Prince of Monaco Albert II. Biography, facts from life, family

Albert II (born 1958) is the reigning prince of Monaco, heir Rainier III and the dazzling Hollywood actress Grace Kelly. His turbulent personal life for many years did not descend from the pages of the world's tabloids. Now he is known as a loving husband and exemplary father. An avid athlete, a brilliant diplomat, an active patron of art - this man is surprisingly multifaceted, and all his services can hardly be listed. Let's find out what was the way of Prince Albert II to the throne, and also recall some interesting moments concerning his life. Especially since this experience can help to look at your problems from a different angle and understand that there is always room for good endings in life.

Biography

Prince Albert II of Monaco was born on March 14, 1958 in the capital of the country - the ancient city of Monaco-Ville. He received his education at the lyceum of Albert I and graduated with excellent results in 1976. After that, he passed a one-year course of study for various princely works and became a student at Amherst - a college located in Massachusetts. After graduating in it for five years, Albert II became a bachelor of political science. After graduation, he served two years on the French military ship "Jeanne d'Arc" as a lieutenant. He also for some time was trained in large private companies in America and France.

As Crown Prince, Albert showed special interest in the problems of the humanitarian sphere, as well as charity events. In the last years of the administration of the country, Rainier III, his father, entrusted Alber with some of his duties. However, to help the parent in this Prince of Monaco began in his youth. Thus, to the adoption of the throne, Albert II was perfectly prepared.

On March 7, 2005, Rainier III found himself in the intensive care unit of the Cardiology Center in connection with heart failure. And on the last day of the month Crown Prince Albert II was determined by the Regent. On April 6, after the death of his 81-year-old father, he turned out to be the ruler of Monaco. And in November of the same year, his coronation took place.

Prince Albert II of Monaco wears the title of His Serene Highness. He also has a huge number of high awards and is a knight of many orders. For the sake of justice, it is worth noting that they got the monarch not so much because of his title, but for his services to the homeland and the European community.

Stormy private life

Up to fifty years the prince of Monaco was a convinced bachelor and did not even think about getting married. He was constantly attributed to love relationships with film actresses, models, sportswomen. Boulevard publications closely followed the prince's novels and tracked each passion. Albert II's companions in different years were called Naomi Campbell, Sharon Stone, Gwyneth Paltrow. A truly windy and inconstant knight was Albert II, Prince of Monaco. Photos of his numerous women now and then flickered in the press. In 2001, the prince announced his engagement with the movie actress from America Angie Eckhart. The press wrote that his son followed in the footsteps of his father. However, their relationship did not last too long.

The prince has two illegitimate children: a daughter and a son, born of different mothers. He officially recognized them, but they have no rights to the throne of princes. This is due to the new laws of the country.

Questions of succession in Monaco

In the laws of the state until 2002, there were no rules for inheritance of the throne in the event that the prince does not have children from legal marriage. However, due to such a volatility of Alber, they had to be changed so that the ruling dynasty retained the throne. At present, the birthright of the male is accepted in Monaco. This means that if Alber did not have legitimate children, his elder sister Carolina would become the heir to the throne, and then her son. Thus, no matter how frivolous in his personal life was Albert II - Prince of Monaco, children born not from a legitimate spouse, can not have absolutely no rights to the throne.

Note that at present the crown prince of Monaco is the son of Prince Albert - Jacques.

A family

In the summer of 2010, the prince announced his engagement with Charlene Whittstock, and a year later their marriage took place. What do we know about Albert II's chosen one? She is twenty years younger than the prince. From an early age, Charlene was fond of swimming. At the age of eighteen, the girl won national competitions in this sport, and also participated in the Olympics in Sydney. After that, she came to Monaco, where she met with Albert II.

Their relationship did not develop rapidly, on the contrary, the prince continued to have relationships with other women. The novel of Albert II and Charlene began only in 2006. A year later the girl was forced to leave a big sport because of a trauma, and the prince invited her to Monaco.

wedding ceremony

Their wedding was one of the most magnificent and solemn ceremonies of the century. It was planned as a grand celebration for all residents of Monaco. At least a thousand invited guests, three state holidays, attracting a huge number of people - such was her plan for Albert II. Photo and video of the ceremony show that the celebration really did: it was as luxurious as it was refined, and it ended with a magnificent firework display. The bride and groom were adorable: he is in a white dress uniform of a carabinier, she is in a charming silk dress with a twenty-meter tail loop from Giorgio Armani. The wedding took place the next morning after the civil ceremony.

And on December 10 last year, Albert II and Charlene Whittstock became parents: the princess gave her chosen charming twins: Jacques and Gabriella. Already two weeks later, the family organized the first photo shoot of the kids, and when the children did not have a month, it was first published.

Spouses are fond of each other and work hard together for the good of the principality.

Sportsmanship

Prince of Monaco fervently loves sports from an early age. Most of all he enjoys football, swimming, tennis. It is interesting that the prince played five times in the Olympic Games for the national team of his country, taking part in competitions in the bobsleigh. In 1985, Alber fought for the first place in the Dakar rally. But, unfortunately, he had to leave the distance. The cause was the malfunction of his car. He is also the patron of the football club "Monaco".

Prince Albert II of Monaco is a member of the IOC and has been the head of the National Olympic Committee of the country for 11 years. For many years he has been president of numerous sports federations (including swimming and modern pentathlon) and personally supervises the holding of some competitions in the principality, for example, annual competitions in athletics.

Cooperation with the UN

Prince Albert II fruitfully cooperates with the UN. He managed to win the trust and recognition of this organization. The evidence is that it was he who was chosen as the patron of the Year of the Dolphin in 2006 and was entrusted officially to solemnly open it. Albert II takes part in many humanitarian and social initiatives of the UN.

Prince's activity in the field of environmental protection

Albert II organizes various activities aimed at protecting the environment and combating environmental pollution. He considers this sphere to be extremely important for the development of the state. According to the ruling prince, each person should contribute to the care of the environment and be responsible for solving environmental problems even at the domestic level.

Charity and cultural activities of the prince

Continuing the glorious traditions of his parents, Prince Albert II pays much attention to charity events. He participates in all kinds of actions and missions, both in Monaco and outside the Principality.

Albert II acts as vice-president of the Foundation, created by Princess Grace in 1964. This organization, in the first place, provides patronage to gifted dancers, musicians, artists.

Every year she appoints scholarships to representatives of talented youth. In addition, the Foundation participates in charity events, both inside the principality and internationally. First of all, it helps children suffering from these or other diseases. The Foundation helps them in organizing all-round leisure: arranges creative workshops, studios, children's theaters. In addition, assistance is provided in various medical studies.

It is interesting that Prince Albert II of Monaco acts as the Honorary President of the International Napoleonic Society created twenty years ago.

Humanitarian activities

The ruler of Monaco is actively involved in various humanitarian activities. In 1982, he was appointed head of the Red Cross principality. Today, he oversees international assistance programs conducted in the country.

With the participation of Albert, humanitarian actions are also being carried out in other states: Romania, India, Brazil. At the same time, His Grace travels to the places where they are held. For example, he visited places that were affected by the terrible tsunami that happened in Thailand on December 26, 2004.

Interesting Facts

• Albert became the first acting monarch to visit the North Pole.
• According to the press, when the hero of our narration was a participant of the Olympics, he refused any privileges and settled with the rest of the athletes, not stressing his origin at all.
• Shortly before the prince's wedding, the press reported that the bride was about to escape from the crown. The cause was the appearance of Alber's third illegitimate child. However, in the end it turned out that this is just idle speculation of the tabloid media. Later, Charlene herself commented on these rumors, calling them ridiculous and ridiculous.
• The reigning prince of Monaco is considered one of the richest people in the world. Today, its capital is estimated at more than one billion dollars. It includes houses and lands located in France and in Monaco.
• For the second consecutive year, he heads the rating of the most beautiful men of the world according to the well-known edition of "Glam Magazine".

When Prince Albert II ascended the throne, Monaco was a prosperous and prosperous state with centuries-old traditions and a happy people. And, thanks to his tireless efforts, it remains so today. Stormful romantic adventures did not prevent him from creating a strong and happy family and showing himself as a brilliant ruler, caring about the prosperity of his principality and his people.