Prince Albert of Monaco
Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi) was born on March 14th 1958 in the Prince’s Palace of Monaco.
He is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the ruler of the Principality of Monaco. His official shortened title is His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco.
HSH Prince Albert II is the son of Prince Rainier III, Louis Henri-Maxence-Bertrand (31st May 1923 – 6th April 2005) and American actress Grace Kelly (Philadelphia, United States, 12th November 1929 – Monaco, 14th September 1982). His sisters are Caroline, HSR The Princess of Hanover, and HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco. His godmother was Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain
Prince Albert II attended the Albert I High School and graduated with distinction in 1976. He spent a year training princely duties and enrolled at Amherst College in Massachusetts in 1977 as Albert Grimaldi where he studied political science, economics, music and English literature
In the summer of 1979 he was touring Europe and the Middle East with the Amherst Glee Club. Prince Albert II graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.
Prince Albert II competed in the bobsled at the Winter Olympics and has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985.
Prince Albert II received the Eagle Award from the United States Sports Academy in 1996. The Eagle Award is the Academy’s highest international honor and was awarded for his contribution in promoting international harmony, peace and goodwill through the effective use of sport.
On 6 April 2005, Prince Rainier III died and hereditary Prince Albert became Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco.
Prince Albert II is the vice-chairman of the “Princess Grace Foundation” which was founded in 1982 after his mother’s death.The foundation supports emerging artists in theater, dance and film.
In 2006 HSH Prince Albert II created the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation which is the Principality of Monaco’s commitment to support sustainable and ethical projects with focus on climate change and developing renewable energies; combating the loss of biodiversity; and water management and fighting desertification.
Prince Albert is engaged to a former South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock. They announced their engagement on June 23rd 2010. The civil marriage ceremony is scheduled for 2 July 2011, followed by the religious ceremony on 3 July 2011.
Beside being one of the owners of Yoctocosmos and a member in the World Economic Forum Prince Albert II is also:
- President, Monaco’s delegation to the United Nations
- President, Monaco Red Cross
- President, Monaco’s Olympic Committee
- Honorary President, Association Mondiale des Amis de l’Enfance
- Honorary President, The Automobile Club de Monaco
- Honorary President, Jumping International de Monte Carlo
- Patron, Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
- Patron, Peace and Sport Organization
HSH Prince Albert II – Monagesque Decorations
- Grand Cross of the Order of Grimaldi April 18, 1958
- Grand Cross of the Order of St. Charles March 13, 1979
- Grand Master of the Order of the Crown of Monaco
- Grand Master of the Order of Cultural Merit
HSH Prince Albert II – Foreign decorations
- Grand Officier of the Order of the Lion of Senegal May 1977
- Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem January 27, 1983
- Grand Officer of the International Merit of Blood March 12, 1994
- Grand Cross of the Ordre National du Mérite July 25, 1997 France
- Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta October 15, 1997
- Rise in the College of Darjah Kerabat Diraja Pahang November 7, 1997 Sultanate of Pahang
- Grand Cross of the Order of Niger March 1998
- Grand Collar of the Order of Jose Simeon Cañas 2002 El Salvador
- Grand Cross of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa 2002 Panama
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun 2003 Peru
- Grand Cross of the Order of Juan Mora Fernandez 2003 Costa Rica
- Knight Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic December 12, 2005
- Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour 2006 France
- Grand Prix de France humanitarian March 6, 2007
- Commander of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques 2009 France
- Knight Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav 7 April 2009
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Danilo
- Collar of the Order of Merit of Malta