The Prince of Monaco is in his mother's native land this week. On Monday he visited the sleepy Missouri town of Hannibal; best known as the hometown of American writer Mark Twain. Prince Albert II paid a friendly (unofficial) visit to the Hannibal Regional Hospital to visit an old friend of his, opthalmologist Dr. Robert Munsch. He is the first royal visitor the little town has ever had. Anyone expecting to see Charlene was disappointed and she went ahead to St Louis while the Prince made the detour. The Monegasque monarch said it was great to be in the heartland of America and called Hannibal, "a very authentic part of the US". It was all supposed to be very informal and 'hush hush' but of course word spread rapidly and soon town dignitaries were coming to present the Prince with a key to the city and oblige him to say a few words. He also took a drive around the little town and enjoyed some barbeque with friends before moving on to St Louis to meet up with his beloved. Some of the shocked co-workers of Dr. Munsch said he had told them he was friends with the Prince of Monaco but no one actually believed him until His Serene Highness showed up to say hello.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Prince Albert in America
The Prince of Monaco is in his mother's native land this week. On Monday he visited the sleepy Missouri town of Hannibal; best known as the hometown of American writer Mark Twain. Prince Albert II paid a friendly (unofficial) visit to the Hannibal Regional Hospital to visit an old friend of his, opthalmologist Dr. Robert Munsch. He is the first royal visitor the little town has ever had. Anyone expecting to see Charlene was disappointed and she went ahead to St Louis while the Prince made the detour. The Monegasque monarch said it was great to be in the heartland of America and called Hannibal, "a very authentic part of the US". It was all supposed to be very informal and 'hush hush' but of course word spread rapidly and soon town dignitaries were coming to present the Prince with a key to the city and oblige him to say a few words. He also took a drive around the little town and enjoyed some barbeque with friends before moving on to St Louis to meet up with his beloved. Some of the shocked co-workers of Dr. Munsch said he had told them he was friends with the Prince of Monaco but no one actually believed him until His Serene Highness showed up to say hello.
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That's great that he went to middle America and not either of the coasts. And a small town too!
ReplyDeleteIt is, and it's not that unusual either. I know he has visited Texas a number of times but usually these are unofficial, private visits and publicized as little as possible. He's usually there to visit friends and doesn't want to make a fuss (though as seen here it doesn't always work out that way). Usually though he cannot help but stick to the coasts, especially the east coast as that's where Washington, the UN and his family are. I was also discussing recently one of his past visits to Wyoming in which he visited Cody, Wyoming and the site where his predecessor and namesake went on a hunting trip guided by Buffalo Bill himself. That trip was fairly well publicized, especially when Albert sported some 'cowboy duds' and faux facial hair.
ReplyDeleteAre there plans for he and Charlene to meet with his daughter?
ReplyDeleteMom
Not that I know of but if there was I doubt he would publicize it. I'm sure he would prefer that to be private and only known to the public after the fact. On the whole though it seems that Jazmin's mom (unlike some others) has wanted to raise their daughter on her own in the most "normal" way possible. They keep in touch but there is not a great deal of contact between the two I think it's safe to say.
ReplyDeleteI've read elsewhere Jazmin often visits Albert in Monaco since meeting him in 2005, and their relationship is *said* to be a good one. Perhaps she's already met Charlene. We don't know nor do we need to know.
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