that Albert II had tested positive forCOVID-19,making him the first monarch and head of state to have contracted COVID-19.It was reported that he had begun to self-quarantine from within his apartment, performing his work and duties from there.On 31 March, it was announced that he had made a full recovery.In April 2022, he tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time and observed a brief period of self-isolation.
In 2021,Raphaël Domjanbecame the first pilot of anelectric planeflight with ahead of state. On 14 September 2021, they took off with aPipistrel Velis128operated by Elektropostal fromNice airportin France with Albert II and they flew over Monaco. The plane flew for 30 minutes at a maximum altitude of 900 feet.
Prince Albert met South African swimmerCharlene Wittstockin 2000 at theMare Nostrumswimming meet in Monaco.They made their public debut as a couple at theopening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Their engagement was announced by the palace on 10 June 2010. The wedding was originally scheduled for 8 and 9 July 2011, but was moved forward to prevent a conflict with theInternational Olympic Committee(IOC) meeting inDurbanon 5–9 July, which they both attended. The couple had invited members of the IOC, including presidentJacques Rogge, to their wedding.
The couple were married in a civil ceremony on 1 July 2011 in the Throne Room of thePrince's Palace.Thereligious ceremonytook place in the courtyard of the palace on 2 July, and was presided over by ArchbishopBernard Barsi.The couple honeymooned in South Africa, where they stayed in separate hotels,and Mozambique.
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene had twins,Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès, andJacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco, on 10 December 2014. Jacques is theheir apparentto the throne.
Albert holds patronages withAS Monaco,theWorld Olympians Association,theMonte-Carlo Rolex Masters, thePeace and SportOrganization, theNo Finish Line Internationalcharitable non-profit Organisation andJunior Chamber International. He holds official and honorary presidencies within theMonaco Red Cross,Comité Olympique Monégasque,Association Mondiale des Amis de l'Enfance, The Automobile Club de Monaco, The Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo, and Jumping International de Monte Carlo. Albert is affiliated withInternational Paralympic Committee,Junior Chamber International, andArt of the Olympians. Albert is also a global adviser toOrphans International.
In 2001, at the 36th Congress of theMediterranean Science Commissionheld in the Principality, the CIESM Member States unanimously elected Monaco in the person of Prince Albert to the presidence of the commission.
The year 2007 was declared as(International) Year of the Dolphinby the United Nations andUnited Nations Environment Programme.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."
TheZoological Garden of Monaco(Jardin Animalier) was founded by Prince Rainier in 1954. Rainier was petitioned unsuccessfully for many years byVirginia McKenna, founder of theBorn Free Foundation, to release a pair of leopards at the zoo.He intends to convert the Jardin into a zoo for children.
In January 2009, Prince Albert left for a month-long expedition toAntarctica, where he visited 26 scientific outposts and met with climate-change experts in an attempt to learn more about the impact ofglobal warmingon the continent.During the trip, he stopped at the South Pole, making him the only incumbent head of state to have visited both poles.
In June 2009, Prince Albert co-authored anop-edpublished inThe Wall Street JournalwithCharles Clover, the author ofThe End of the Line, a book about overfishing and ocean conservation issues that had recently been made into a documentary byRupert Murray. In the piece, Prince Albert and Clover note that bluefin tuna have been severely overfished in the Mediterranean, and decry the common European Union practice of awarding inflated quotas to bluefin fleets.Albert also announced that Monaco would seek to award endangered species status to the Mediterranean bluefin,Thunnus thynnus, (also called the Northern bluefin) under theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES). This was the first time a nation had called for the inclusion of Mediterranean bluefin under CITES since Swedenat the 1992 CITES Conference, which was vehemently opposed by Japan who eventually threatened retaliation through trade barriers.
On 16 July 2009, France declared that it too would seek to have Mediterranean bluefin listed as an endangered species.Only hours later, the United Kingdom followed suit.
On 19 September 2017, Prince Albert expressed his great interest for the preliminary draft of theGlobal Pact for the Environmentpresented by French PresidentEmmanuel Macronin the context of the 72nd session of theUnited Nations General Assembly.He added that he will be very attentive to the future of this Pact, which he qualified as a "universal, legally binding agreement, which recognises the right of future generations to sustainable development."
After having metTorres Strait Islanderartist and activistAlick Tipotiin 2016, Prince Albert went to stay with his family onBadu Island, and collaborated with him on the filmAlick and Albert(2021), a feature-length documentary film about the future of the oceans, and howclimate changeaffects people in theTorres Strait Islandsas well as Monaco.The film had itsworld premiereat theBrisbane International Film Festivalin October 2021.
On 12 February 2020, Albert andVictor Vescovoreached the bottom ofCalypso Deep, a depth of 16,762 ft, in a submarine.  They were only the second team to do so after a French group in 1965.
In 1996, Prince Albert received the Eagle Award from theUnited 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.
On 23 October 2009, Prince Albert was awarded theRoger Revelle Prizefor his efforts to protect the environment and to promote scientific research.This award was given to Prince Albert by theScripps Institution of OceanographyinLa Jolla, California.Prince Albert is the second recipient of this prize.
In October 2017, Prince Albert received the Lowell Thomas Award fromThe 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, commemorating his status as the first head of state to reach both the North and South poles.
On 14 October 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 within his efforts tocombat climate change.
As Monaco's head of state, Prince Albert II is depicted on both standard-issue and collector's coins, such as the €5 silverPrince Albert II commemorative coin, the first commemorative coin with his effigy, 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.