Prince Albert takes over in Monaco

[LiberalEsto]

Rainier said to be increasingly fragile

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/03/31/rainier.health/index.html

Thursday, March 31, 2005 Posted: 1715 GMT (0115 HKT)


MONACO -- Prince Albert has taken over the regency of Monaco because his ailing father is unable to exercise his royal functions, the palace says.

Thursday's announcement gave no updates on the health of Prince Rainier, 82, who is being treated in hospital for breathing, kidney and heart problems.

A royal commission, the Council of the Crown, decided that it was difficult for Rainier to "exercise his high functions," the statement from the palace said.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. They let Prince Albert out of his can?

:shrug:

[ronnykmarshall]

Bwwhaaaaa!! I love that joke!

A couple of weeks ago when Sam Sedar was filling in for Randi Rhodes, he told that joke wrong. Janeane Garofalo called in cracking up that he didn't know it.

[JI7]

2. a lot of people seem to be nearing the end of their lives

[loro mi dicevano]

3. And TODAY.

:shrug:

[xxqqqzme]

4. Rainier & the Pope

R nearly the same age. Bizarre considering the life paths of each.

[Hardrada]

6. One of them married Grace Kelly.

I know that.

[lenidog]

5. What the hell does the Prince of Monacco do that would

require a regent besides counting his cut from the casinos?

[SoCalDem]

7. Stands on a balcony and waves..much LIKE the pope

Ranier is probably ready to leave... He was never the same after Grace died.. It broke my heart to see him at her funeral:(

[lenidog]

8. Not much else to do besides that and attending casino openings

How long ago was it that she died. I vaguely remember that. It must be going on 25 years or more?

[SoCalDem]

9. It's been a long time..n/t

:

[lenidog]

10. I looked it up real quick

it was 1982 and the official story si that she had a stroke behind the wheel of her car. While I recall there was some people saying that her daughter Stephanie was behind the wheel and for some reason the covered it up.

[edbermac]

14. Casino openings? The Prince is a pauper compared to the Pope...

:silly:

[mikelgb]

11. lol

your pic reminds me of www.jesusdressup.com

[roguevalley]

12. apparently Monaco can be glad he's there. The story is that if there

is no male heir the principality reverts to France.

[hopein08]

13. They changed that last time he got sick...

That is how it was supposed to be. But it didn't seem like Albert was going to get married or be producing heirs anytime soon. No one in Monaco wanted it to revert back to France so they changed the constitution to allow the oldest daughter, Princess Caroline, to follow her brother in line for the throne. Her three or four children will follow her in line. Here is the line of succession...

At present, the order of succession (ignoring the restriction to persons who are Monegasque citizens at the time of the demise of the crown) is thus:

HSH Prince Albert, Hereditary Prince, (b. 14 March 1958) marquis des Baux by ordinance of March 16, 1958
HRH the Princess of Hanover (Princess Caroline, b. 23 Jan 1957), widow of Stefano Casiraghi (1960-90)
Andrea Casiraghi (b. 8 Jun 1984)
Pierre Casiraghi (b. 5 Sep 1987)
Charlotte Casiraghi (b. 3 Aug 1986)
Alexandra of Hanover (b. 20 July 1999)
HSH Princess Stephanie (b. 1 Feb 1965), married June 1995 to Daniel Ducruet (b. 1964)
Louis Ducruet (b. 26 Nov 1992)
Pauline Ducruet (b. 4 May 1994)
HSH Princess Antoinette (b. 28 Dec 1920)
Christian de Massy (b. 17 Jan 1949)
Brice de Massy (b. 1988)
Antoine de Massy (b. 1997)
Laetizia de Massy (b. 1971)
Elizabeth-Ann de Massy (b. 1947)
Jean-Léonard Taubert Natta (b. 1974)
Mélanie de Lusignan (b. 1985)
Keith Sebastian Knecht (b. 1972)

I got the list from http://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/monaco.htm#const which is partly in French and partly in English.

Hope that helps

[MADem]

16. They finally figured out that Al is gay...DOH!

Not that there's anything WRONG with that, and not that it rules out fatherhood...but I think Al doesn't want to play. So, he'll hold the line until one of the young 'uns is old enough.

[lacaqueteuse]

17. Prince Albert & marriage

Prince Albert is probably not gay. I think he is reluctant to get married because his older sister Caroline had such tragic experiences with her two marriages. And Stephanie did not do well in that area either.

[frustrated_lefty]

15. Is Albert appropriately pierced for the position? (n/t)

[Palacsinta]

18. My niece and nephew are Grace's cousins

Through Grace's mother. Their G-Grandma and Grace's grandma were first cousins. In fact, I have a very, very polite refusal from Grace's mom who couldn't attend my sister's wedding. She "regrettably had another commitment that day". I would have loved to have seen Grace's mom at my sis's reception in our back yard here in Lancaster County, PA.....paper tablecloths and ring bologna and cheese! Not QUITE was she was accustomed to!