Albert II (born 1958) is the reigning prince of Monaco, heir to Rainier III and the dazzling Hollywood film actress Grace Kelly. His stormy personal life for many years did not leave the pages of world tabloids. Now he is known as a loving husband and an exemplary father. An avid athlete, a brilliant diplomat, an active philanthropist - this person is surprisingly versatile, and all his achievements can hardly be listed. Let's find out what was the path of Prince Albert II to the throne, and also recall some interesting points regarding his life. Moreover, this experience can help to look at your problems from a different angle and understand that in life there is always room for good endings.
Biography
Prince of Monaco Albert II 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 underwent a one-year training course in various princely affairs and became a student at Amherst College, located in Massachusetts. Having studied in it for five years, Albert II became a bachelor of political science. After graduation, he served two years on the French military vessel "Joan of Arc" as a lieutenant. He also spent some time doing internships at large private companies in America and France.
As crown prince, Albert showed particular interest in humanitarian issues, as well as charity events. In the last years of the administration of the country, Rainier III, his father, entrusted to Albert some of his duties. However, the prince of Monaco began helping his parent in this in his youth. Thus, Albert II was excellently prepared for the adoption of the throne.
On March 7, 2005, Rainier III ended up in the intensive care unit of the Cardiology Center due to heart failure. And on the last day of the month, Crown Prince Albert II was determined by the Regent. April 6, after the death of his 81-year-old father, he turned out to be the ruler of Monaco. And in November of that year, his coronation took place.
Prince of Monaco Albert II bears the title of His Grace. He also has a huge number of high awards and is a holder of many orders. In fairness, it is worth noting that they got the monarch not so much because of his title, but for services to the motherland and the European community.
Stormy personal life
Until the age of fifty, the Prince of Monaco was a convinced bachelor and did not even think about getting married. He was constantly credited with loving relationships with film actresses, models, and athletes. Boulevard publications closely watched the novels of the prince and tracked each passion. In different years, Naomi Campbell, Sharon Stone, Gwyneth Paltrow were called the companions of Albert II. Truly windy and unstable gentleman was Albert II, Prince of Monaco. Photos of his many chosen ones flashed in the press every now and then. In 2001, the prince announced his engagement to film actress from America Angie Eckhart. The press wrote that the son followed in his father's footsteps. However, their relationship did not last too long.
The prince has two illegitimate children: a daughter and a son born to different mothers. He officially recognized them, but they have no rights to the princely throne. This is due to the new laws of the country.
Questions of succession in Monaco
Until 2002, the laws of the state did not prescribe the rules for the succession to the throne if the prince had no children from a legal marriage. However, due to such inconstancy, Albert had to change them so that the ruling dynasty retained the throne. Monaco is currently adopting the birthright with a male advantage. This means that if Alber did not have legitimate children, his elder sister Carolina would become the heir to the throne, and afterwards her son. Thus, no matter how frivolous in his personal life Albert II, Prince of Monaco, children born not of their legal spouse cannot 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 betrothal with Charlene Wittstock, and a year later they were married. What do we know about the chosen one of Albert II? She is twenty years younger than the prince. From early childhood, Charlene was fond of swimming. At the age of eighteen, the girl won national competitions in this sport, and also participated in the Sydney Olympics. After that, she arrived in 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. And a year later, the girl was forced to leave the big sport due to an injury, and the prince invited her to Monaco.
wedding ceremony
Their wedding has become one of the most magnificent and solemn ceremonies of the century. It was planned as a grand celebration for all the inhabitants of Monaco. At least a thousand invited guests, three public holidays, attracting a huge number of people - such was her plan for Albert II. Photos and videos of the ceremony show that the celebration was indeed a success: it was as luxurious as it was sophisticated, and ended with a magnificent firework. The bride and groom were delightful: he is in a white dress uniform of a carabiner, she is in a charming dress made of silk with a twenty-meter train from Giorgio Armani. The wedding took place the morning after the civil ceremony.
And on December 10 of last year, Albert II and Charlene Wittstock became parents: the princess gave her chosen one charming twins: Jacques and Gabriella. Two weeks later, the family organized the first photo shoot of the kids, and when the children were not even a month old, it was first published.
Spouses love each other dearly and together selflessly work for the good of the principality.
Sportsmanship
Prince of Monaco from an early age passionately loves sports. Most of all he is interested in 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 bobsled competitions. In 1985, Albert fought for first place in the Dakar rally. But, unfortunately, he had to leave the race. The cause was a 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 country's National Olympic Committee for 11 years. For many years he has been president of numerous sports federations (including swimming and modern pentathlon) and personally controls the holding of some competitions in the principality, for example, annual athletics competitions.
Cooperation with the UN
Prince Albert II fruitfully collaborates with the UN. He managed to gain trust and recognition of this organization. The evidence is that it was he who was chosen as the patron saint of the Year of the Dolphin in 2006 and entrusted to officially open it solemnly. Albert II takes part in many humanitarian and social initiatives of the United Nations.
Activities of the prince 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 household level.
Charity and cultural activities of the prince
Continuing the glorious traditions of his parents, Prince Albert II pays a lot of 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, first of all, provides patronage to gifted dancers, musicians, artists.
Every year, she assigns scholarships to representatives of talented youth. In addition, the Fund participates in charity events both within the principality and internationally. First of all, assistance is provided to children suffering from various diseases. The Foundation helps them in organizing comprehensive leisure activities: they organize creative workshops, studios, and children's theaters. In addition, assistance is provided in various medical research.
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 events. In 1982, he was appointed head of the Red Cross of the Principality. Today he controls 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 himself goes to the places of their holding. For example, he visited places that suffered from the terrifying tsunami that occurred in Thailand on December 26, 2004.
