The Monte Carlo Masters

Last weekend Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene took in the final match of the Monte Carlo Masters, presided over, as usual, by princely cousin Baroness Elizabeth-Anne de Massy, president of the Monegasque Tennis Federation. The Princely couple watched as the eight year reign of Rafel Nadal of Spain came to an end with the victory of Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

The Princely couple and cousin congratulate the winners, the new tennis champions in Monaco.

A Wedding to Remember

It was on this day in 1956 that American film icon Grace Kelly was married to His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Huge crowds of tens of thousands of Monegasques turned out to cheer the happy couple and the event really put the tiny Principality of Monaco on the world map, certainly as far as the United States was concerned as 'Monaco fever' swept America from coast to coast. Ever since that happy day, many Americans have taken a special interest in Monaco and the House of Grimaldi -and obviously, a great many still do. For traditional style and modern glamour, the wedding of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace remains almost impossible to top. A happy occasion to remember.

MM Video: Charlene, Princess of Monaco

The Not-So Latest

I knew it would happen of course. Take some time off and that's when all the news decides to happen. So, as most have probably already heard by now, last week HRH Princess Caroline became a grandmother. Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo welcomed their first child into the world last Thursday and Princess Caroline, Pierre and Charlotte were quick to join them in London at the elite Portland hospital. It's a boy! We send our congratulations to the proud couple of course, mother and son have been released from the hospital but are still in London, though no one is saying where of course. It is expected that their primary residence will be in Paris where Andrea and Tatiana first met. Some have remarked on how relatively low-key the birth has been compared to that of Caroline, Albert or Stephanie but, of course, that is to be expected. Those were offspring of the Sovereign Prince, not the grandson of the current second-in-line to the throne who may be displaced at any time should Albert II do his duty (hint, hint). If or when Princess Charlene produces an heir to the throne, I'm sure things will be much different with formal announcements, bells ringing and gun salutes at Ft Antoine (if anyone can still remember how they work). Word is that the new Grimaldi baby boy is named "Sacha" but so far that has not been confirmed. Once Andrea and Tatiana are married the new addition will take his place in the princely line of succession.

In other news of the romantic variety, Princess Stephanie's daughter Pauline Ducruet (who has certainly inherited the Grimaldi good-looks) has gone public with her boyfriend for the first time. The lucky young man is former footballer Paul-Noel Ettori and the two have been an item since 2011, first meeting when he was 21 and Pauline was 17. Both have moved to Paris where Pauline is pursuing a career in fashion and Paul-Noel is trying to get into the acting and/or modeling game. I'm sure neither of them will be short on opportunities. So, it seems that 'love is in the air' for the Grimaldi clan. Charlotte brought her (much older) beau to the Rose Ball this year for the first time, Pauline has gone public with her romance and Andrea is a new daddy.

In less romantic news, HSH Prince Albert II announced on Friday that the Principality of Monaco will be growing with a 6 hectare expansion into the sea near the Grimaldi Forum. The Prince has been studying the issue since 2008 (it is not the first time Monaco has reclaimed land from the sea) but earlier plans for a 12 hectare expansion had to be scrapped because of environmental and wildlife concerns as well as worries over the cost at the height of the economic crisis. Of course, with this new expansion, Prince Albert II can be counted on to take care that no little fishies are disturbed. "I will pay particular attention to ensure the project respects the strict environmental rules that I will impose, during the construction as well as during the use of the new surfaces created," the Sovereign Prince said. Monaco has long been bursting at the seams with the number of people who would like to relocate to a country with beautiful views, a good climate and no income tax and a lack of space has long been the country's biggest problem. Also, recently, the Sovereign Prince welcomed Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations to Monaco as part of the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Principality becoming a member of the UN.

Rose Ball 2013

Princely Couple at Papal Inauguration

The Princely couple at prayer. These are the best photos

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene give polite praise as Pope Francis passes

The Princely couple were seated next to another Albert II, the King and Queen of the Belgians. Queen Paola couldn't resist snapping a photo on her smart phone as the Pontiff went by.

Pope Francis greets the applause of the congregation

HSH Princess Charlene taking communion. King Albert II seems very interested but Queen Paola seems a little bored.

Princely Couple in Palau

TSH Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco are currently on an official visit to the island Republic of Palau. On Monday, the Sovereign Prince met with President Tommy Esang Remengesau and the Princess consort met with the first lady. Palau, a republic in Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean, is not unknown in Monaco as previous President Johnson Toribiong visited the Principality in 2012.

New "Green" Jet for Monaco

They do not call them the "jet set" because they take the train everywhere. Yesterday, HSH the Sovereign Prince, HSH Princess Charlene and HRH Princess and son Pierre Casiraghi were at the airport in neighboring Nice, France for a ribbon-cutting of the Prince's new private jet, complete with a spiffy Grimaldi coat-of-arms on the side. The new Princely private jet is valued at about 50 million euros, a Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X and will be used for state trips by the Princely Family (think of it as a much more modest version of President Obama's Air Force One). It can fly 11,000 km without stopping for gas and, because Prince Albert II is an environmentalist who means it (and doesn't just pay lip-service to 'cash in' on the cause like some people) he has started a special humanitarian fund to off-set the carbon footprint of his new jet. So, everyone wins, everyone is happy. It will be housed in a special shelter at the Nice Airport by means of a special contract with Monaco since, unfortunately, the Principality is not large enough to have an airfield.

Monaco Goes Welsh

In honor of St David's Day, the patron saint of Wales, TSH Prince Albert II (wearing a really awesome Welsh flag necktie) and Princess Charlene attended a special charity evening organized by Mark Thomas, President of the Monaco Wales Association at the Salle Empire, Hotel de Paris, on Friday, March 1. The money raised by the event will benefit the Princess Charlene Foundation. Many athletes, predominately rugby players, were on hand and there was musical entertainment with a special performance by the 65 members of the Treorchy Male Choir. A great evening to celebrate all things Welsh and Welsh-Monegasque friendship. I hope they sang 'Men of Harlech' at some point (love that song).

Prince of Monaco in Haiti

HSH Prince Albert II, after a visit to Brazil, stopped in at the struggling island nation of Haiti where he met with President Martelly and then visited the "Prince Albert II of Monaco" kindergarten and elementary school, named in his honor, which opened recently for the 2012-2013 school year. It serves a student body of 160 "particularly disadvantaged children" with a goal of 290 students expected to be met soon. The school was opened thanks to the cooperation of the "Monaco Collectif Haiti". In the wake of the earthquake disaster, Prince Albert II and the Monegasque government acted quickly to send assistance to Haiti and set up programs to aid the country which are now obviously bearing fruit. Haiti and Monaco are both members of the Francophone community of nations, a representative of which Albert II will also be meeting with. During his visit the Sovereign Prince also met with Haiti native and former Governor-General of Canada Michaelle Jean who is a special UN ambassador for UNESCO as well as a pioneer in research for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Prince Reacts to Papal Resignation

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco has been visiting Brazil lately and was there when he learned, along with the rest of the world, that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will resign from his office at the end of the month. Monaco has a long and close history with the papacy and the Principality is one of the last remaining officially Catholic monarchies in the world. Prince Albert II, who attended the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI, was quick to release a statement saying that he was emotional upon hearing the news that the Pope would be stepping down but called the decision "courageous". The Sovereign Prince praised the Pope and spoke of his most recent visit to the Vatican with HSH Princess Charlene, which was the first time the Princess had met the Pontiff. Prince Albert also assured the Pope that he would remain in the prayers of the House of Grimaldi. Pope Benedict XVI cited his age and physical weakness as the reason for his resignation. The Pope had planned to visit the Principality of Monaco last year but it never came about, possibly due to the Pontiff's increasing frailty. The Principality of Monaco has maintained diplomatic relations with the Holy See longer than almost any other existing country and Prince Albert II is a high ranking member of the Knights of Malta and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

The Princess and the Junior Rugby Team

Last Saturday, HSH Princess Charlene took in a junior rugby game at the Louis II Stadium. For the benefit of American readers, rugby is a little like American football but without all of the starting and stopping. After the game was over the Princess awarded the trophy to the Monegasque junior rugby team. Way to go guys! The Princess looked radiant and, surrounding by sports and children, she was certainly in her element.